Home »
Resources»
Careers » Why Become A Radiologist
Radiologists are physicians who read and interpret digital images or x-rays of patients. These digital images and x-rays are obtained by using a variety of machines, cameras, and imaging equipment. Radiologists use this information to diagnose patients and consult with physicians to select a certain course of treatment.
What Does A Radiologist Do?
The following are the major tasks performed by radiologists:
-
Take patients' history by patient interviews, electronic records, and dictated reports or by communicating with related clinicians.
-
Make detailed interpretative reports of findings.
-
Carry out and interpret the results of diagnostic imagining procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), mammography, or ultrasound.
-
Provide examination results or diagnostic information to physicians, patients, and families.
-
Assess medical information to determine patients' risk factors and make decisions about the right procedures.
-
Give counseling to radiologic patients to explain the processes, benefits, risks, or substitute treatments.
-
Train radiologic staff the desired techniques, projections, and positions.
-
Discuss image-based diagnoses with other medical professionals.
-
Coordinate radiological activities with other medical procedures.
Why Become A Radiologist?
Many physicians choose to practice in radiology due to a number of reasons. Like other physicians, they enjoy making a difference in people's lives. Job stability is also a prominent aspect of a radiologist's job. Radiologists are compensated quite well and enjoy high salaries and good benefits among physicians. Although, the job of radiologists may be stressful and a small mistake may cost a lot, radiologists get a lot of perks as well. They have much more vacation time, an average of 8 to 12 weeks, which is almost double than that of other physicians. Radiologists also enjoy schedule and work flexibility due to the nature of their work. The portability of radiology allows them to have more flexibility in work schedules. However, most full time radiology jobs need the physician to work on site at least part of the time, if not full time.
How To Become A Radiologist
Radiologists have to complete the requirements of becoming a medical doctor or physician. They need to complete:
-
Four years of Bachelor's education
-
Four years to acquire medical education
-
Four years of residency training
-
One year optional fellowship for sub-specialization
A radiologist is required to meet many additional requirements of practicing medicine in US. These include passing the USMLE exam, acquiring a state medical license, passing the board certification exam in Radiology, and having hospital privileges and credentials. Optional subspecialty fellowships include mammography, interventional radiology, body-imaging, musculo-skeletal, and brain imaging to name a few areas.
Radiologist Salary and Job Outlook
According to O*NET OnLine, the median wage for radiologists in 2012 was $187,200 per year. Employment growth of radiologists is expected to remain between 15 to 21 percent, which is faster than the average of all occupations. The projected job openings for radiologists in the next ten years are around 152,600. Top industries where radiologists are expected to find jobs include government, health care, and social assistance.