Late switch to radiology

[TBD2022]

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Hey guys. I would really really appreciate your advice.

I’ve been planning on applying to urology for most of my medical school career, but recently have been thinking I may pursue radiology instead. I have several friends who matched radiology that I've been talking to and a few older radiologists who I've spoken to as well that have changed my mindset on what I want out of my career. I really enjoy the technology and imaging as well as the consultant nature of the field. Additionally, I've come to realize that I view medicine as a job rather than a calling, and radiology seems to allow for a full life outside of medicine.

I think I would be moderately competitive for rads. I'm a USMD from a mid tier school with a step 1 in mid 240s, solid grades (2H, the rest NH) and a few leadership/service positions in med school. My concern at this point is that if I apply radiology, PDs will think I am using it as a backup. I have several years of uro research including a few 2nd author publications and poster presentations. I never had exposure to radiology earlier and thus haven't done anything to show interest in the field. I know radiology is known as being open to late deciders, but would this be an issue on interviews?

The other thing I have been having a hard time with is coming up with a school list to apply to. I feel like a pretty middle of the road candidate for rads, so I'm planning on applying to ~60 programs. Looking at proximity, I was planning on targeting mostly schools outside of the top 20 with a few community programs thrown in as well.

Any input from recently matched M4s or others who have gone through similar pathway changes is appreciated!

 

[Angus Avagadro]

The days of services trooping into the radiology suite to review images with the radiologist are dwindling. Having said that, I would target solid programs where you get to see lots of studies. Multidisciniplary programs that accept complicated cases, neurosurg, trauma, transplants CV, ortho, etc. Recognizing normal is crucial so when something abnormal appears, it jumps out at you. I would look at programs with diverse cases more so than some name brand programs. Employers want radiologists with diverse skills, not super sub specialists. Just my 2 cents. I think you will be fine switching as it will be easy to explain. Good luck and best wishes!

 

[Dr G Oogle]

They won’t think you’re using it as a backup, many people going into rads have the same experience is you...coming to it late in Med school because of little exposure. And while large services don’t troop into the reading room a good rads is worth their weight in gold every single one of my surgery colleagues has a radiologist they call on specifically, no different than a busy surgeon who everyone goes to. If you’re competing for Uro you’ll be competitive for radiology. Most large university programs will have a good depth and breadth of pathology to review.

 

[longhaul3]

If you end up at the radiology program where I went to med school, you will definitely still get lots of services trouping into the reading room! We did that constantly on rounds on almost every service.

 

[Solard]

If you end up at the radiology program where I went to med school, you will definitely still get lots of services trouping into the reading room! We did that constantly on rounds on almost every service.

Same here. People coming in in person to consult was actually one of my favorite parts of radiology. I really hope this part of the job doesn't go anywhere too soon!