Clinical Radiology
A Career In Clinical Radiology
Medical imaging is used in the diagnosis, follow up and also treatment of multiple diseases and conditions. Recently there has been a rapid growth in its applications due to major technological advances. The increasing detail available of anatomy, pathology and, more recently, function have led to a huge increase in demand for imaging and hence a need for more trained radiologists, of which there is a shortage at present. Recently more training opportunities have been provided by the establishment of three Radiology Academies which combine conventional training with an e- based learning system. Certainly the trainees at our Academy have a fantastic training scheme with state of the art technology.
What I personally enjoy most about radiology is the wide spectrum of specialties that it covers; any interesting patient in the hospital is likely to pass through the department on at least one occasion, often several. There are strong links with all our clinical colleagues and the numerous clinico-radiological meetings bring exposure to a huge variety of diagnostic and clinical problems. It also involves multiple different modalities e.g. plain radiographic reporting, ultrasound, cross-sectional scanning, interventional radiology etc., so no day is ever the same.
A radiologist needs a good knowledge and understanding of general medicine and surgery. A higher qualification such as MRCP or FRCS is desirable, but by no means essential. With the advent of the Foundation Programme and Modernising Medical careers there will be more emphasis on electives, research projects and increasing links with radiology during the training years eg. an intercalated BSc.
In order to be eligible for training you need at least two years in accredited training posts after qualification. The award of the Certificate of the Completion of Specialist Training ( CCST) takes a minimum of five years and requires the attainment of the Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR). The exam consists of two parts; the first is a multiple choice paper covering basic science and is taken after a few months. The final examination is in two parts taken separately. The first is taken after a minimum of eighteen months and consists of six MCQ papers covering different body areas focussing on anatomy and radiological techniques .The second, taken after three years, involves image viewing and interpretation and vivas. After four years of general radiology then twelve months of sub-specialty training is undertaken according to the trainees area(s) of interest.
If you are interested in a career in Radiology I would encourage you to visit your department and express your interest in observing the workings and different modalities, to accompany your patients to different procedures, attend the clinico-radiological and multidisciplinary meetings and to consider an elective during your student or Foundation Years. When it comes to appointment committees it is always an advantage to have been seen to have expressed an early interest and to have a radiological project on your curriculum vitae.
For further information and details take a look at the Royal College website at:
> Royal College of Radiologists
Sarah Scott Barrett
Last updated 25/12/06
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