What radiology specialty should i get into?
also, i know there isnt much difference, but which would make more (just curious)
Answer:
Where do you see yourself practicing? Large group? Small group/ small community hospital?
Neuro and AI have the most flexibility, but of course you're competing with a lot of other radiology fellows who've also done one or the other. It's been a resident's market for several years, but the job slots: candidates ratio is narrowing.
If you do AI, I suggest you make sure you will have the opportunity to do plenty of guided biopsies, etc., because small groups always need folks who can do this stuff-- small hospitals may not have an interventionalist.
The big / small hospital is a factor with IR. If you are excited about doing high end procedures, you will not be able to work in a small community practice-- the volume doesn't support it and the vascular surgeons and cardiologists have taken most of the good stuff. You may end up doing PIC lines.
My IR attending once told me 'there are no old interventional radiologists,' and he was right. After a decade or two, you get tired of the call (and carrying lead). The rest of radiology can opt for telerad coverage, but the IR rad will always have to come in. Do you want to be doing call when you're 45 and want to watch your kid play Little League?
That said, there IS a market for IR rads-- precisely because not many people want to do it. Yes, you will probably make a bit more money (the rest you mentioned will earn pretty much the same) -- but you will also have more liability. How much do you really like interventional? I wouldn't do it just for the money.
MSK: There are always a few places that definitely want an MSK rad, but very few practices that will support you doing nothing but. You will most likely still be doing general radiology. A small group could look at MSK one of two ways: 1) We are so small we just need generalists, so we want an abdominal imager or 2) As long as he does general radiology too, he's a unique asset to our practice. Not sure which is more likely, probably depends on the group. If you are comfortable with neuro and AI based on residency, and/or if you think you'd like to target a large group/ practice that already has all their basic rads, MSK isn't a bad choice.
Check out the ACR website, you can search job openings based on specialty--might want to eyeball which is most in demand. Aunt Minnie might also have a jobs board, don't recall.
http://www.acr.org/mainmenucategories/jo...
And which sub do you still enjoy at the end of the day? If you take your subspecialty just to be competitive, but don't like it, you'll end up miserable. Do what you enjoy most.
I'd be happy to answer any questions you have. Good luck!
neuroradiology
Interventional radiologists tend to be more stressed and less happy than the other subspecialties. The best radiologist I ever know was loosely in neuroradiology...but was incredibly well rounded. We loved having him around the ICU. Actually, it seems to me that the happiest, least stressed ones are not the ones who stick to a very particular sub area.
As for salary, I think IRs make slightly more money than others. Of course they all differ according to job availability and whether you practice privately or not.
Good luck in whatever you choose...radiologists mystify me.I never could even tell the difference in genders of babies with an ultrasound! ;-)
The medicine and health information post by website user , ByeDR.com not guarantee correctness , is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
More Questions and Answers...