Pathway to pediatric neuroradiology

[RadSooner]

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Haven't been on SDN in quite a while, but I always find myself back on the board at times of uncertainty in training! Thanks in advance for any advice you guys can offer.

I entered radiology residency thinking I would eventually go into pediatric neuroradiology. My program has an awesome neuroradiology fellowship (complete with people I love, a reasonable schedule for fellows, in a place I love living and would stay after fellowship if possible), but little general peds experience and no pediatric fellowship. My original plan changed to stay where I am and complete a 1 or 2 year neuroradiology fellowship with the idea that I would sort of forget about my pediatric interests, as I do like adult neuroradiology. Recently though I had another pediatric rotation and had to opportunity to read a lot of pediatric neuro studies... and absolutely loved it. This has really made me question my decision to forego pediatric training.

So I guess I am looking for advice about integrating pediatrics into my training/practice. If I were to complete a primarily adult neuroradiology fellowship with some pediatric rotations, are there opportunities to join a large private practice and incorporate pediatric neuroimaging into my practice? Do I need to do a year of adult + a year of pediatric neuroradiology fellowship? Or is my only real chance at reading pediatric studies afforded by general peds + pedi neuro fellowship and working in a pediatric hospital (in the same city I live, a pediatric practice is planning to hire two pedi neuroradiologists the year I would finish fellowship- they require a general pediatric fellowship)?

Sorry for the long post; the route to pediatric neuroradiology is not straightforward and made more complicated by my ties to my home neuroradiology dept and the fact that I love where I live, but would move if necessary. Thanks for any advice you guys can offer!!

 

[qxrt]

I think that there are multiple pathways. One fellow I know did a year of general peds fellowship, followed by a year of dedicated peds neuroradiology at the same place. Another fellow I know is starting a general peds residency this July and matched into an adult neuroradiology fellowship at a different place to follow after that. Both of them are interested in practicing peds radiology. I think part of it is personal preference.

 

[RadSooner]

I think that there are multiple pathways. One fellow I know did a year of general peds fellowship, followed by a year of dedicated peds neuroradiology at the same place. Another fellow I know is starting a general peds residency this July and matched into an adult neuroradiology fellowship at a different place to follow after that. Both of them are interested in practicing peds radiology. I think part of it is personal preference.

Yes that's what makes it a complicated decision. My question is not "what are the pathways" but "what does each pathway mean in terms of future practice opportunities"?

 

[deleted564680]

I think if you want to do academic neuro-peds then you have to do two years of 1. peds then 2. neuro-peds (only a handful of institutions offer this I believe) or a combination of 1. peds and 2. adult neuro. If you want to do private practice, you can probably get away with just a neurorads fellowships that has some peds in it. For example, the neuro people at my institution read peds on M/W/F and the peds people read neuro on T/Th. So, I guess it depends on if you want to be peds-first or neuro-first. I don't think anywhere can read just neuro-peds 100% except maybe CHOP or Boston children's (I don't know the answer to this).

 

[meister]

What is your end goal?

If you want to be an expert pediatric neurorad then doing some combination of peds fellowship, peds neuro fellowship and/or general neurorad with emphasis on peds is required.

If private practice, I would just do a neuro fellowship and spend some dedicated time on peds stuff if your PD allows.