Radiologist Career Path And Overview
Radiologists use medical imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x rays, and ultrasounds to diagnose and treat diseases and injuries.
| Diagnose a patient's condition by reviewing and interpreting medical imaging such as x-rays, MRIs and ultrasounds. |
| Administer trace amounts of radioactive substances to enhance diagnostic images |
| Determine the type of imaging required based on the condition of patient. |
| Coordinate with other health-care providers to plan, administer, and manage treatment plans. |
| Deliver imaging orders and instructions to radiology technicians. |
| Create radiation treatment plans and manage radiation side effects in cancer patients |
In addition to above core job duties, radiologists may have additional job duties specific to their specialization (example: Diagnostic Radiologists, Intervention Radiologists, Radiation Oncologists.)
| Interpersonal Skills |
| Curiosity |
| Conscientiousness |
| Empathy |
| Organizational skills |
Radiologists must have good interpersonal skills to effectively interact with patients, faculty, and clinicians.
Radiologists must have the intrinsic curiosity and interest medicine, science, and radiology.
Radiologists must be thorough in their work and must be willing to go beyond their normal duties.
Radiologists will deal with patients who are in pain. They must have the empathy to care and be sympathetic to their problems.
Radiologists must have good organizational skills.
| Min | Median | Max |
|---|---|---|
| $373,811 | $497,990 | $647,196 |
Radiologists in USA earned a median of $301,720 in May 2021. i.e. half of radiologists earned below $301,720 and half earned above that.
| Projected growth: 3% from 2021 to 2031 |
| Average annual job openings - 23,800 |
Number of jobs for physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 3% from 2021 to 2031, with about 23,800 job openings expected each year, over the next 10 years.
This projected growth is attributed to the expected increase in treatments for an aging population.
Some of this growth is also attributed to the expected need to replace physicians and surgeons who retire or move to other occupations.
| Education Level | Major | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor | Biology, Health-care, Anesthesiology | Required |
| Master's | Doctor of Chiropractic (M.D.) | Required |
To become qualified as a radiologist you must first get a 4 year bachelors degree in a related field such as biology, health-care, exercise philosophy etc.
After a bachelor's degree you must gain a 4 year Medical Degree (MD).
After gaining a medical degree you must go through a 1 year internship followed by 3-5 years of a residency program.
DBecome board certified by passing two examinations - the core exam that can be taken 36 months into the residency, and the certification exam that can be taken after the residency is complete.
After successful completion of residency, you may choose to pursue fellowship to specialize in specific areas such as abdominal radiology, neuroradiology, etc.
| Johns Hopkins University |
| Harvard University |
| University of Pennsylvania |
| University of California-San Francisco |
| Washington University |
| Duke University |
| Stanford University |
| Yale University |
| Columbia University |
| Cornell University |
| Certification or License | Provider |
|---|---|
| Radiation Oncology | American Board Of Radiology |
| Diagnostic Radiology | American Board Of Radiology |
| Intervention Radiology | American Board Of Radiology |