Training a Better Radiologist

Abstract

Radiology and radiologists are both the beneficiaries and the victims of the technology explosion that has fueled the development and evolution of imaging equipment. Although improvements in imaging technology allow the confident diagnosis of an ever broader array of abnormalities, they require the constant acquisition of new knowledge and image interpretation skills. The trend toward minimally invasive surgery has driven similar changes in interventional radiology. New devices to alter regional blood flow have changed the approach to patient care, often obviating the need for surgery. Percutaneous ablation techniques are increasingly becoming the preferred treatment for patients with primary or secondary malignancies involving the liver or kidneys. Despite these dramatic changes in our field, our training programs have remained static. We attempt to explore the options that should be considered. What are the deficiencies in the current radiology training structure? How could it be adjusted to produce radiologists better equipped to practice radiology?