The radiologists personality.

[RunningKing]

I feel an important part of a career is getting along with your colleagues. I am exploring specialties right now, and was told to check out radiology because it would be a good fit for my personality. I am very self-confident but slightly introverted, and am also very truthful. I don't get along with smooth talkers or people who exaggerate. To me, stereotypes can be very useful because they often are correct. So, what is the typical radiologist like in terms of their behavior and temperment. I know this is kind of a bizarre and subjective question, but I would like your thoughts anyway.

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[f_w]

I know this is kind of a bizarre and subjective question, but I would like your thoughts anyway.

You will find the same spectrum of personalities you will encounter in any other office environment. No stereotypical personality here. Do a rotation or some research in the rads department, decide whether you like the work environment and make an informed decision.

 

[-Goose-]

Disagree with f_w's bogus PC answer.

In general, radiologists tend to be smarter than many other docs -- I mean higher IQs and more street smarts/worldy knowledge. They are definitely more well rounded than most other docs. Radiologists are ambitious and success-driven. They are socially adept, articulate, and amiable. The whole if-you're-good-with-people-go-into-medicine and if-not-go-into-radiology thing is TOTALLY WRONG. Think about it: In medicine you have to deal with uneducated, illiterate derelicts and scumbags (i.e. patients) and low level ancillary staff (i.e. nurses). In radiology you are in constant communication with fellow physicians. Which one do you think requires superior communication skills?

What else? Oh yeah we are very self confident and self assured -- we picked the best gig in medicine, we earn near the top, and all other specialties envy us so we should be. You can definitely be introverted and do GREAT in rads... I too am somewhat schizoid and love working/thinking alone -- but if/when you want you can get tons of meaningful interaction with colleagues and (if you really want) patients too. Smooth talkers? Heck I don't know... all specialties have those -- rads is no exception.

In rads I think it's important to be somewhat self-motivated -- ideally one should be a philomath -- b/c you do have to read and learn constantly. Being a technophile helps but is not an absolute requirement.

There's probably a ton more but those are a few off the top of my head. Rads rules. Don't think -- do rads.

peace

Hmm... my experience (as a medical student):

While every radiologist I've met has been laid back and pretty cool, many of them have less than outgoing personalities and some have been downright hard to talk to. Not all of course.

Just one man's experience.

 

[nutcancer]

make your decision on whether you like the work or not..

variances in personality are the same in every occupation. i've 'read' with the middle aged women chatting about sex, their period, and men and also with nerds that are all business.

 

[nutcancer]

and i disagree a lot of what apache says but he's right about not going into rads because you think you're not a people person

 

[f_w]

oh, and occasionally you are going to run into some self-aggrandizing pompous ass.

 

[-Goose-]

oh, and occasionally you are going to run into some self-aggrandizing pompous ass.

 

[colbgw02]

oh, and occasionally you are going to run into some self-aggrandizing pompous ass.

nice.

to the OP, i see all kinds of personalities. everyone from the pathologic neurotic to the ultimate laid back nice guy.

 

[hans19]

oh, and occasionally you are going to run into some self-aggrandizing pompous ass.

 

[-Goose-]

Hardy har har -- good one nerds... now back to playing Dungeons & Dragons and courting Russian brides on the internet. Here's a pic of f_w and Hans -- buddies for life! High five baby woohoo!!!

attachment was Apache's High School prom pic

 

[hans19]

Hardy har har -- good one nerds... now back to playing Dungeons & Dragons and courting Russian brides on the internet. Here's a pic of f_w and Hans -- buddies for life! High five baby woohoo!!!

He never called you a pompous ass. What makes you think he was talking about you?

Did you just admit to being pompous ass?

 

[ScooterBanks]

To all medical students out there: Be careful making assumptions and forming stereotypes about radiology/radiologists based upon what you see at your school's hospital.

By definition, your first hand experience of these things is with academic radiology. In reality, 95+ % of radiologists work in the private practice sector.

There is a huge difference in private practice radiology and academic radiology in so many ways...one of which is personality. In general, academic radiologists are a different breed than their private practice counterparts. On average, they tend to be less sociable and personable.

I would encourage everyone interested, or who thinks they might have an interest in radiology to spend some time in the private practice setting. As a third year medical student, I had an interest in radiology and thought it might be something that would fit me well. After doing a two week rotation my third year, I was disappointed with what I saw because frankly I didn't like it very much at all and was upset because I thought it was something I would really want to do. The first month of my fourth year, I was able to do an "away" elective through my school with a private practice group in town and ended up loving it.

The difference in my experiences was enormous. Some of that difference had to do with the people. The private practice guys were fun people. They cracked jokes all the time while working around each other, would talk about the football game that was on the night before, and had absolutely no desire to discuss the latest cutting edge research in MR magnets. This was in stark contrast to the academic side of things, where the people tended to isolate themselves in their work, didn't even know who played in the game the night before, and when they did get together would love to discuss all the latest updates in radiology that they knew of.

There are so many more differences in private practice than academics than just the personalities though. It's hard to appreciate the them unless you experience them first hand. Some people like the academic side of things more. However, the reality is that the greater majority of us will end up in private practice. If that's the case, then you should probably make an effort to try and check out what the typical day is like for a private practice guy instead of just basing your opinions and decisions or radiology on your academic experience.

 

[Zweihander]

oh, and occasionally you are going to run into some self-aggrandizing pompous ass.

 

[f_w]

There is a huge difference in private practice radiology and academic radiology in so many ways...one of which is personality. In general, academic radiologists are a different breed than their private practice counterparts.

Good point.

Academia selects for big egos. PP selects against big egos. Traits that allow you to move forward in the hierachical structure of an academic department will work against you in a PP group. If you get hired as an associate in a rads group and spend all your day walking around telling everyone 'I am the biggest f##)#^ here', the senior partners will politely decline when comes time to vote on offering you a partner contract (if you do that in academia, you will be vice-chair for business development or some other fluffy title in no time).

The other type you do encounter in academia are the hermits that sit in their office working on papers and just emerge to read-out cases with the residents or fellows for maybe 2 hours a day.

 

[radrounds]

I am new to these boards... just a quick review of what is going on here, nice posts f_w and ScooterBanks.

There are a wide range of practice settings + personalities in radiology. Practice settings can surely select for certain types... even within private practices, there are a WIDE range of people. Some groups are known to have sharks/money-driven rads and other groups have more academic-bent despite being PP. Either way, radiology has lots of different oportunities and people.