MSK vs IR

[gunslinga]

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Greetings,

I'm a current R1 who was thinking about IR before getting to radiology. I've had my first exposure to IR and it is OK. I don't hate it but I don't love it either. I liked my initial MSK rotation but don't really know too much about the field in terms of future job prospects and value in academics/pp. I guess I wanted to see what fellow senior residents/radiologists had in mind in regards to where MSK is right now and where it is headed. I still have some time before figuring out what I want to go for, but I would really like a rough idea of what waits for me as an MSK radiologist wanted to do procedures out in the real world.

Thanks so much for your time.

 

[CaptainSSO]

I think it’s totally variable based on practice. There are some places where IR does essentially all the procedures, and some probably smaller groups where you can do procedures. Depends on where you end up.

 

[Rads Consult]

In general, do what you like the most and don't worry about job prospects. Because at the end of the day, you'll have more money than you know what to do with, so enjoy your time at work as best as you can.

For example, let's say you'll make 600k/yr doing IR vs 400k/yr doing MSK. You'll spend what you're going to spend (within reason) to keep you happy and fulfilled and the rest you'll invest. After 10yrs, you'll have paid down lots of debts and have even more extra salary and your financial guy/gal will tell you to invest it. 10 yrs later, same thing, even more money because you've continued to save and your investments have continued to grow, and you'll get the same advice, keep investing.... and that's the point where you will inevitably end up no matter what specialty you choose. More money than you know what to do with, so you just keep investing it I guess? Or retire a few years earlier if you chose the high salary? But I think you'll want to work a little, right?

In specific, it's about lifestyle. High end IR is typically academic or massive PP group which has lots of call and less lifestyle, but it's interesting. Doing community IR, PICCS and Ports all day has little to no call, but it does have lifestyle, but it can also be boring. There's less of a dichotomy with MSK.

 

[Life316]

IR and MSK currently have similar job market and starting salaries per hour.

 

[TCOM12]

Do you like reading joint MRIs and being the arthritis guy? That's the money making in MSK (the joint MRIs). Depending on where you do fellowship and where you practice, you may be relied on for spine and spine procedures (some of that can go to neuro, and procedures may go to IR). Arthrograms are also important.

Ortho oncology will be hit or miss depending on where you end up. Even some academic places don't have that.

But yea, do what you like. If you like doing procedures but don't want to do IR, you can go to a smaller practice and still do general "light" IR. Or you can do mammo and end up in PP or academics and always do procedures.

 

[Radology]

I wouldn’t say more money than you know what to do with.

People will always find a way to spend money. Private schools, a house too big, hosting opulent parties.

I have 60 year old partners In my group who still work extra shifts for money

 

[gunslinga]

Thanks for the input thus far. I am hopeful that I won't go crazy with spending money as an attending thus should have enough to live a non-stressful life.

I guess I will have a better idea of what to do as an R2 and more time on these rotations. IR appears to be a tougher road in that matching to a fellowship is very competitive at the moment. I don't mind reading joint MRI's even as an R1 and I've found some fellowships out there that are procedure heavy (Jefferson seems amazing).