Radiology Specialization

[medigull]

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What benefit is there to specializing (besides interest or IR)? Are there procedures that say a musculoskelatal radiologist can do that a general DR cannot? Im just curious (maybe also ignorant) because it seems outside of the academic realm there isnt any sort of distinction on the sort of work that they do. It just seems with other fields there is a dramatic difference say in gsurg a CT surgeon does most if not only CT surgery and there is a definite tiering as far as reimbursement, same thing for say Cardiology and general internists. However apart from IR, this does not seem to be the case for Radiology.

 

[penguin24]

About 85% of recent residency graduates go into fellowship, thus it must be of some importance (or else nobody would do it, right?)

You're correct in that the pay isn't different from a Peds radiologist than a Body radiologist, but a Body and Peds radiologist both include a 1 year fellowship and likely work similar hours, so I don't see how you could justify 1 getting paid higher than the other. OTOH, a CT surgeon encompasses more training than simply Gen Surg, and a CT surgeon likely works more hours than a GenSurg, thus it's easy to justify a CT surgeon getting paid more than a GenSurg, right?

 

[fun8stuff]

What benefit is there to specializing (besides interest or IR)? Are there procedures that say a musculoskelatal radiologist can do that a general DR cannot? Im just curious (maybe also ignorant) because it seems outside of the academic realm there isnt any sort of distinction on the sort of work that they do. It just seems with other fields there is a dramatic difference say in gsurg a CT surgeon does most if not only CT surgery and there is a definite tiering as far as reimbursement, same thing for say Cardiology and general internists. However apart from IR, this does not seem to be the case for Radiology.

Subspecialization increases your skill set and thus marketability. For example, a MSK fellowship trained rad is better than the other rads at reading MSK studies and doing MSK procedures. Neuro rad is better at neuro stuff.

Radiology is too broad of field and things are changing too fast for one person to be good and keep up with all the changes. Specialist clinicians and patients get more from a radiologist with extra expertise in their field. Sure you could have a family doc deliver your baby and it would probably be ok.... but I am guessing you would still pick the OBGYN every day of the week.

 

[Taurus]

When times are tight like they are now, who would you rather hire, a fellowship-trained radiologist or a radiologist without a fellowship? Some groups may also like to advertise that they have only "fellowship-trained radiologists". Well, if you don't have a fellowship, that disqualifies you. It's about marketability. As much as I hate having to train for another year, I'm more afraid of not having the job I want in the location I want.

As far as which fellowship you should pick, that's another topic.

 

[PistolPete]

As much as I hate having to train for another year, I'm more afraid of not having the job I want in the location I want.

Is this a real concern nowadays? Is the job market really that tight?

 

[Taurus]

Is this a real concern nowadays? Is the job market really that tight?

In a recession, everything is tight. Even that glorified field plastics saw a 30% drop in volume nationwide. New plastics people were complaining how they were coming out making 200k after all those years training.

Is plastic surgery struggling?

The economy is cyclical. The moral is to not put yourself at a disadvantage. If 85% of the people are doing fellowships, then you probably should too.

 

[MossPoh]

In a recession, everything is tight. Even that glorified field plastics saw a 30% drop in volume nationwide. New plastics people were complaining how they were coming out making 200k after all those years training.

Is plastic surgery struggling?

The economy is cyclical. The moral is to not put yourself at a disadvantage. If 85% of the people are doing fellowships, then you probably should too.

Yea, but isn't plastics also largely elective and cash based? It seems a given that when money is tight, the new boobs will wait. (For most people in that golden IQ range of wanting new boobs, yet being able to weigh the pros and cons over things like food.)

Oh, and I'm not saying times aren't tough. I'd just be more surprised to hear most other specialties that don't have a large percentage of elective procedures to net more.