From the program director

Thank you for your interest in the Diagnostic Radiology Residency at Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona! I am excited to introduce you to our program.

I was born and raised in Wisconsin and went to medical school in Milwaukee. After completing my residency and fellowship in St. Louis, my first job out was at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Since joining the practice in 2003, Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona has shown phenomenal growth in each of the three shields – clinical practice, research, and education.

In the past five years, the clinical practice has had significant hospital and cancer center expansion. Mayo Clinic Arizona now has just over 700 staff physicians and 400 hospital beds, with shell space for further expansion. The Department of Radiology has 80 radiologists with six medical physicists. There are plans for even more expansion by collaborating with healthcare research leaders to pioneer ‘bench to bedside’ translational research via the Mayo Discovery Oasis Collaborative Biotechnology Corridor.

Nationally ranked in multiple clinical programs, Mayo Clinic Arizona maintains its institutional primary value: The needs of the patient come first. This mission promotes teamwork and interdisciplinary care providing the best care for our patients. As a radiologist, this aspect is critical for your training as you learn not just image interpretation but the clinical implications for our patients.

In the research realm, we have a very productive faculty. In 2025, 85% of our faculty were published with over 203 unique peer reviewed publications. Three of our faculty members are with current or immediate past editor-in-chief of prominent radiology journals. The Department of Radiology in Arizona has been awarded three federal grants, two foundation grants and two industry grants. All of our residents take advantage of these research opportunities with 100% of residents publishing and presenting at national and international meetings.

In addition to the state-of-the-art facilities and beautiful hospital campus, a major strength of the program is the faculty. Many of our faculty came from other institutions where they were leaders in education. This has led to a diverse approach, bringing the best features from each program with a commonality of dedication to education. Within all subspecialties of radiology, our faculty members are nationally and internationally recognized leaders.

Arizona is a wonderful place to live with plenty of great weather and outdoor activities year-round. As the fifth largest metropolitan city in the country, Phoenix offers a variety of amenities including major league sports, arts, culture, outdoor activities, and world-class restaurants.

I encourage you to learn more about our program. As a resident at Mayo Clinic, I am confident you will receive excellent training and be well-prepared for your career in radiology.

Sailendra Naidu, M.D.
Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program Director
Professor of Radiology

From the associate program directors

Thank you for your interest in the Diagnostic Radiology Residency at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. I am honored to serve as Associate Program Director and excited to share what makes our program such a rewarding place to train.

My path in radiology has been shaped by Mayo Clinic. I completed my diagnostic radiology residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, followed by fellowship training at Mayo Clinic Arizona. What began as a training experience became a career because Mayo is truly an exceptional place to practice medicine. I have chosen to stay at Mayo because the opportunities for outstanding patient care, innovative research, and meaningful educational engagement are unparalleled. The collaborative culture, commitment to excellence, and patient-centered mission create an environment where physicians, residents, and patients thrive.

As a breast imaging radiologist and educator, I have been fortunate to work closely with residents throughout my career. One of the most rewarding aspects of academic medicine is helping trainees develop confidence, clinical judgment, and a lifelong commitment to learning. As Associate Program Director and Breast Imaging Division Education Director, I am committed to fostering a supportive environment where residents are challenged, respected, and empowered to succeed.

I am also a mother of two young children and understand firsthand the challenges of balancing a demanding career with life outside of medicine. Resident wellness, work-life balance, and creating a culture where trainees can thrive both professionally and personally are priorities that are especially important to me.

I look forward to welcoming the next generation of radiologists to Mayo Clinic Arizona.

Laura Harper, M.D.
Diagnostic Radiology Residency Associate Program Director
Assistant Professor of Radiology

Thank you for your interest in the Diagnostic Residency at Mayo Clinic Arizona. As one of the Associate Program Directors, I’m excited to show you how truly special things are here.

I went to Creighton University for medical school and was part of the inaugural class of the Phoenix Regional Campus; my first experience outside the Midwest and I fell in love with everything the southwest has to offer. After training, we moved “home” to the Midwest but soon found ourselves back in Phoenix, after realizing our definition of home had changed, or at least expanded. I have had the opportunity to both train and work outside of the Mayo system, gaining experience and a perspective that I am excited to share with you.

Resident success is the key benchmark of our residency program both during residence and forward into their careers, wherever they lead. During residency, that means we are dedicated to making sure each resident feels confident in their skills. My goal is to ensure that all our residents feel supported, are getting excellent training, and leave our program functioning at the highest level, ready for any job.

You’ll hear many references to Mayo’s three shields: patient care, medical education, and medical research. In addition to exceptional clinical training from day one, our residents have ample opportunities for educational and research pursuits. Residents are surrounded by supportive colleagues and teammates – from detail-oriented coordinators to engaged faculty mentors and even residents and faculty from other specialties.

Nick Matthees, M.D.
Diagnostic Radiology Residency Associate Program Director
Assistant Professor of Radiology

Department

The Department of Radiology at Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona provides subspecialized, high-quality, and comprehensive imaging and interventional care to patients. The department consists of over 80 radiologists, all of whom have completed subspecialty fellowship training. Learn more about faculty members here.

The department is organized into the following divisions:

• Abdominal imaging
• Breast imaging
• Cardiothoracic imaging
• Emergency hospital radiology
• Vascular and interventional radiology
• Musculoskeletal imaging
• Neuroradiology
• Nuclear medicine
• Ultrasound

Faculty

In addition to caring for patients in clinical practice, Mayo Clinic's faculty is committed to teaching and facilitating the growth of medical knowledge. Many of our faculty members have published and lectured extensively and are highly regarded in their fields. You work closely with the radiology faculty throughout your training in the Diagnostic Radiology Residency.

Notably, the department is made up of diverse faculty. Some have spent their entire careers at Mayo Clinic, while others bring training and experience from other highly regarded institutions. Numerous faculty held leadership positions such as program director at academic institutions. Finally, the Department is proud to have numerous graduates from the Mayo Arizona Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program return as faculty.

There is an extensive diversity of experience among the faculty, enabling the department to draw from the best practices in the field to create an excellent residency experience.

Program and clerkship directors

	Sailendra Naidu, M.D. Program Director   View full profile
	Victor Pizzitola, M.D. Medical Student Clerkship Director   View full profile
	Laura Harper, M.D. Associate Program Director   View full profile
	Nick Matthees, M.D. Associate Program Director   View full profile

Advisers and mentors

The size of the residency program fosters a nurturing community atmosphere amongst the residents; existing residents routinely serve as contact points for introducing you and your family to the Phoenix area and the Mayo Clinic system. Each resident is paired with a radiology faculty mentor of their choosing who meets with them regularly throughout their residency. Additionally, R1s serve as peer mentors for transitional year residents.

Visiting professors

Many prominent professors visit Mayo Clinic each year. They present their work during lectures, participate in hospital rounds, and have informal discussions with trainees. You are encouraged to take full advantage of these educational opportunities.