Pros and Cons of Different Paths to NM

[CaptKirk]

I read in the previous thread about the different ways one can get into the field of Nuclear Medicine... just wondering what the advantages of each path are. I really like NM and am trying to decide how best to pursue it; Radiology residency first, or IM residency, or just straight up NM residency. What would be a good reason why someone intending to enter NM would go through radiology first?

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[salmonella]

I read in the previous thread about the different ways one can get into the field of Nuclear Medicine... just wondering what the advantages of each path are. I really like NM and am trying to decide how best to pursue it; Radiology residency first, or IM residency, or just straight up NM residency. What would be a good reason why someone intending to enter NM would go through radiology first?

I would say the best path is radiology then nuclear medicine as you can also work as a radiologist. It's much easier to get into a group practice with rads background. The next best path is IM then nuclear medicine. Just in case if the field of nuclear medicine goes extinct (reimbursement problem, radiologist take over, turf wars with clinical specialists, future research shows NM not beneficial, etc?) you can still do IM which pretty much guarantees you job security anywhere in the country. I probably would not go with a straight up NM residency because you would be limited to academics and research, and for the job security reason.

 

[Doku]

I was just wondering is it possible po moonlight as a general IM physician if you are IM board certified and doing NM residency?

 

[Imhotep]

You can, with permission from your program director. In most nuc med residencies, there is typically a 50-55 hour work week, with little or no weekend call. Where I trained, each of us were on call one weekend per month from home. Two of the residents had prior IM training, and they would moonlight about 20 hours/month or so.