Tag: faculty

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Should Teaching Programs Hire Non-Teaching Faculty?

non-teaching faculty

At almost any hospital residency program, you will have a mix of faculty with all different interests. Some like to teach and spend concerted time with the residents. In some more academic hospitals with residencies, other faculty want to pursue research areas. And then there is the final group that wants to put their energies into completing the day as quickly as possible and returning home to family without wasting time on other endeavors. So, today’s question is: should hospitals and practices with residency programs hire these non-teaching faculty if they have a residency program dedicated to teaching? To answer this question, let’s talk a little about the current hiring environment in radiology. And, then let’s discuss the advantages and disadvantages practices and hospitals face when hiring non-teaching radiologists in the current climate. And finally, we will come up with a feasible conclusion.

The Current Hiring Background For Radiologists

We are in the midst of one of the most acute shortages for radiologists in 2022 as it stands right now. Even residents that have not completed their training receive solicitations for work. It is not uncommon for practice owners to cover unwanted shifts to ensure their practices run smoothly due to a lack of personnel. And, starting offers for new radiologists are robust. A “warm body” that can read and catch up on all studies is a treat for many sites. So, many practices can prevent a practice crisis if they hire radiologists to do the work but do not want to teach, but at what price?

Disadvantages To Hiring Non-Teaching Faculty At A Teaching Site

If They Don’t Have To Teach, Why Should I?

The biggest fear for a practice of mixed radiologists is the impression of inequity. When radiologists see that they can get away with less responsibility, you may hear the phrase “it’s not fair” bandied about. This unfairness leads to decreasing morale and radiologists thinking about leaving practice for greener fields elsewhere. This environment can be toxic even if you compensate faculty members for teaching.

Does Not Foster A Culture Of Inquiry

To create an excellent residency program, I like to say you need a culture of “why.” I love when my residents ask why about the reports, procedures, or protocols they see. It forces me to rethink my training and beliefs to analyze what we do “by rote’. And, it’s a great way to reinforce and learn new knowledge for attendings and residents. Disinterested attendings who do not participate can spoil this excellent learning environment.

 Advantages To Hiring Non-Teaching Faculty At A Teaching Site

Free Up Teaching Faculty Who Want To Teach

If you can isolate the non-teaching faculty to rotations that do not involve teaching, you can allow the teaching radiologists to teach without the hindrance of backed-up work. Freeing faculty members who want to teach can theoretically improve the teaching faculty’s morale. However, the practice would need to decide on a protocol for which it will not degrade residency training.

Can Get More Work Done

You may have heard the adage, “a resident will slow you down.” Yes. There is some truth to that. It takes time to explain and go over dictations and give lectures. If you do not have these responsibilities, it is possible to plow through extra work throughout the day (perhaps with a headache!). Practices with some attendings that work without residents can theoretically accomplish more RVUs during the day.

Should Your Teaching Practice/Residency Program Hire Non-Teaching Faculty?

There is always more to a decision that might be easy at face value in a typical environment. New radiologists that do not teach can cause inequities and do not foster a teaching culture. Nevertheless, freeing up teaching faculty and getting the practice work completed is critical. So, if you see a new grumpy radiology hire that does not want to teach residents and is plowing through the cases, there is a good reason for that. Many practices are under duress to hire a body to fulfill the work of the business, not just to teach residents. However, programs that employ these radiologists must ensure they are not on teaching rotations to minimize conflicts. Instead, programs should make a concerted effort to plug in those attendings that want to teach to the divisions with the most exposure to residents. It may take a bit of adjustment on the part of the resident and the faculty until the radiology shortage resolves!

 

 

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Why A Strong Department Chair Is Critical To Residency

chair

As an associate program director, I work with all the residents and faculty. But, one role, in particular, plays an even more significant role in the quality of the residency than the others. Which one would that be? (Hint: Well, if you have not guessed it by now, you may want to look at the title again! The Chair)

OK. So, the chair is critical to running a great residency. But what is it about a chairperson that makes the role so important? Well, the importance of the position is what we will run through over the following, oh, say, 8oo or so words!

Backbone When The Going Gets Tough

Everyone, once in a while, events conspire to mangle a residency program. Perhaps, a resident decides to leave for another career, and the hospital wants to take away the residency slot forever. Or, the emergency department determines they no longer want residents to give the final dictations at nighttime. In any of these cases, you need a firm chair to prevent these issues from negatively affecting the residency program. Sometimes you need a leader to fight for your department!

Allocation of Resources To The Residency Program

What would happen if you had a chair that decided to commit more resources to non-residency-associated imaging centers at the expense of a hospital-based residency program? Chaos, of course! You may not have enough physical bodies to teach the residents. Or, the chairperson decides to stop giving the program directors administration time to run the residency program. Either way, the chair controls many of these outcomes. And, if she decides to allocate the resources to the outside facilities instead, the residency loses out.

Carrot And The Stick

In any practice, some physicians have more or less interest in teaching. But, what happens if some of the attendings decide that they no longer want to give conferences? Well, the chair has the practice’s long arm to ensure that does not happen. The chairperson can either decide to provide money or non-monetary incentives to make sure that the faculty performs. Or, she can remove incentives from staff members who do not participate. Either way, the chair’s ability to utilize her power directly affects the program’s quality.

Sets The Tone Of The Department

Let’s say your chair runs the department as a dictator. Or, he is always just trying to appease friends instead of doing what is best. What happens to the residency in these cases? In the first case, the residency program runs on fear and misery. And in the second case, nothing ever gets accomplished. Bottom line: the chair sets the quality of interactions in the department and the residency.

Liaison Between The Hospital And The Program Director

Some departments have a chair who does not communicate the critical issues of the institution to the residency. What occurs in these situations? First, residents may lose out on remaining compliant with national requirements such as hospital ACLS training. Or the radiology program may not fulfill its obligations to stay accredited. Poor communication between the hospital, chair, and the program director can become a nidus for a residency to implode!

The Ceremonial Function

Sometimes, a chair may decide not to attend essential residency functions. The chairperson may not participate in the residency graduation or the annual hospital ball. What does this say about the department? Do you think the hospital will look fondly upon the residency program when its leader is remiss? Probably not. In this case, the chairperson and department will be much less likely to receive the resources they need from the hospital. It’s a “give and take” relationship. So, the chair must step up and set an excellent example for the residency and hospital.

Residency Advisor

We, as program directors, often need to get a feel for how the faculty will respond to a change before implementation. And residencies constantly need to institute new requirements. But will the faculty buy-in so we can implement the new development? A strong chairperson who knows his department well can ensure you can fulfill your change. Moreover, she can guide what works and what doesn’t. Without serving this role as a residency advisor, a program director will encounter many more pitfalls during his tenure!

The Chair As Leader

In any medical department, a chairperson plays a critical role in running the specialty service and ensuring the residency moves along smoothly. So, when you decide to look into a residency department, observe the chair. Does he participate in the interview process? Can you get a feel for how he behaves toward the department? All these factors will affect you long after the interview day. A chair reflects the face and culture of the department!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Top 10 Resident Issues That Radiology Faculty Wants You To Know But Can’t Say

Top 10 Resident Issues

Most radiology attendings want their residents to succeed. However, etiquette rules cause many to withhold their feedback about some of the resident issues that they encounter on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Unfortunately, for that reason, they keep many of you in the dark. However, please learn from their mistakes and enlighten you all. So, to prevent you from continuing with these resident issues, I thought I would create a top 10 list that the faculty wants you to know but may not say… Here we go!!!

You’re Too Aggressive

Are you overcalling everything or coming down hard on a final diagnosis without any other differential? Are you accustomed to the surgical mentality? No longer can you just nod in agreement, but you push, push, push? Everything is an argument. And, your attending does not have the time to talk back. Gosh darn it, perhaps you are more aggressive than you should be at this stage of the game!

He Misses Everything

When your attending sees that you are missing all the findings during the night, he may not feel so great telling you about all these errors. How will that help anything? And I mean, he doesn’t want you to feel bad about it when he tells you, does he? Unfortunately, you may miss out on some of these learning experiences. But, your attending may not let you know!

She Has Poor Hygiene

Poor hygiene can be just plain embarrassing. But, sometimes, your faculty may become very uncomfortable dealing with malodors or unkempt appearance. It often needs to be said to the resident but doesn’t. And, all the other faculty and residents suffer from this resident’s poor hygiene!

You Just Don’t Listen

The attending keeps on telling the same resident the same old thing. But, time after time, nothing changes. No longer can the attending tell you what to do anymore because it does not seem to work? So, your attending does not bother you anymore. What’s the point of hurting your feelings?

He’s Way Too Enthusiastic

Don’t get me wrong, but it is great to be enthusiastic. And, your attending certainly does want you to become excited about radiology. But, too much of anything is no good. And sometimes too much enthusiasm can be a bit too much. It can wear on your techs, nurses, and attendings. So, temper that enthusiasm just a bit!

You’re Just Plain Dumb

Often, your attending will ask you questions to see if you have been reading enough. And it is OK to get some things wrong. However, on occasion, a resident does not know anything that he should. Is your attending going to tell you that, maybe or maybe not? Who wants to say to the resident that she is just plain dumb?

She’s Getting A Bit Too Chummy For My Liking

On occasion, our residents can become a little too familiar with us if you catch my drift. It can all be a little too “touchy-feely.” So, think about how you communicate with your attending. Is it appropriate? Or are you trying too hard to become his best friend?

He Wants Always To Be Spoon Fed

Most residents want to learn from their attendings. Some residents expect all the learning to come from their attendings with no work on their part. If you desire to breed ill-will, you can do just that. Don’t help out your attending. Instead, just expect them to teach. It can be very irritating!

You’re Always Abandoning Ship When The Work Is Not Done

Excuses, excuses, excuses… You have to get to a wedding. Or, maybe you need to go on a date with that new beau. Well, your attending does not want to be the one to break it to you. He does not want to be the unfeeling guy that ruins the resident’s time. But, is it right that you are always missing all that work?

He’s Preventing Me From Getting Anything Done

Some residents like to talk a lot. And, most attendings like a good conversation as well. But, sometimes, it can interfere with the daily work that needs to get completed. How can your attending break it to you when she likes you a lot. Well, it can be challenging at times!

Final Thoughts About Resident Issues That Faculty Want You To Know But Can’t Say

Rightfully or wrongfully so, many taboos exist that prevent faculty from telling you, the radiology resident, what is going on. And even though attendings are supposed to evaluate and give direct constructive criticism and feedback, that is not the reality of the situation. So, if you think that you may have one of these ten resident issues listed above, try to change it on your own because you may never get the real story!