Interventional Radiology Forum?

[SDN]

There has been a request for addition of an interventional radiology subforum to this forum.

Do you want IR as a subforum or as part of the main Radiology Forum?

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[penguin24]

I don't think the Radiology forum gets that much traffic to warrant a sub-form. There's not many threads popping up here.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

Agree, I think it would just dilute it further.

 

[Reza Rajebi]

Hi,

I don't think having a forum with less than optimal traffic is a great reason to oppose the idea of a subforum. As you know, there are many programs offering direct pathway for IR and also IR is going through an amazing transformation to become a clinical based subspecialty. Considering these changes, there are medical students who are interested in exploring this new field. However, even in other websites which are specifically designed for Radiology, there is not that much information about IR.

Having a subforum with official sponsorship from Society of Interventional Radiology-Resident and Fellow Section (SIR-RFS) maybe helpful to not only increase traffic to that subforum but also to improve Radiology forum in general.

We have already talked to a few IR attendings to help us with this subforum. There are also 12 residents and fellows involved with membership division of SIR-RFS who are willing to help. We think we can start multiple threads such as interesting cases, research opportunities and scientific discussions if we get approval for this subforum.

Thank you,

Reza Rajebi, MD
Radiology Resident
SIR-RFS Membership Division Leader

 

[irwarrior]

I think a separate IR forum is a great idea. This would be valuable for students who are interested in the growing field of interventional medicine. There are many alternate pathways existing for IR including the DIRECT pathway and Clinical pathway. Also, IR is at the same crossroads that radiation oncology was years ago and is looking to potentially become its own specialty. There is a rising growth of interest in interventional radiology amongst radiology residents with recent record number of applicants for fellowships this year.

IR has a great array of practice diversity including but not limited to
stroke therapy, vascular interventions (PAD, aneurysms, carotid disease), pain interventions (including vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty), women's therapy (treatment of fibroids), and the rapidly expanding and growing filed of interventioal oncology (ablation and catheter based therapy of tumors).

IR physcians are growing with robust clinics and diverse practice patterns.

As a practicing interventional physician I think that there would be a large interest in this forum from medical students beyond that of those interested in general radiology. Students interested in procedures (surgey, medical subspecialties, gynecologists, pain specialists) all could benefit from this IR forum.

 

[Gvataken]

As a current radiology program director and someone who also trains IR fellows and medical students on an IR rotation, I think this is a wonderful idea and is much needed.

As Reza has said, IR is transforming and is becoming a very clinical specialty. So, I think it would be great to educate more students and residents about modern IR.

We want to be a portal to educate all medical students and residents about how to apply for IR specific training pathways such as the DIRECT and CLINICAL pathway and which radiology residencies offer additional IR experience. We also want to educate students about the wide breadth of interventional therapies and the clinical management of the vast conditions we treat.
There are a large number of residents and fellows as well as attendings that will work with Dr. Rajebi and I to improve the success of a dedicated interventional radiology forum.

Sincerely

G.Vatakencherry MD
Vascular and Interventional Radiology Physician

 

[werewethere]

Besides all the above reasons for an IR forum, 10 more to consider:
1) IR is frequently one of or the top reason students choose radiology. Up to 50% of DR applicants mention IR as reason to do DR.
2) It's a crying shame when there is a "discovered radiology late" thread because a student only discovered IR by accident, rather than by reading about in SDN and setting up an early fourth year elective.
3) IR questions may not be of interest to diagnostic radiologists, so being able to separate the two may help make relevant threads be more easily found.
4) There are more IR fellows and positions that for some other fields that have separate forums on SDN.
5) There is no equivalent elsewhere for people strictly interested in IR.
6) There is an ever growing number of ways to become an IR, and as mentioned previously, new subfields developing within IR.
7) SDN has always been a great way for students to learn more about fields of medicine, lets keep it going with a new forum.
8) IR is not just about PICCs and access. Time for others on this site to learn about all the treatments and procedures offered.
9) IR and SDN, both cutting edge!
10) IR and SDN, both fun!

 

[IRmonkey]

I also think that a seperate IR site could be very valuable for medical students that are considering different residencyy options. Interventional radiology is unique in that it draws interest from those that are considering a radiology residency as well as from those that are considering surgical or procedure-oriented training. I can't count how many times I have spoken to people about interventional radiology only to hear them say "I thought about interventional radiology, but I don't think I could handle sitting in a dark room for 4 years" or "I 'd rather interact with patients than a computer all day." What many medical students don't understand is that there are multiple pathways that medical students can take to recieve training as an interventional radiologist -some of which can have significantly more clinical training and patient involvement than the tradiational diagnostic radiology/IR fellowship route. I think having a seperate forum would attract interest from medical students considering surgical specialties and not just those that want to be diagnostic radiologists. I would allow those with interest in IR, but not nesesarily in diagnostic radiology, a way to get information and interact with others interested in IR withou having to sort through the general radiology forum. I don't believe it would "water down" any existing forums but that it would attract unique users and provide valuable content to allow them to make informed decisions about their future careers.

 

[MossPoh]

As a medical student, I'd be very interested in it. It is challenging to search out good information when one doesn't know where to begin. I think that while it may not get the traffic that some other subforums get, there are sufficiently dedicated IR people to answer questions and possibly initiate discussions.

 

[IRGuru]

As a medical student, I'd be very interested in it. It is challenging to search out good information when one doesn't know where to begin. I think that while it may not get the traffic that some other subforums get, there are sufficiently dedicated IR people to answer questions and possibly initiate discussions.

I agree. There is a dearth of information out there regarding this rapidly evolving specialty and the information that is out there is conflicting, incomplete, and often just wrong. I'm applying to residencies this year and will eventually go into IR but I know my life would've been easier had there been a place where I could get quick and informed answers to my IR questions (whether they're related to which pathway to take or anything else).

 

[Chung B]

A separate thread with a separate heading would be most helpful to med students and others, as this is basically a separate field from diagnostic radiology.....much more like a surgical subspecialty than anything else. The field is only moving more and more in that direction.

 

[Shifty B]

No. It would cause too much dilution.

There are maybe 5-10 posts a day tops on general radiology forum. How many of those are about IR? Not a lot.

I'm not saying that IR isn't interesting, but if you have questions just post them on the radiology forum. Or Auntminnie.

It's also interesting that people with 1 post to their name have come out of the woodwork to support a forum. If those people posted in the Radiology forum more, maybe there would be enough traffic to support it.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

I don't really think it matters that much either way, despite not thinking it a particularly necessary idea but:

Why are these attendings/fellows/new IR posters not just posting whatever information they like or chiming in now? Just because the forum title doesn't say IR doesn't bar the communication. I'd love to hear more about IR in practice. Post your discussions and helpful information!

 

[SDN]

Based on member votes, I've created a new IR sub-forum. We can give it a try for 90 days and then revisit having this as a separate sub-forum.

If you voted to support the IR forum, start posting! Otherwise the IR forum may be folded back into the main radiology forum.

 

[freddydpt]

We need an IR subforum. I know it would have been extremely helpful when I was a student on the rotation and applying to radiology programs. I'd love to see some pain management within the IR forum since that's what I plan on doing. I might post some radiology pain articles myself!

 

[phatfarm]

Fred,
We do have an IR forum. Feel free to post and contribute. I haven't been exposed to too much IR pain management related materials except vertebroplasty and the occasional celiac block. I'd be very interested to read some of your posts.

Welcome!

Phatfarm