What is a Radiologist?
A radiologist is a medical doctor who interprets the results of medical imaging tests performed in a clinic or hospital by a radiological technician. For example, a radiologist will interpret the test results of an X-ray scan. After looking at the results of the imaging tests, the radiologist may discuss options with the patient or inform the primary caregiver of the results and the best treatment plan. Also, within this field are interventional radiologists who utilize their skills to treat cancer.
Radiologists are licensed medical doctors that have gone through medical school. They do sometimes specialize in a certain field of radiology, such as mammography, emergency radiology, or cardiovascular radiology. Medical imaging results that radiologists interpret include X-rays, fluoroscopy, MRIs, ultrasound, computerized tomography, PET scans, and nuclear imaging.
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Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
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Step 2: Medical School
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Step 3: Internship and Residency
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Step 4: Fellowship
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Step 5: Licensure and Certifications
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree
Students who are pursuing a path to an MD will first need to earn their bachelor's degree. They need to take the courses that will be prerequisites for medical school, such as physics, biology, general and organic chemistry, and English. It is a good idea for the undergraduate student to obtain part-time employment or volunteer work in the medical field in order to gain some experience.
Students who plan on attending medical school must take the Medical College Admissions Test, or MCAT, in their undergraduate years. Applying to different medical schools actually begins in the junior year of one's bachelor's program. Students apply to schools, armed with great letters of recommendation that they hopefully received from work in the medical field while attending college, and are interviewed by the prospective schools. Besides great letters of recommendation, students need to have a high GPA and MCAT scores that are above average.
The American Association of Medical Colleges is a great source of information for students who will be attending medical school.
The biggest decision that a student must make during their undergraduate years is what type of medical school they would like to attend. There are two different types. Either one will lead to licensure in radiology. One type of medical school is allopathic. Allopathic medical schools train future doctors to use medications and surgery to treat medical conditions. Osteopathic medical schools teach future physicians to help patients prevent diseases and illnesses through a more holistic philosophy.
Step 2: Medical School
Radiologists must have an MD degree. Medical school will take four years. The first two years will be in the classroom, learning pathology, pathophysiology, anatomy, pharmacology, embryology, human behavior, and biochemistry. In anatomy class, students will be working hands-on with human cadavers.
After the classroom portion of medical school, the student will begin the second half of their program, called “clinical rotations.” In this portion of medical school, the student is working in all of the different parts of the medical field, so they will be doing hands-on work under experienced doctors in all of the sub-fields of medicine such as surgery, internal medicine, osteopathy, and pediatrics. They will be working both in hospitals and in clinics and with in- and out-patients.
There is a large, national examination that all medical students must pass in order to complete the program and receive their M.D. degree. It is called the United States Medical Licensing Examination, or USMLE. If one intends to go into a radiology career, one must get an above-average score on the USMLE.
Also, because internships and residencies, which are the next step in full licensure, are so competitive (as is the entire field of radiology) the aspiring radiologist must stay near the top of his or her medical schools class and get good recommendations from the experienced doctors they work with during clinical rotations.
Step 3: Internship and Residency
At this point, the student has their MD, but they cannot fully practice medicine. They are in the next four-year phase of their training. The next full year of education is called an internship. This part of their education is paid. The new doctor will work in either surgery or general medicine. They will work with patients in emergency rooms as well as in hospitals and clinics in order to get a well-rounded, general training as a new physician.
After the first year of their residency, the interns are able to begin to work in radiology. Besides receiving more training, the interns will interpret medical imaging tests, speak with patients, provide diagnoses, and create treatment plans. The resident will move between classroom time and clinical practice time throughout each day. Residents will often need to be available nights and weekends as well.
Then, the residents must take more examinations to demonstrate their thorough understanding of radiology.
Step 4: Fellowship
Most radiologists do not end their training after their four-year residency program. They continue into a fellowship program that allows them to receive training in a sub-field of radiology. These fellowship programs work quite a bit like residencies, with lectures and training to attend, as well as hands-on work using the information they are learning with patients. Fellowship programs tend to last for a year or two. About 90% of all radiologists do at least one fellowship program. Some do two programs.
Step 5: Licensure and Certifications
At this point, the radiologist will be able to receive full state licensure to practice in their field. Most radiologists will also opt to take radiology board certification exams because most employers will require their radiologists to be board certified.
Board-certified radiologists need their MD and state licensure. They need to have completed their residency, and will need to pass the board's exams, which are both written and oral. Once the radiologist has their initial radiology careers certification and has completed a fellowship, they can pass an additional exam in order to receive certification in specialties within the radiological field.
There are two radiological certification boards in the US, the American Board of Radiology and the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology.
Radiologist Career & Salary
Some radiologists work in hospitals or clinics. Others work in private firms that supply radiological services to hospitals and clinics. In the past, there were radiologists who were partners in radiological firms, but this practice is becoming rare because new radiologists to the field often do not like the idea of having to fund the cost of the radiological firm. New radiologists prefer employment. There are also radiologists engaged in research and in teaching.
Radiologists might work in a small, rural town and be the only game in town, commanding a larger salary, or they might be a specialist who works in an urban or suburban area. According to Modern Medicine Network, there is a trend for hospitals and clinics in rural areas to prefer to hire radiologists who are willing to make a five or more year commitment to stay in the area. For this reason, such rural facilities are more likely to hire a radiologist who is more experienced. The belief is that an experienced radiologist will know what they want, so they will more likely stay in the area. New radiologists may choose to earn specialty certifications and work in metropolitan areas.