When considering my journey towards a career in radiology, I can trace the beginnings of my interest in the field back to my childhood. My mother, an MRI technologist, introduced me to the field at an young age, and growing up I heard about and saw many of the interesting cases she had been a part of. This early exposure, while only a rudimentary introduction, piqued my interest early and started me down the path to becoming a radiologist.
My interest continued to develop as an undergraduate clinical research assistant where I spent many hours analyzing functional and anatomical MRI brain scans of veterans suffering from chronic headache for the purpose of developing a novel solution, transcranial magnetic stimulation, to their chronic pain. I was fascinated by the ability to visualize the changes in the brain structure and function that affected these patients’ everyday lives and how an understanding of these changes
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I found myself fascinated by and excelling in visually oriented subjects like histology and gross anatomy. I also pursued opportunities to advance my knowledge of the field as co-president of my institution’s radiologist interest group and as an anatomy tutor where I was able to learn about and teach others how to interpret normal and abnormal anatomy on plain films, CT scans, and gross specimens. Additionally, during my clinical clerkships I gained insight into the vast role that radiologists play in all fields of medicine. I was intrigued by the fact that radiologist assist in the management of essentially every patient in the healthcare system and humbled by the enormous amount of knowledge necessary to confidently make recommendations for such a variety of clinical scenarios. I was also fascinated by the ability of radiologists to use the information from the clinical scenario to choose the imaging modality that had the highest utility in patient
My interest in MRI started when I first read the book “MRI, The Basics” written by the author Ray Hashemi. By the time I successfully finished my MRI clinical placement in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, I knew for sure that MRI would be the field I would be choosing to take on. What attracts me most about MRI is how beautifully scientist could create a technology that can take advantage of the magnetic moments of human body for imaging it without any harms of ionizing radiation. Although there are drawbacks to MRI, combining it with other modalities would be a more effective approach to an accurate diagnosis.
After graduating with my Bachelor’s degree, I continued to work as a staff MRI technologist. Even though I loved what I did and had a passion helping people, the lack of diversity within radiology and its limited room for growth bothered me. I decided to look into furthering my career and found an interest in Health Information Technology. Upon researching many different schools through the country offering an online graduate Health Information Technology program, the University of Michigan in Dearborn stood out to me. Medicine and technology have both always been a part of my life, and I am very happy and excited that the chance for it to play a new part has finally arrived. I’m motivated to learn how I can combine the science of information with clinical knowledge so I can help to better patient care and
In the Ted Talk, “My stroke of insight”, the speaker Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroanatomist had undergone a stroke affecting her left hemisphere. During this process she was able to experience her brain deteriorating slowly and she was able to study it. She explains how she wanted to become a brain researcher because of her brother’s brain condition, schizophrenia. During the TedTalk she also explained her whole experience, including what it felt like, her emotions, and the world around her while having a stroke as well as the difficulties that she had encountered. Jill explains this experience as a tremendous gift.
Attending Florida Southwestern State College to become an x-ray tech is a huge accomplish for me. Because I have a learning disability unfortunately I have to take remedial courses like intermediate algebra, Brush up English, and a reading course the first semester. The good thing about studying Radiology is you can switch to any type of jobs in this field. For an example, you can switch to working with MRI’s or Cat Scans if you want to try another department in the Radiology field. This specific field is for you to work with x-rays. It’s important to know the bone structure .You can work with ultrasounds to, Cat Scans, to MRI’s (Magnetic resonance imaging).
For as long as I remember, I only had one dream in mind, which was to become a doctor when I grow up. As I grew older, my dream did not change; in fact, it only grew more significant. However, the only aspect of my dream that did change was the type of field that I wanted to pursue. At first, I honestly did not have an inkling of an idea as to what kind of a type of doctor I wished to become. Then, I started to lean towards pediatrics and/or neurology. Now, on the other hand, I decided that I want to study nuclear medicine in medical school. This enlightening revelation came about as I began to volunteer in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center. My time spent there has had an amazing impact on me because I believe that this was the time that I truly realized my dream. Nuclear medicine is medical specialty that uses radioactive substances, or radiopharmaceuticals, combined with imaging techniqu...
The earliest human dissections date back to ancient Egypt and Greece where records of Anatomy were hand drawn and physiology was largely theorized. I find it fascinating that modern imaging technology allows us to view the body’s organs to see their functions and diagnose possible conditions or diseases. I first developed an interest in the field of Medical Sonography during my pregnancy with my first child. When I laid eyes upon the images of the growing little person inside of me, I knew I wanted to share in the joys of others as they experienced this as well (realizing this may not always be the case for others). Now returning to college, I have set my academic goals on the path towards this career. It wasn’t until I completed the Anatomy
Being able to identify lumps, swelling, tissue damage, cysts, and the overwhelming news of the sex of a baby all have something in common, an ultrasound. Swelling of the spleen, kidney stones, blood clots, aneurysms, cancer and so much more can be identified through the works of an ultrasound’s imaging technique. Ultrasound involves many concepts, procedures, and careers. The amount of medical possibilities involved with ultrasounds is useful in major medical diagnostics. The field of ultrasounds and career opportunities are widely growing. As medical careers flourish, needs for technicians in many fields of medicine are increasing. Instead of a doctor choosing complex and risky surgery to find out problems within the body, they can now choose a safer path; the ultrasound path. Patient’s history and physical evaluation are building blocks to diagnostics but ultrasounds are much greater. They are powerful tools used to see beyond the skin into the depths of a person’s body. What ultrasounds are, what types there are, and what they are used for, and the education and careers available are the major themes found in research on the subject. Knowledge of ultrasound and its background may help one decide what career is best for them. Understanding the wide array of diagnostic tests and their uses are essential to figuring out what a career as a sonographer entails and the type of education that is needed. Because there are plenty of possibilities for specializing with different technologies, there is a wide variety of job opportunities in the medical imaging career. The call for ultrasound’s assistance opens new paths in future high-quality careers.
Radiology is one of the few so-called “physical-science”-based fields of medicine, making it a challenging and rewarding application of an academic interest in science. It combines advanced knowledge of human physiology with principles of atomic physics and nuclear decay, electricity and magnetism, and both organic and inorg...
During my half day shadowing of Memorial hospitals radiologist, Dr. Armah, I was able to observe several studies. These studies included several CT scans, and three PET/CT 18F-FDG scans. During my shadowing experience I was able to obtain a better understanding of how the radiologist reads images, what makes for good diagnostic images, and what role I play in the quality of the images. The shadowing experience was one of great importance as it proved to be very informative. Such information included technology impacts, various pathologies, and personal reflection on my role.
At a young age, I witnessed my younger brother lodge an eraser in his ear and later have it removed by a doctor. A year later he had tubes inserted and a year or so after that, I saw those tubes fall out of his head. Besides thinking that my younger brother was really a robot with metal parts falling out of his brain, it was where my fascination of the human ear began. Since then I’ve helped my grandfather and father with their hearing aids, especially replacing the small batteries which was difficult for their large farmers’ hands. I’ve also observed my older sister, an Audiologist in California, for two weeks as she worked with patients, letting me do hearing aid cleanings, help with sales, file patient records, observe ear molds being
When choosing a career there are many factors that I will need to look at: will it be something I enjoy; am I just in it for the money; will the job be around years from now; how will it affect my family and me; how will I benefit from the job; and how will my personality fit in? I used to work at Conroe Regional Medical Center in the Radiology Department and watching everyone scurry around the halls was very exciting to me. I knew I always wanted to be in the medical industry I just really wasn’t sure where I would fit in just yet. Many times I have thought about going back to school, and many times I have put it off and I kept making excuses and for many reasons and many times I have put it off because I was scared. There finally came a time in my life to where I could not put it off anymore - it was now or never. In saying this I needed a job that will have a solid future and great job security. The career I have chosen is Radiology Technologist. The reason I have chosen radiology technologist is because I am a hands on person and love working with and seeing different people every day. Radiologic technologists have a great outlook in the job industry the employment is expected to grow 28 percent between 2010 and 2020. You can either work in a hospital setting which at times can be a hectic environment. Because many places offer the same imaging equipment that the hospitals have, you can now work in a clinical setting which would be a little more calm and regular set hours. In May 2010 the median yearly wage was $54,340 and can earn as high as $76,850.
To begin with, how has technology changed the field of radiology? Since the discovery of X-radiation there has been a need and desire for studying the human body and the diseases without actually any intervention. Over the past fifty years there has been a revolution in the field of radiology affecting medicine profoundly. “The ability to produce computers powerful enough to reconstruct accurate body images, yet small enough to fit comfortably in the radiology department, has been the major key to this progress”(Gerson 66). The core of radiology’s vast development consists of four diagnostic techniques: computed tomography (CT), digital subtraction angiography (DSA), ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These methods of diagnostic imaging provide accurate information that was not seen before. Amid this information advancement, radiologists have broadened their role of diagnostician. Gerson writes, “With the advent of computer-enhanced imagery and new interventional techniques, these physicians are able to take an active part in performing therapeutic procedures”(66). A radiology breakthrough in 1972 was computed tomography discovered by Godfrey Hounsfield and Allan Cormack. Unlike standard radiography, computed tomography would spin the X-ray tube 360 degrees and inversely another 360 degrees while the patient ta...
The training, experience and interests during my existence up to now happen to be quite varied. I've resided and labored in Germany, The country and France too as with the United kingdom. Lately, I've thought extensively about altering my career and been attracted to radiography because it offers attractive possibilities to use abilities and private characteristics which i consider I possess, to supply an immediately tangible and satisfying contribution to individuals??utes health.
In order to become a Radiologic Technologist, one would have to carefully plan and learn the importance of the career choice. A person going into the medical imaging career needs to plan to know specific details about the career, what college or technology school he or she will be attending, the college expenses, knowing the yearly income of a Radiologic Technologist, also finding out the days of the week and hours that are to be worked, the expected change in employment over the next years, and how to build a future off being a Radiologic Technologist. Becoming a Radiologic Technologist is a lengthy process and it is hard work, but when all completed it is all worthwhile.
Dream Job As I was contemplating on what my “dream job” would be, the two possibilities which came to mind were to become an instructor in an ultrasound program or the mananager of a radiology department. I chose to interview my manager, Timothy Applegate (personal conversation, November 2, 2016). I would never consider taking a job within an industrial plant, therefore, I decided to also interview my brother-in-law, Edward Waggoner (personal interview, October 30, 2016), a crane repairman at the Ford rouge plant. According to Timothy (personal conversation, November 2, 2016), he started his career as a nuclear medicine technologist, but wanted to move away from direct patient care to assume a management role.