Started a radiology interest group at my school, recently. Curious if stipends are available for medical students who join SIR and want to attend the conference.
I hope that we can get a dedicated IR interest group going at most schools (specific for those interested in IR)
I am not aware of any dedicated funds to get students to the annual meeting, but I do believe the meeting registration is waived for students. I will look into it further with SIR.
Regardless, the future of IR is on the top of my mind and the answers seem to vary from region to region. It might be best to address some concerns when the entire field is assembled in Chicago. How specialized do you have to be post-fellowship in the future? Where is IR winning turf battles, and what happens when they lose them? Are improvements in imaging making it easier for other specialists to chip away at IR volume now or in the future?
So, I think all politics are local. But, it really is up to the individual. I truly believe when there is a will thee is a way. This does require that you become a disease specialist. You must be able to treat all aspects of the patient's condition. I still think it is important to be a general IR and able to do most things, but it is true in a large group of IR, there will be some level of subspecialization. (It is impossible to keep up on everything).
for example hepatoma (you should know the role of transplant, resection, ablation, chemoembolizastion and oral chemotherapy). Then you should feel comfortable seeing the patient and referring if necessary. Some IRs are even prescribing nexavar themselves (oral chemotherapy).
You should understand liver disease (when to give lasix, aldactone, lactulose, propanolol, rifaximin etc), if you are dealing with patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
I do think that all specialties will need to improve their imaging skills. This is becoming an integral part of medicine. BUt, having said that IR have a strong imaging background and great technical skills and are now improving their clinical fundamentals. The true triple threat and renaissance physician. But, it does require a strong background in clinical skills and patient management.
Hope that helps.