All About Being a Radiologist
By: Ciara Page
Introduction
When hear the word radiologist, you think "What kind of scientist is that?". In reality they are scientists, but radiologists are also biologists too. They have a very significant job to citizens. Radiologists are those mortals that study X-rays and MRI's to diagnose or treat diseases and injuries. Wouldn't it be cool to discover things in the body just through one X-ray? Then what are you waiting for, let's learn how to become one!
The Education
Radiologists have such a captivating job, but comes with a great deal of education. The first step to becoming a radiologist is getting a bachelor's degree in courses such as biology, chemistry, physics, etc. Next you must complete four years of medical school on the path to a specialist. Medical school is divided into two years in a classroom, and the other two years is first hand experience to clinical situations. Once you complete those eight years of school, you move on to special training.
Special Training
No, you're not quite a radiologist after school. Now you must complete special training. Special Training for radiologists means four years of radiology residency. Not as living residency, but as in residency of more first hand education and on- the- job training. In residency, you start earning a salary, but this pay isn't the final salary. Also special training requires you to take classes if there is any new technological advances in the field. Lastly, radiologists must renew their licenses to practice medicine every year. Not too bad right?
The Salary
The salary for radiologists is pleasingly elevated. The median annual Physician - Radiology salary is $377,420, as of April 26, 2016, with a range usually between $328,157-$436,586. ("Physician - Radiology Salaries"). In consideration with the amount of money and the education you'll get out of school, the time is worth it.
Duties of the Job
Radiologists have three basic duties in order to truly fulfill their job. The first is analyzing the information given to them. In order to truly analyze something, you need to know about the patient's background before making a diagnoses. If you do not complete this responsibility, you could give the wrong diagnoses which will lead to many negative things such as getting fired or even sued. Next radiologists must communicate their findings with physicians. If the radiologists do not communicate to the doctors, how will they ever know what's wrong with the patient? Lastly radiologists need to understand the technology they are working with. For example, they shouldn't be trying to making a diagnoses with equipment they are using for the first time. Doing so will result to inaccuracy which isn't a good thing in this field. As long as you logically do your job and its duties, you will be a successful radiologist.
Demands for the job
Demands to be a radiologist have remained at a fairly constant level. According to Bassett, Based on results, the researchers project that there will be 1,526 jobs available in 2013, and 1,434 in 2016. In percentage form, the prediction these careers will project 18% for all physicians and surgeons("Radiologist Education Requirements, Training and Career Info"). These numbers may not seem large, but this career is often forgot about because of the education required, but if you think about it, it can be worth it in the end.
Example Pictures
This radiologist is currently looking at a X-ray of the rib cage.
This radiologist is reviewing the X-ray with the other doctors.
This is an example of common X-ray to analyze.
Citation: http://divrad.com/uploads/main/x-ray.jpg