vascular & interventional rad

[cardiosurg]

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I am not sure if this is where I need to ask these questions, but here it goes: I am looking through a few possibilities in specialties. Please answer my questions or direct me to the thread/webiste that can answer my questions. After med school how may years of residency (diag rad?) then fellowship? Which schools offer a fellowship in this. What type of work hours would I be looking at (on-call, in-hospital, work at home). A general list of pros and cons for choosing this (kidding). Would there be time in order for me to take off and do medical missions 1-2 times per year (2 weeks at a time). How hard is it to leave in case of a family emergency (i.e. death in the family)--i know with peds ct surg there would be very little chance. Thanks so much.

 

[doepug]

A few rads programs offer a shorter VIR track, but the traditional route includes an internship or transitional year, followed by 4 years of diagnostic radiology, and a 1-2 year vascular fellowship. Every major academic center has a fellowship, as do a few large community hospitals.

Hours for VIR are better than surgery, but you'd be busy. You'll start early, finish late, and take call relatively often (depending on the size of your program). Most residencies and fellowships offer around 3 weeks of vacation per year. Your flexibilty for emergencies will be dictated by your program, but I can't imagine that your colleagues wouldn't pitch in to help you if something terrible happens.

Good luck,
doepug

 

[cardiosurg]

thanks so much. the list is definelty long as to which schools offer this fellowship! which are the better ones. i was glad to find out that vandy had one and uab! also, i know that radiologists are being able to do more and more. what is the limit as to what vasc int rads can do? it also sounds as if i will have time to do medical missions esp after fellowship.

 

[doepug]

As with any other field, there's a great deal of argument about which programs are best. Generally speaking, the better known hospitals have stronger programs. A few hospitals that aren't in the US News top 10 have exceptional VIR programs, including UVa, Indiana, and OHSU.

The "limits" of what radiologists can do vary from hospital to hospital. VIR is defined by turf wars with cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and neurosurgeons. Time will tell if certain procedures are performed by one field over another. Although the prospects for VIR are excellent, there's a fair bit of uncertainty over who will win these battles.

--doepug

 

[RADRULES]

VIR has an uncertain future, and I have a sense that is will soon become pretty much the same as other clinical specialties *gasp*, meaning clinic, admitting, etc.

Money is superb but the lifestyle is not so great.

I considered it for a long time, but then I realized an important fact about myself: I do not like working nights and weekends. I am willing to put in 12 hours/day during the weekdays, but I like to have my nights and weekends free. Ask yourself what you want and then decide.

 

[cardiosurg]

thanks for the responses. radrules: the other field to which i am debating vir with is pedsctsurg. i am glutton for punishment. i guess that i have worked enough with the docs to see that if they trully want to make time for spouses and kids they can. it just seems as if you have to way in factors such as pvt practice, group practice and hospital-based. i guess i was comparing it to ct surg where you are there (in hops-based setting) 630 am and leave anywhere from 5pm to 11pm. weekends the resident and fellows mainly take over but sometimes you will see the 2 main docs checking up on the pt. now, if a pt were to drop suddenly and say need to be placed on ecmo, then you minght have to leave your child's play and come into work. i would much rather live in the OR than a clinc anyday. that is why i would choose surgery/procedure-based (for lack of a better word) practices. clinic is just not my idea of a good day.

 

[RADRULES]

Well, when you put it that way, I would certainly to VIR over any type of CT surgery.

Lots of smart people believe that CT surgery has passed its prime. VIR is just getting started, and could certainly use motivated people like you to take it to the next level.

Good luck.

 

[cardiosurg]

aww shucks!😳 seriously, thanks for the help. does anyone know what the typical day for a vir would be. i have an excellent idea of the typical (i use that word loosly) day for pedsct surg.