Mid-3rd year crisis: switching from peds to radiology

[DermViser]

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Nonetheless, ~20% of DR residents attempted to match into IR fellowships after seeing what it is actually like in the real world. So there must be some appeal to it beyond what one sees in medical school.

#1 - liking procedures, #2 - patient interaction that is more focused and limited, #3 - inability to be replaced by teleradiology.

 

[shark2000]

#1 - liking procedures, #2 - patient interaction that is more focused and limited, #3 - inability to be replaced by teleradiology.

Weak justification. 5 years ago only half of IR spots filled. Really do you believe that in 2-3 years all of a sudden everyone liked procedures and patient interaction? As I posted before mammo is the best comparable example. You could not pay people enough to do mammo 5 years ago and now it is one of the most competitive fellowships.

My logic does not have anything to do with IR itself. IR is great and can be a very rewarding career. I am talking about preference of residents.

 

[je355804]

Weak justification. 5 years ago only half of IR spots filled. Really do you believe that in 2-3 years all of a sudden everyone liked procedures and patient interaction? As I posted before mammo is the best comparable example. You could not pay people enough to do mammo 5 years ago and now it is one of the most competitive fellowships.

My logic does not have anything to do with IR itself. IR is great and can be a very rewarding career. I am talking about preference of residents.

I'm sure there is an element to truth in both scenarios. Some people are now pursuing it because they love the field, some people are pursuing it because it's where the jobs are, some people are pursuing it because the field of IR has tons of potential for expansion.

It's so easy to look at these situations and say there is only one possible explanation for the change... when in reality there are numerous reasons the field is attracting new residents.

 

[shark2000]

I'm sure there is an element to truth in both scenarios. Some people are now pursuing it because they love the field, some people are pursuing it because it's where the jobs are, some people are pursuing it because the field of IR has tons of potential for expansion.

It's so easy to look at these situations and say there is only one possible explanation for the change... when in reality there are numerous reasons the field is attracting new residents.

There are people who really like IR and choose it for right reason. For example IRwarrior. Even when the market was booming, IR fellowships used to fill about half of their spots. So I am sure probably 10% of radiology residents are interested in IR.

Your reasons are VERY HARMFUL AND DANGEROUS in the current environment.
1- IR can not replaced by Telerad: Correct. It means that people don't necessary like IR but choose it to have a secure job.
2- Procedures: valid point.
3- Miminal patient contact: This is what I always have problem with. On one hand we talk about clinical IR and paradigm shift. On the other hand many choose IR because they don't like to be involved with patients or they just want a brief patient encounter but want to do procedures. This is the exact mindset that resulted in PAD turf loss. By this mindset you are not able to expand your practice. How are you going to compete with vascular surgeons and cards? How many times have you heard from a vascular surgeon that he wants brief patient contact?

My point is if you choose IR to do procedures but at the same time you are looking for a lifestyle field or you don't want to submerge yourself into patient care, you are doing it for wrong reasons.

 

[je355804]

There are people who really like IR and choose it for right reason. For example IRwarrior. Even when the market was booming, IR fellowships used to fill about half of their spots. So I am sure probably 10% of radiology residents are interested in IR.

Your reasons are VERY HARMFUL AND DANGEROUS in the current environment.
1- IR can not replaced by Telerad: Correct. It means that people don't necessary like IR but choose it to have a secure job.
2- Procedures: valid point.
3- Miminal patient contact: This is what I always have problem with. On one hand we talk about clinical IR and paradigm shift. On the other hand many choose IR because they don't like to be involved with patients or they just want a brief patient encounter but want to do procedures. This is the exact mindset that resulted in PAD turf loss. By this mindset you are not able to expand your practice. How are you going to compete with vascular surgeons and cards? How many times have you heard from a vascular surgeon that he wants brief patient contact?

My point is if you choose IR to do procedures but at the same time you are looking for a lifestyle field or you don't want to submerge yourself into patient care, you are doing it for wrong reasons.

I think you were talking to dermviser there...

As far as I've understood the situation via reading on SIR, their primary goal is to attack the idea of "limited patient contact." They envision IRs as being full out "minimally invasive surgeons" where patient contact is key to successfully expanding both the field of IR as well as creating healthy IR private practices that are able to just practice IR.

 

[irwarrior]

Modern day IR is very patient centered and there are some fairly intense patient interactions (end of life issues etc) especially in the interventional oncology population. The lifestyle is far more similar to general surgery then it is to dermatology or anesthesia. We have morning rounds to start the day, inpatient consults , floor work, outpatient clinic and procedures. There is a great deal of patient care issues in my practice and that often goes beyond the initial consult and follow up to include following up on labs, refilling medications, and imaging as well as responding to patient phone calls etc.

If you do not enjoy patient care, I would advise you not to pursue interventional radiology. Diagnostic radiology is an amazing field and the advancements in imaging will allow us to continue to hone our diagnostic ability as a medical community. Imaging and interventional radiology are very closely related and there will be more and more requirements by IR to become very adept at advanced imaging to best counsel their patients on appropriate therapy etc.

 

[shark2000]

Modern day IR is very patient centered and there are some fairly intense patient interactions (end of life issues etc) especially in the interventional oncology population. The lifestyle is far more similar to general surgery then it is to dermatology or anesthesia. We have morning rounds to start the day, inpatient consults , floor work, outpatient clinic and procedures. There is a great deal of patient care issues in my practice and that often goes beyond the initial consult and follow up to include following up on labs, refilling medications, and imaging as well as responding to patient phone calls etc.

If you do not enjoy patient care, I would advise you not to pursue interventional radiology. Diagnostic radiology is an amazing field and the advancements in imaging will allow us to continue to hone our diagnostic ability as a medical community. Imaging and interventional radiology are very closely related and there will be more and more requirements by IR to become very adept at advanced imaging to best counsel their patients on appropriate therapy etc.

Word of wisdom from a successful IR guy.