Essay On Becoming A Radiologist

Diagnostic Radiologists: The Doctor’s Doctor

A person rushes into the emergency room; he begins to complain of an extremely sharp intense pain in their stomach. The physician is puzzled to what might be causing the severe pain and calls in for an emergency MRI scan. The patient struggles to walk as the atrocious pain cripples him onto the floor; then a radiologist steps in the room and quickly starts the MRI procedure. The radiologist decisively identifies a piece of metal inside his stomach, after routine procedures he is hastily rushed to an operating room where they then excises the metal and the patient makes a full recover. Without a doubt, the man was able to live thanks to the efforts of the hospital staff; especially quick identification of the foreign object by the radiologist. However, radiology is not the career for everyone, but it is the pinnacle of healthcare science occupations.

However, actually its quite challenging entering the radiology field because of its educational requirements and serious training required. First, a person must have their high school diploma. Next is a degree, preferably a four year major in a science (biology, chemistry, physics), then entering a medical school that last four

years (high grades are essential). Finally, getting a certification/licensure after passing an exam that is required by many states (fcg.infobase.com).Despite intense years of academic study knowledge is not the only ability/skill a radiologist needs.
The skills a radiologist must have are the basic knowledge, skills and abilities of a well-organized, patient, devoted intelligent individual.

A radiologist must have an immense knowledge on what they are doing whenever they are taking images of the patients being; to able to easily identify tumors, foreign objects or even broken bones. Verbal skills such as communication and reasoning are extremely important as radiologist will be dealing with patients for an extensive time and dealing with other physician’s opinions and ideas on how to treat certain patients. Another significant ability is being organized this helps the radiologist deal with constant work they are plagued by. After all these skills, help a radiologist deal with their busy

days.
So what does a radiologist’s typical day look like? It is pretty much like many other occupations: stressful, busy, and wonderful. Most of their time spent when talking with other medical professionals such as physicians and surgeons; while also dealing with patients and students. For multiple days, a radiologist will spend hours inside dark rooms, examining patients and images created by an X-ray/CT scan machine (fcg.infobase.com). Dr. Lisa Sheppard Boal comments “When doctors don’t know what to do, the first people they consult are the radiologist and pathologists.” Apart from consulting other physicians, many radiologists deal with stressful situations, such as long meetings, and immense vertiginous paperwork/patient charts. Nonetheless, all this hard work is easily rewarding as radiologist have great income.
Therefore, radiologist are actually some of the highest paid healthcare professionals in the world (fcg.infobase.com). In 2002 the emolument for radiologist actually increased by at least 13% in 2003. Radiologist entry level salary is still a whopping $150,000 yearly; incredibly higher than most other jobs in health care (learn.org). The median or average salary is an incredible high $317,000-$340,000(Learn.gov); even higher than most regular physicians, surgeons and specialists (bls.gov). There hourly pay is estimated to be at least to be $90.16 in 2013 (texascares.com) this of course is determined by the region, and the hospital. However, wages should increase in the next years due to an increasing demand for radiologist.
Furthermore, radiologists have an incredibly high job outlook and reasonable job security. The estimated increase of 18% by 2022 for radiologist employment growth (Learn.org); this means higher employment rates, and enlarged competitive salaries (texascaresnline.com). According to texascares.com at least 23,620 job openings for radiologist are expected to open by 2022. Radiologists have tolerable job security as there are occasional limiting factors inhibiting radiologist’s growth; such as new technology, steadily demand in some regions of the world, and newer residency programs.
Thus, radiology isn’t the career for everyone it’s a career that requires an extensive amount of hard work and dedication. The constant work being thrown at a radiologist is stressful and at sometimes overwhelming. Becoming a radiologist is even harder! With immense pressure in academic work, such as difficult classes, rigorous ours of studying for tests. Yet, after all this hard work this career is extremely rewarding. The opportunity to help others to help patients and doctors alike. Helping patients understand their conditions, helping them by increasing their knowledge on what exactly is wrong with them; helping other physician by guiding them to do what’s best for the patient to save the patients’ life.