I was wondering if anyone had shadowed a radiologist, What was the experience like? What did you do, or what tasks did the physician do? Was it private practice or not?
Thanks
Thanks
Has anybody shadowed a radiologist?
- Thread starter saildawg
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saildawg said:
Hi,
I haven't shadowed a radiologist, but I have been looking more into radiology recently. Check out this site, it has some information that you may find useful: http://msrig.com/index.php
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I spent a day with a radiologist once (obviously not a representative sample. I spent most of the day looking over her shoulder at a computer monitor as she reviewed some CT scans. If I remember correctly, I also got to watch a biopsy of a lesion in a patient's lung. I think the coolest part of the day was talking with a different radiologist who had been practicing a long time. He told me a story about how "in the old days" they would occasionally introduce air into the patients spinal column and have them lay on a table they could manipulate and rotate to get the air up into their skulls. All of this so they could get better resolution on whatever type of scan they were using at the time.
Oh yea, and it was in a University System.
Oh yea, and it was in a University System.
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I spent 3 years working in a diagnostic radiologist's office. What you are going to be able to see really depends on the practice. In my office, all modalities were represented. In a day, the radiologist would read ~70 plane films (arms, broken fingers, etc), 10-15 mamograms, 10-20 CTs, 10-15 MRI, 3-5 flouroscopy cases (barium swallows, Intravenous Pyeograms, Upper/Lower GIs, etc), 10 or so ultrasounds, and several nuclear medicine studies.
If you've never experienced radiology, all of these things would be interesting - especially if the radiologist takes time to tell you what you're looking at (cause you won't have a clue, especially on ultrasound). If you've been around this stuff before, seen a chest xray, seen a head CT, and you're looking to see invasive stuff, you want to aim for the flouroscopy studies. VERY neat! It involves real time capture of radioactively labeled fluids traversing various vessels (ureters, intestines, etc.). It takes a lot of skill on the radiologists part and you, as a person who knows nothing, will be able to make out the basic anatomy and understand what the goal is.
Now if you're really lucky, you'll get to shadow an interventional radiologist. They are almost entirely procedure oriented, wheras a diagnostic radiologist is mostly interpretation oriented (read: sits in a dark room for 9 hours a day).
In general, it can be hit or miss. Totally depends on the number of physicians in the practice, the case load, and the willingness of a radiologist to take time to show you interesting things (most radiologists are VERY busy).
Anyway, that's about all I can think of right now. If I think of anything else, I'll post it.
-Stick
If you've never experienced radiology, all of these things would be interesting - especially if the radiologist takes time to tell you what you're looking at (cause you won't have a clue, especially on ultrasound). If you've been around this stuff before, seen a chest xray, seen a head CT, and you're looking to see invasive stuff, you want to aim for the flouroscopy studies. VERY neat! It involves real time capture of radioactively labeled fluids traversing various vessels (ureters, intestines, etc.). It takes a lot of skill on the radiologists part and you, as a person who knows nothing, will be able to make out the basic anatomy and understand what the goal is.
Now if you're really lucky, you'll get to shadow an interventional radiologist. They are almost entirely procedure oriented, wheras a diagnostic radiologist is mostly interpretation oriented (read: sits in a dark room for 9 hours a day).
In general, it can be hit or miss. Totally depends on the number of physicians in the practice, the case load, and the willingness of a radiologist to take time to show you interesting things (most radiologists are VERY busy).
Anyway, that's about all I can think of right now. If I think of anything else, I'll post it.
-Stick
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Have oodles of experience with Radiologists. Work in the Dept. of Radioimmunotherapy/Rad Onc (clinical trials research), which requires nuclear imaging studies and subsequent correlation with other diagnostic imaging studies.
The life of a radiologist seems extremely plush, i.e. very little patient contact, 8-5 hours, somewhat seemingly removed from the liability aspect, however, couldn't be further from the truth in that there is enormous liability within radiology.
Radiologists, love to talk (very well could be just my experience)...they spend mind-numbing hours in isolation in dark rooms by themselves, the moment someone comes around they pounce on the opportunity to chat about anything/everything.
I work in a large academic, research-oriented institution, thus there is enormous pressure to keep up with unit turnover, i.e. one must log in and keep track (sort of like an accomplishment diary) of how many scans were read and how many hours were devoted to particular ativities each day.
The excitement I think comes from having every doc in the hospital pull them to the side, toss up some films on the box and says "what do you see." And they see everything...very trained eyes. Must have a solid command of anatomy, which they do.
Another thing I discovered about radiology is how obnoxious their pay scale is, especially in the mid-west (nowhere near what they would make in sunny SoCal). I wonder if this is the same for every specialty/sub-specialty. Obviously the draw to SoCal is so enormous that docs make 2/3 what they would make if the went farther inland, where less and less care to live.
Not sure what else you would like to know, but I think I hit on most of the general observation stuff.
I actually prefer the excitement/chaos of the ER, not knowing what you're going to get and having the skills and know-how to stabilize anything that comes your way. If you are into tracking your investments all day via the web, I think Radiology is the way to go. Obviously I am joking, but I htink you get the idea. I think its hella competitive because of the plush hours, close to no patient contact, and the pay is very rewarding.
People who have actually done their rotations/residency in this field would know way more than I, but strictly from a shadowing aspect, this is what I see.
The life of a radiologist seems extremely plush, i.e. very little patient contact, 8-5 hours, somewhat seemingly removed from the liability aspect, however, couldn't be further from the truth in that there is enormous liability within radiology.
Radiologists, love to talk (very well could be just my experience)...they spend mind-numbing hours in isolation in dark rooms by themselves, the moment someone comes around they pounce on the opportunity to chat about anything/everything.
I work in a large academic, research-oriented institution, thus there is enormous pressure to keep up with unit turnover, i.e. one must log in and keep track (sort of like an accomplishment diary) of how many scans were read and how many hours were devoted to particular ativities each day.
The excitement I think comes from having every doc in the hospital pull them to the side, toss up some films on the box and says "what do you see." And they see everything...very trained eyes. Must have a solid command of anatomy, which they do.
Another thing I discovered about radiology is how obnoxious their pay scale is, especially in the mid-west (nowhere near what they would make in sunny SoCal). I wonder if this is the same for every specialty/sub-specialty. Obviously the draw to SoCal is so enormous that docs make 2/3 what they would make if the went farther inland, where less and less care to live.
Not sure what else you would like to know, but I think I hit on most of the general observation stuff.
I actually prefer the excitement/chaos of the ER, not knowing what you're going to get and having the skills and know-how to stabilize anything that comes your way. If you are into tracking your investments all day via the web, I think Radiology is the way to go. Obviously I am joking, but I htink you get the idea. I think its hella competitive because of the plush hours, close to no patient contact, and the pay is very rewarding.
People who have actually done their rotations/residency in this field would know way more than I, but strictly from a shadowing aspect, this is what I see.
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I would second that by far the more interesting stuff will be shadowing an interventional radiologist. these guys are practically surgeons who do everything endoscopically. you need to get one who'll be nice and explain stuff, or you won't have a clue what's going on.
the diagnostic rad life is pretty boring if you ask me - you look at a computer screen and dictate reports all day. this is why the jobs are getting sent to India, cuz it can be done from anywhere. but someone has to do it, and they make good money, so if you like that sort of thing it's a good specialty.
spending some time with each type of rad will give you some idea as to whether it's for you or not.
the diagnostic rad life is pretty boring if you ask me - you look at a computer screen and dictate reports all day. this is why the jobs are getting sent to India, cuz it can be done from anywhere. but someone has to do it, and they make good money, so if you like that sort of thing it's a good specialty.
spending some time with each type of rad will give you some idea as to whether it's for you or not.
I don't shadow radiologists, but I have place 3 people in the interventional radiology department of the James A Haley VA and they allow them to see procedures and what not.
I have heard very very good things about the radiology department from those who get get to shadow there.
I have heard very very good things about the radiology department from those who get get to shadow there.
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You know there is a joke in here somewhere...shadowing a radiologist...just cannot come up with one
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I took a shadowing trip with my premed club a couple of times. Everyone thought radiology as the least favorable but me. Sure, they work in the dark all day looking at film, but the stuff they can see is pretty amazing. They have an extraordinary knowledge of anatomy and they have the most advanced medical technology at hand. Hardly no patient contact, though. But they corespond with doctors and absolutely school them on diagnosis. Basically, they're the one who tell the doctors what's wrong with thier patiet (or what's not wrong). Hope this helps.
Alex
Alex
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I shadowed an interventional radiologist for ~1 year. The OPs are right, there are numerous cool procedures and if the doc takes time to explain a little bit; its unbeleiveable. I saw lots of stents, PIC lines, angiograms, and some biopsies. If you have the opportunity, I would def. recommend it.
By the way, GujuDoc I shadowed at the Haley VA-and graduated from USF, small world.
By the way, GujuDoc I shadowed at the Haley VA-and graduated from USF, small world.
jdr,
Wow really??? That's awesome. I assume you know who Marty Luke is, the volunteer coordinator there???/
He's real awesome and helpful in helping me find opportunities both for myself and others.
I've heard very good things about the people in interventional radiology. One thing I noticed, is that all the USF physicians there and VA physicians are soooo helpful to undergrad students and students wanting to shadow in their fields and learn more about it.
So are you in med school now?? Where do you go to med school if you are in it?? Or are you applying this year?????
Oh nevermind, I just read your signature.
Wow really??? That's awesome. I assume you know who Marty Luke is, the volunteer coordinator there???/
He's real awesome and helpful in helping me find opportunities both for myself and others.
I've heard very good things about the people in interventional radiology. One thing I noticed, is that all the USF physicians there and VA physicians are soooo helpful to undergrad students and students wanting to shadow in their fields and learn more about it.
So are you in med school now?? Where do you go to med school if you are in it?? Or are you applying this year?????
Oh nevermind, I just read your signature.
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I shadowed a radiologist today and I totally loved it. I am really going to be looking into radiology now and definitely would love to shadow this physician again. The doctor was really nice and took the time to explain things over and over again.
He read 80+ films and he took the time to explain me on most things. I even got to see couple of biopsy's. It was really neat. Anyone else had experience with shadowing a radiologist?
He read 80+ films and he took the time to explain me on most things. I even got to see couple of biopsy's. It was really neat. Anyone else had experience with shadowing a radiologist?
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I lol'd.
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I am currently taking a year off and will begin med school in August of 08. It's late now (130 am) but I promise I will give further detail tommorrow when I'm "at work". During my year off, I work for a radiology group of ~31 physicians. I just wanted to say now that your experience completely depends on what you do, and how large the group is.
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I agree. I mean if you work in the dark do you even cast a shadow?
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Uh oh, there it is! 😛
I agree with OP regarding IR. I worked for years in a teaching hospital (RN-PICU/Pedi-transport) and interventional radiology was definitely more challenging/interesting to me. It's still very helpful to learn all you can from the diagnostic perspective. It's an invaluable skill for every practitioner to master, IMO.
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I followed for a few days a RT (radiological technologist) and he gave me a first hand look into how CT scans worked. It was valuable experience to me.
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Rads was pretty cool, atleast for me. If you get an attending that really enjoys having students around, then you're set
If you're interested in all of the technology and stuff like that, then even shadowing a tech is really interesting.
If you're interested in all of the technology and stuff like that, then even shadowing a tech is really interesting.
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