Prejudices against radiologists?

[ashar008]

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Im a transitional year student at a categorical radiology program. My intern year has going OK although I wish I had more time to do study and do radiology stuff before my R1 year starts but I understand its part of the process. I've rotated through internal medicine, ICU, orthopedics, family medicine etc. But I can't help but notice that a lot of the people I work with including nurses, attendings, residents, nursing assistants and even freaking phlebotomist have their own two cents about my career choice. Sometimes it's light hearted but other times I've felt some real disdain by these people towards my career choice. Throughout my intern year whenever someone finds out I'm a radiology resident I get comments that assume I don't know how to do or know anything. I never get to do procedures, never get to present my own patients, never get to do notes without supervision and many other things. I feel like everyone almost hates their own career choices and having to be forced to work long hours so they look at my career choice as a lifestyle choice rather than a choice that I made because I genuinely have a passion for it. I have never felt less like a healthcare provider in my life besides being a 3rd year medical student lol. Anybody else have similar experiences during intern year and want to share some thoughts? Thank you.

 

[tigga2013]

I got that as well as an intern, but you just have to cut out all the noise. No one outside of the reading room really understands what radiologists do on a daily basis. Each specialty seems to believe they can read their own studies better than we do, but fails to appreciate the breath and depth of diagnostic radiology. Best of luck on the latter half of intern year.

Also, you're no longer a "student" - you're a doctor now.

 

[Kuratz]

Surgery intern. I do not have issues with getting procedures, doing notes, or presenting at rounds. Overall I feel like a valuable member of the team, especially when on-service because it would struggle to function well without an intern. I’m assertive about lines and basic procedures though. Anyone who just kinda sits on their hands waiting will never get one. I’m talking having the patient consented, prepped and draped with all the supplies ready and calling when you are ready to start. If you have needle in hand when senior walks in then rarely will they not let you try. Off-service I get the vibes you mention. I think partly the TY doesn’t value interns as much since you are there so transiently, whereas we work for 7-8 months with the same residents/nurses/techs getting crushed. Co-classmates thought I was nuts for passing up a chill TY for a surgery prelim. The hours do suck but I have been forced to make some real decisions when everyone is in the OR and **** is hitting the fan or late at night. Contrary to dogma I think a hard intern year that isn’t purely scut is very valuable. TYs didn’t seem to value that to the same extent and felt to be selling the hours rather than experience. It’s the last time many will ever do significant patient care. I’d recommend the right surgery or medicine prelim to current M4s about match. I think your feelings stem from a TY program’s culture and also not advocating for yourself.

In terms of getting **** on for going Rads: yes happens. Don’t care. Lots of envy and regret projecting.

 

[risus_sardonicus]

Surgery intern. I do not have issues with getting procedures, doing notes, or presenting at rounds. Overall I feel like a valuable member of the team, especially when on-service because it would struggle to function well without an intern. I’m assertive about lines and basic procedures though. Anyone who just kinda sits on their hands waiting will never get one. I’m talking having the patient consented, prepped and draped with all the supplies ready and calling when you are ready to start. If you have needle in hand when senior walks in then rarely will they not let you try. Off-service I get the vibes you mention. I think partly the TY doesn’t value interns as much since you are there so transiently, whereas we work for 7-8 months with the same residents/nurses/techs getting crushed. Co-classmates thought I was nuts for passing up a chill TY for a surgery prelim. The hours do suck but I have been forced to make some real decisions when everyone is in the OR and **** is hitting the fan or late at night. Contrary to dogma I think a hard intern year that isn’t purely scut is very valuable. TYs didn’t seem to value that to the same extent and felt to be selling the hours rather than experience. It’s the last time many will ever do significant patient care. I’d recommend the right surgery or medicine prelim to current M4s about match. I think your feelings stem from a TY program’s culture and also not advocating for yourself.

In terms of getting **** on for going Rads: yes happens. Don’t care. Lots of envy and regret projecting.

Current M4, are you planning on ESIR?


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[Womb Raider]

Im a transitional year student at a categorical radiology program. My intern year has going OK although I wish I had more time to do study and do radiology stuff before my R1 year starts but I understand its part of the process. I've rotated through internal medicine, ICU, orthopedics, family medicine etc. But I can't help but notice that a lot of the people I work with including nurses, attendings, residents, nursing assistants and even freaking phlebotomist have their own two cents about my career choice. Sometimes it's light hearted but other times I've felt some real disdain by these people towards my career choice. Throughout my intern year whenever someone finds out I'm a radiology resident I get comments that assume I don't know how to do or know anything. I never get to do procedures, never get to present my own patients, never get to do notes without supervision and many other things. I feel like everyone almost hates their own career choices and having to be forced to work long hours so they look at my career choice as a lifestyle choice rather than a choice that I made because I genuinely have a passion for it. I have never felt less like a healthcare provider in my life besides being a 3rd year medical student lol. Anybody else have similar experiences during intern year and want to share some thoughts? Thank you.

Who gives a **** what other people think? It really doesn't matter man. The sooner you realize your own happiness is not contingent on what other's think the better. If you're a vain person you should've gone into a spotlight specialty like surgery.

I suspect there's something else going on here regarding your limitations for writing notes and doing procedures... but if it truly is due to you doing radiology then you need to be more assertive and demand to be treated like everyone else. If it's other residents holding you down then go to the attending, the chief resident, or program director. No reason your clinical education should be cut short because you're going to be a radiologist.

 

[CidHighwind]

Most people honestly don’t have “passion” for their work. They got stuck doing it because of their step scores.

 

[Derv]

That must be nice not having to present patients or do notes. In my medicine intern year I was treated just like the rest of my categorical and prelim interns.

 

[odyssey2]

Surgery intern. I do not have issues with getting procedures, doing notes, or presenting at rounds. Overall I feel like a valuable member of the team, especially when on-service because it would struggle to function well without an intern. I’m assertive about lines and basic procedures though. Anyone who just kinda sits on their hands waiting will never get one. I’m talking having the patient consented, prepped and draped with all the supplies ready and calling when you are ready to start. If you have needle in hand when senior walks in then rarely will they not let you try. Off-service I get the vibes you mention. I think partly the TY doesn’t value interns as much since you are there so transiently, whereas we work for 7-8 months with the same residents/nurses/techs getting crushed. Co-classmates thought I was nuts for passing up a chill TY for a surgery prelim. The hours do suck but I have been forced to make some real decisions when everyone is in the OR and **** is hitting the fan or late at night. Contrary to dogma I think a hard intern year that isn’t purely scut is very valuable. TYs didn’t seem to value that to the same extent and felt to be selling the hours rather than experience. It’s the last time many will ever do significant patient care. I’d recommend the right surgery or medicine prelim to current M4s about match. I think your feelings stem from a TY program’s culture and also not advocating for yourself.

In terms of getting **** on for going Rads: yes happens. Don’t care. Lots of envy and regret projecting.

This feels like a very future-IR post

 

[Cognovi]

I never get to do procedures, never get to present my own patients, never get to do notes without supervision and many other things

Either you are demonstrating incompetence and/or they are creating a malignant learning environment. Ask yourself whether you may be incompetent and people justifiably do not entrust you with doing basic tasks. If not, you need to tell your categorical radiology program to drop the transitional year program starting next year. This lack of real responsibility is a detriment to your development as a clinician. I did a real prelim medicine year and had no such condescending encounters.

 

[CidHighwind]

Even if they thought him incopentent, they should at least tell him and then help him with such. Since without presenting or doing notes you’re not even on a med student level as a resident!

 

[Gadofosveset]

I remember a lot of prejudice against radiology as a medical student and intern.

Looking back on it, those attendings had no idea what we do or what we are up against. The most outspoken ones were just simply *****s, but you won't find that out for 5-10 years.

It bothered me a lot at the time. It doesn't bother me anymore. Try not to let it bother you. A good clinician recognizes the value of a good diagnostic radiologist in her or his corner.

I'm also talking about conscientious and skilled radiologists. A sloppy or stupid radiologist deserves what they get. There are plenty of sloppy and stupid clinicians to match them, so that doesn't bother me either.

 

[NDcienporciento100]

Im a transitional year student at a categorical radiology program. My intern year has going OK although I wish I had more time to do study and do radiology stuff before my R1 year starts but I understand its part of the process. I've rotated through internal medicine, ICU, orthopedics, family medicine etc. But I can't help but notice that a lot of the people I work with including nurses, attendings, residents, nursing assistants and even freaking phlebotomist have their own two cents about my career choice. Sometimes it's light hearted but other times I've felt some real disdain by these people towards my career choice. Throughout my intern year whenever someone finds out I'm a radiology resident I get comments that assume I don't know how to do or know anything. I never get to do procedures, never get to present my own patients, never get to do notes without supervision and many other things. I feel like everyone almost hates their own career choices and having to be forced to work long hours so they look at my career choice as a lifestyle choice rather than a choice that I made because I genuinely have a passion for it. I have never felt less like a healthcare provider in my life besides being a 3rd year medical student lol. Anybody else have similar experiences during intern year and want to share some thoughts? Thank you.

All jealous and miserable about there life choices

 

[Chemdude]

As others mentioned above, most clinicians and ancillary staff are clueless about what our job entails. They don't know that we spend 5-8 years of postgraduate training learning about the anatomy, physiology and pathology of every organ system. They don't know that we know more "medicine" than any other specialist in the hospital. Again, who cares what the medicine and surgery residents think? Radiology can be very difficult and grueling despite popular belief; I'd like to see an internist or surgeon crush 150 studies on a busy night shift. ...We work hard and play an integral in patient care. Nearly every patient gets an imaging study...The hospital would come to a halt if radiologists stopped working.

 

[Tiger100]

All this BS of "we read our own imaging", belongs to academics with high and many times pathologic egos. Otherwise, in most private practice settings the clinicians work closely with radiologists and respect what we do a lot.

Honestly, it is not hard to gain a lot of respect in private practice IF you are good at what you do and you are willing to work with other physicians. Several doctors including ERs, oncologists, surgeons, OB-GYN, Hospitalists and etc message me on my cell phone to get my second opinion. And I am not the best radiologist out there. You just need to be good both technically and socially and I assure you that respect will be your least problem.