Radiology

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About Radiology

Radiology is a medical specialty in which a variety of radiologic methodologies are used to diagnose and treat diseases. Diagnostic radiology encompasses a variety of diagnostic and image guided therapeutic techniques, including all aspects of radiological diagnosis (nuclear radiology, diagnostic ultrasound, magnetic resonance, computed tomography, interventional procedures, and the use of other forms of radiant energy). Physicians studying diagnostic radiology are primarily hospital based and can specialize in a number of areas, including: vascular interventional; neuroimaging and intervention; abdominal imaging and intervention; nuclear medicine; chest and cardiac imaging; pediatric imaging; and mammography. (Source: AAMC Careers in Medicine)

Associated Societies

Quick Facts

The following information comes from the National Resident Matching Program's Charting Outcomes in the Match 2014 (PDF)  based on matched applicants in the United States.    

  • Step score averages:
    • Mean Step 1 of U.S. Matched Applicants: 241
    • Mean Step 2 CK of U.S. Matched Applicants: 249
  • Average number of research experiences: 3.2
  • Average number of abstracts, presentations and publications: 4.8
  • Work and Volunteer:
    • Average number of work experiences: 3.0
    • Average number of volunteer experiences: 6.3
  • Mean number of contiguous ranks of U.S. matched applicants: 13.9

Frequently Asked Questions

MS1 and MS2 Students

  • What particular activities should first and second year students get involved with who are interested in pursuing this specialty?

    Radiology student interest group, shadowing, and research if you are able.

  • Are research experiences important in your specialty?

    They are not required, but can help strengthen your application and are strongly recommended by some programs.

  • If so, do these need to be specialty specific research experiences?

    Any research experience is better than no research experience!

  • Does class rank matter?

    Yes, 21.8 percent of accepted applicants are in AOA.


MS3 and MS4 Students

  • When should I ask for letters of recommendation (LORs)?

    Ideally you should ask for letters in May but absolutely no later than July, allowing your letter writers adequate time to upload your letter prior to the ERAS application submission date of Sept. 15. Your personal statement and CV should be ready as well as many letter writers will request this in order to write you a strong letter.

  • How many LORs do you need?

    Minimum of three.

  • Is a letter from a chair required?

    No.

  • Do all letters need to be written by members of this specialty?

    No.

  • Do any letters need to be written by external institutions?

    No.

  • Does your Step 2 CK score matter?

    Yes, especially if it's substantially higher than your Step 1 score.

  • What electives would you recommend for someone who is interested in pursuing this specialty?

    Any radiology electives.

  • Should a student interested in this specialty do away rotations?

    Yes, do away rotations in the regions of the country where you would like to end up, or at specific institutions where you think you might want to match.

  • If so, how many “aways” do you recommend and when should they be completed?

    One to three prior to rank list submission.

  • Which month is recommended to take off to interview?

    Most interviews are from mid-October through mid-January with candidates being offered multiple dates to choose from for their interview. It is recommended to take a month or so off between November-January and schedule as many interviews as possible during the month you took off.

Residency Programs and Fellowships

Residency Programs

  • Length of program: Four years plus one transitional year
  • Number of accredited programs: 188
  • Transitional year needed: Yes
  • Combo programs: New in 2016 cycle: Separate interventional radiology residency

Fellowships

Almost everyone in radiology will complete a fellowship after residency.

  • Vascular interventional
  • Neuroimaging and intervention
  • Abdominal imaging and intervention
  • Nuclear medicine
  • Chest and cardiac imaging
  • Pediatric imaging
  • Mammography
  • Musculoskeletal

Similar Specialties to Consider

  • Emergency medicine
  • Anesthesia
  • Orthopaedic surgery
  • Ophthalmology
  • ENT

Looking into the Future/Changes in Health Care

For us in diagnostic imaging there has been a lot of change in a very short time and not all of it has been good… Several key strategic challenges are combining to create a chronic form of future shock in those of us that are experiencing these rapid and at times chaotic changes in United States radiology. Let’s review the individual shocks or challenges individually to better understand how these breaking trends impact our specialty.

  • Declining reimbursement…
  • Volume to value - A related shock to declining payment is a fundamental change in how we are paid. For years both government officials and academics have blamed fee for service for many of the ills that are said to afflict the US health care system and have called for alternative payment systems…While fee for service is relatively clear, the role of radiologists in value based systems remains ambiguous. The ACR has developed Imaging 3.0 to provide suggestions, guidelines and examples for radiologists who are facing this challenge. In my consulting practice, this issue has become the number one topic in 2015. Much of the difficulty revolves around matters such as what percentage of shared savings in an ACO should go to the radiologists, how can radiologists control costs when they can’t control the ordering habits of referring physicians and how much of an “outcome” is attributable to diagnostic radiology?
  • Measuring Value…
  • Fragmentation in the house of radiology - One of the peculiar characteristics of US radiology is the number of organizations that claim to represent its interests. While exact data is difficult to obtain, a ballpark number is that there are about 30,000 US radiologist FTEs engaged in the practice of the specialty in the US, not including retirees or those in training. The report of the most recent Intersociety Committee, an invitation only meeting that brings radiology organizations together, stated that there are “50 plus” radiology societies in the US.8 Even in “robust” periods for the specialty it meant that radiology’s voice and influence were fragmented. During difficult periods, such as the one that we are living through now, there are and likely to be more ongoing challenges facing US radiology. Fragmented leadership does not bode well for our ability to cope effectively with these issues…
  •  Declining interest in US radiology by US medical school graduates - An impending shock that directly impacts the future of radiology is the decline in interest in radiology among US medical school graduates. While the level of interest has oscillated more than once over the past decades, it is currently in decline. The data from the 2013 match showed that there were only 845 applicants for 1,143 slots. That was the worst year since 1998…
  • Declining perceived value of specialists relative to primary care physicians and other non MD providers

(Source: Lexa, 2015)

Additional Information

See the Career Essentials Pilot Page regarding specialty specific advice for more detailed information and resources.

Reference