I'm a fourth year med student decided to pursue a path to radiology. After my elective in radiology, I enjoyed certain aspects of being a radiologist. However I am second guessing myself as to my career choice because of the lack of patient contact. I am concerned about sitting in a chair all day and possibly being bored. Albeit, I've enjoyed the times I was given a chance to read films on my own, but being a student watching other people read had it's dull moments. I was often waiting until the clock hit 5pm. The only other thing I can think of doing if I decided to change my mind is internal medicine; possibly cards. However, I know that having a optimal lifestyle is more important to me than having the most rewarding career (I would've chose pediatric surgery otherwise). Any advice on how you know what career is the best fit for you? Further, any current radiologists or radiology residents ever missed the clinical aspects of medicine as I may? This is by far the most difficult decision I've had to make. Please help, thanks!
At a crossroads, trying to determine if RADS is right for me?
- Thread starter qaxooti
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For whatever it's worth, I hated my fourth year radiology rotations, but now I love being a radiologist.
The problem with medical school radiology is that you are just an observer. It's like watching someone else play a video game. You aren't allowed to dictate reports. You don't even get a good seat to watch the images.
Let's make a comparison, so it's apples to apples. Imagine if on your surgery or internal medicine rotation you were not allowed to write notes, take physicals, scrub in to a surgery, or even present a patient to seniors. That would be a dreary rotation, as you wouldn't get to participate or be a member of the team. Similarly, as a medical student, you will not be allowed to participate, at all, in radiology.
For you to make a fair comparison between, say, IM and radiology, you'd need to be allowed to participate in both fields. Alas, radiology is set up in a way where you simply can't really participate until you become a resident. If you aren't a resident you won't get to look at images on your own and then make a hypothesis.
The best you can do is ask to preview some cases on the side, take notes, and then see how much agreement there is between you and your Attending. That may be an interesting/humbling/informative experience. Just a thought.
The problem with medical school radiology is that you are just an observer. It's like watching someone else play a video game. You aren't allowed to dictate reports. You don't even get a good seat to watch the images.
Let's make a comparison, so it's apples to apples. Imagine if on your surgery or internal medicine rotation you were not allowed to write notes, take physicals, scrub in to a surgery, or even present a patient to seniors. That would be a dreary rotation, as you wouldn't get to participate or be a member of the team. Similarly, as a medical student, you will not be allowed to participate, at all, in radiology.
For you to make a fair comparison between, say, IM and radiology, you'd need to be allowed to participate in both fields. Alas, radiology is set up in a way where you simply can't really participate until you become a resident. If you aren't a resident you won't get to look at images on your own and then make a hypothesis.
The best you can do is ask to preview some cases on the side, take notes, and then see how much agreement there is between you and your Attending. That may be an interesting/humbling/informative experience. Just a thought.
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You're experience seems to mirror that of many other students here on SDN and elsewhere - that a radiology rotation as a student is pretty boring. So I'm not sure you have much more to worry about than the average student making that decision.
In my case, I loved every second of my radiology rotation and can't wait until my next one starts. Perhaps it was just the great group of attendings I was rotating with? I don't know, but watching someone else read films beat the pants off of rounding. I do like scrubbing for surgeries, but interventional procedures in rads gave me enough of that to keep me plenty happy. I was shocked at how much I learned by just sitting and watching. Besides the great anatomy review, I saw tons of pathology that I just hadn't been exposed to since an honorable mention was given during some lecture in the first two years of school.
In my case, I loved every second of my radiology rotation and can't wait until my next one starts. Perhaps it was just the great group of attendings I was rotating with? I don't know, but watching someone else read films beat the pants off of rounding. I do like scrubbing for surgeries, but interventional procedures in rads gave me enough of that to keep me plenty happy. I was shocked at how much I learned by just sitting and watching. Besides the great anatomy review, I saw tons of pathology that I just hadn't been exposed to since an honorable mention was given during some lecture in the first two years of school.
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Path = crappy job market even after doing multiple fellowships
Rads = at least you'll be able to pay off your loans and have a roof over your head
Rads = at least you'll be able to pay off your loans and have a roof over your head
