How much physics/tech is there in radiology?

[JPSmyth]

Hey guys,

I’m an M1 at a reputable USMD school interested in going into radiology. I have shadowed in both IR and DR and I found both interesting. I like reading images and I like the broad scope of the field. I know IR is hyper competitive so I could definitely see myself being happy in DR also.

However, I am not particularly interested/good at physics, and I’m not very good with computers. I was able to get As in undergrad physics and I can use any software but I mean I’m not writing programs for computers and stuff like that.

Are any rads residents/attendings this way also? I know there is some sort of physics curriculum to be completed during residency but how intense is it? How integrated is physics with your everyday work?

Thanks!

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[Gadofosveset]

The physics curriculum in residency is not burdensome.

On a day-to-day basis you can be as much or as little involved in the physics of your machines as you want. Only the rudiments are necessary for practice.

It's good to know as much imaging physics as you can, though. It's like a pilot understanding how his or her plane works.

 

[meister]

There is a ton of physics in radiology, only a fraction of which you'll be required to know for day-to-day practice though a lot of it you will internalize. The radiology board exams test practical (and not so practical) imaging physics quite extensively.

 

[TCOM12]

The knowledge of physics and how it applies to imaging is the important thing. It basically is what separates us from the subspecialist surgeon and even the experienced technologist who has a descent eye. The knowledge let’s you know when something is artifact, how to fix said artifact, improve protocols, improve scan times, reduce number of pictures and reduce dose to the patient.

But I made a B in physics in college and did rather well in radiology physics. So, doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to survive it... just a little effort.

I honestly hated it first year, but it’s because it’s just another thing you don’t know with a lot of stuff to know. After boards, I read a couple physics text books because I could finally understand them (ok, not all of it, but most of it).

Don’t let it deter you. If you like the field, run with it.

 

[JPSmyth]

The knowledge of physics and how it applies to imaging is the important thing. It basically is what separates us from the subspecialist surgeon and even the experienced technologist who has a descent eye. The knowledge let’s you know when something is artifact, how to fix said artifact, improve protocols, improve scan times, reduce number of pictures and reduce dose to the patient.

But I made a B in physics in college and did rather well in radiology physics. So, doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to survive it... just a little effort.

I honestly hated it first year, but it’s because it’s just another thing you don’t know with a lot of stuff to know. After boards, I read a couple physics text books because I could finally understand them (ok, not all of it, but most of it).

Don’t let it deter you. If you like the field, run with it.

Thank you all for the input!

 

[Cognovi]

The knowledge of physics and how it applies to imaging is the important thing. It basically is what separates us from the subspecialist surgeon and even the experienced technologist who has a descent eye. The knowledge let’s you know when something is artifact, how to fix said artifact, improve protocols, improve scan times, reduce number of pictures and reduce dose to the patient.

But I made a B in physics in college and did rather well in radiology physics. So, doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to survive it... just a little effort.

I honestly hated it first year, but it’s because it’s just another thing you don’t know with a lot of stuff to know. After boards, I read a couple physics text books because I could finally understand them (ok, not all of it, but most of it).

Don’t let it deter you. If you like the field, run with it.

Knowledge of physics and artifacts also separate us from AI. For example, current AI can be fooled by single pixel changes: https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.08864