Tag: job

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What Milestones Will You Achieve At The Age Of 50?

milestones

Now that I am on the cusp of hitting the big 50 and I have been practicing radiology for nearly twenty years post-residency let me give you some thoughts about where I have gone in my radiology career after residency and fellowship. Life does not end after residency. By showing you my career path and milestones, I hope to give you a bit of perspective on the twists and turns you can expect in your career. Also, you might find it enlightening to see the critical junctures I had and apply them to what you may want to do as you go along in your practice. I will start when I just finished my fellowship in 2004, summarize what happened in approximately five-year intervals from 2009 to 2019, and finish with the present. 

2004- My First Job

As I had just started my first practice, my first goal was to get as much experience as possible to become the best radiologist I could be. Also, paying off my student debts and saving for the eventual purchase of a house was first and foremost on my mind. At this point, I would work extra shifts and read as many cases as possible; it was a considerable adjustment after six years of postgraduate training and medical school. I made sure to attend loads of courses to keep up with radiology. And I was excited to start on a path to a partnership tract. (Turns out that happened during my second job!)

2009 – Partnership Begins

After this point, we had paid down our student loans (one of the significant milestones) and lived in our house for a bit. After years of medical school, residency, fellowship, and partnership track, I felt what it was like to settle down in a stable career; I became ensconced in the radiology residency and began to take on new roles once I started as a partner in a partnership. And, I began to learn a bit more about the intricacies of the business of radiology, not just the day-to-day practice. Work and routines became more familiar and seemed like a family.

2015-2016- Expansion And New Roles- Many New Milestones

Our practice began to grow incrementally with the acquisition of new hospital contracts and outpatient sites. Learning about how mergers and acquisitions work was fascinating as part of this expansion. And I became the medical director of one of our outpatient sites. To this day, I continue to run this private office. During this period, I learned about all the organizations and issues with new sites, ensured appropriate staffing, and began covering all the different areas at this site. The outpatient office has become a second home within the practice for me.

Then, in 2016, I decided to start up radsresident.com on a whim due to my interest in teaching and the internet. Still, it has been an incredible experience that merges all the aspects of radiology, technology, and writing that I enjoy. And it’s been going strong ever since!

2022- The Fun Continues

To this day, I still enjoy the complex cases and people that I have met in radiology since I started. Although I am no longer gung-ho about working extra shifts like at the beginning of 2004, the residency program, this website, and my day-to-day work continue to challenge me. And I look forward to going in to work every week. Moreover, extra-curricular activities play a more significant role in my life. Yes, they have changed over the past twenty years, but they are critical for having a fulfilling life and career.

What Are The Milestones You Expect Over Your Career?

Indeed, I could not have exactly predicted what would happen to my radiology career since my fellowship ended. If you had told me after finishing my training in 2004 that I would be running a blog, a residency program, and an outpatient office while being a partner in practice at 50 years old, I am not sure if I would have believed you. Changes along my career path have made the past twenty years enjoyable. So, I advise you to embrace the milestones you will experience in your career. It will make for a much more rich and exciting path. For me, I expect the next twenty years to be no different!

 

 

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Find A Radiology Residency Or Job That Will Feel Like Well-Worn Sneakers!

sneakers

I don’t know about you folks, but when I buy new sneakers, I expect it will take a while before I can break them in. The material needs to stretch out to surround and cushion my foot gradually. Rarely do the sneakers fit perfectly on day one. The process can take months or even years until I get them the way I want. So, I buy them with the expectation of future comfort, not how they feel today.

If I try to buy the perfect sneakers, it never seems to work. I find myself returning lots of footwear (online nowadays!) And, I waste my time and incur multiple restocking fees or trips to the store for returns. So, what do I look for when I buy those sneakers? I look for reasonably comfortable pairs that fit snugly without too much discomfort. Also, I find pairs that will less likely cause me to trip over myself. So, what does this all have to do with radiology? It’s coming out of the left-field, right? Well, not really. Let me explain.

Like buying sneakers, residency programs, or first jobs rarely fit perfectly on that first day. It may be good enough and may have the potential to work well. But, you may notice the imperfections at first. These imperfections may trouble you because you may question if you made the right choice or not. But it would help if you had patience. Why? Because the outcomes can be costly, just like the returned footwear. And here are some of the reasons why.

What Doesn’t Work Perfectly Now Will Get Better In The Future

All the imperfections tend to loom larger when starting a new job or a new residency. You notice the worn call room or the resident that constantly complains. What else do you have to hang your hat on? But, I can assure those same issues that you see right now will most likely go away. Yes, you will face other problems and challenges as well. But, I have never seen anyone join a practice or begin a program that is perfect on the first day, week, or month. It just takes a bit of time for the sneaker to mold to your foot!

You Gain Familiarity With Your Colleagues- First Impressions Are Rarely Correct

How often have you noticed that your roommate or teacher was not as they first seemed in your academic career? In my case, I know that my first impression was often wrong. The teacher that seems bizarre often turns out to be the best. And, that roommate that you thought was off a bit may turn out to change your life. It’s all a matter of perspective. And, in the beginning, our views can be skewed. This sensation can feel just like the sneakers that may be a little bit tight at the top at the beginning!

The Costs To Changing Sneakers (Jobs) Are Immense

It is not so simple if you are leaving your residency program midstream or deciding to change to another faculty position elsewhere. Especially as a family, the costs of uprooting your accommodations, kid’s schools, or workplace are immense. Just like when you constantly have to pay those restocking fees, the price of changing jobs can add up over time and can become exceedingly difficult to recoup. It’s worthwhile to give your present job a second look to make sure that it is not what you wanted in the first place. 

Give The Well-Worn Sneakers (Residency/Job) A Chance To Support And Comfort You!

All outstanding accomplishments take time. So, give your residency or job a chance. Yes, there are times where a sneaker can break, or a rock gets stuck in the sole. In these unusual cases, the damages are irreparable, just like some rare residencies or career paths. But, those times are rare. In the end, you may find that you will live a much more comfortable and happier life if you stick it out a bit. Your feet will thank you!

 

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Is Radiology Still A Career Or Just A Job? And What Does It Mean?

job

What exactly is a career? If you listen to the internet authority, Wikipedia, it is “an individual’s metaphorical “journey” through learning, work and other aspects of life.” And, what is the definition of a job? Again, if you listen to “all-knowing” Wikipedia, a job is an activity, often regular and often performed in exchange for payment (“for a living.”)

So, which definition does radiology meet today, a career or a mere job, a transaction made to make a simple living? Many long-standing radiologists and outsiders would say that radiology is a career. You spend countless years learning and practicing the art and science of radiology. Moreover, when you finish, you live and breathe the profession. You strive for professional excellence. More importantly, it becomes ingrained as part of your persona.

These everyday thoughts are an oversimplified answer to whether radiology is a career or a job. As such, the response has transformed itself over the past ten to 20 years.

Changes To The Equation of Job Versus Career For Radiologists

So, what has changed over the past decade or two that has morphed the answer to this question? First, the landscape of medicine has dramatically shifted. Students that formerly completed school with reasonable amounts of student loans are now graduating with hordes of debt. Additionally, external pressures from governmental bureaucracies have dramatically increased. The number of films radiologists need to read, and procedures they must perform have exponentially climbed. Some may say that the numbers have far surpassed what is safe for patients.

Finally, different demographics have joined the profession. Today, many radiologists want to practice part-time to raise a family or pursue other interests. Years ago, this type of radiologist was much less common.

Individually, each of these factors plays a role in the change. In the following few paragraphs, we will go into more detail about the reason for each.

Reasons Radiology Has Become A Job For Many

Student Debt

Let’s start by talking about the noose of enormous student debt hanging around the shoulder of new radiologists. In the past, radiology residency graduates could afford to pick and choose where and what to practice based on the merits of the post-residency job alone. No longer is that the case. Now, it becomes more important to make sure you can afford the debt service payments and the day-to-day living expenses of the region of practice. For many, finding work is about desperately needing to make ends meet. So, radiology merely becomes a means to this end.

Increased Bureaucracy

We all feel the weight of increased paperwork and regulations we must follow. To that end, maintenance of certification has become more stringent (although, more recently, it has been slightly letting up). Requirements for accreditation have been increasing exponentially. Also, the maze of insurance requirements to complete a study keeps rising. Moreover, these factors are the tip of the iceberg. For many radiologists, many bureaucratic factors lead them to resign themselves to practice radiology as a job.

The Work Treadmill

Nowadays, many radiologists are hostage to the ever-increasing number of studies they need to read. Public expectations for the delivery of results promptly and efficiently have climbed. Also, time to transcription has become the holy grail of the hospital administration. In these conditions, how can some radiologists perceive their work as more than just a cog in the wheel to make ends meet?

Changing Demographics

Finally, we need to also talk about why different radiologists pursue radiology. No longer do all radiologists fit the same mold. For some, their role in raising a family has become more crucial than the position that they may play in running a radiology practice. So, these radiologists merely want to fund their lifestyle and not get involved in the professional aspects of radiology.

What Does This All Mean?

Well, to start with, we know that the most consummate professionals invest heavily in their careers and see their profession as a calling. These are the incredible clinicians, the movers, and the “shakers.” Moreover, they perform groundbreaking research, make improbable diagnoses, teach their residents, and create radiology systems and businesses to promote the profession.

However, based on the new pressures on individual radiologists, we cannot expect all radiologists to see their original “calling” as a “career.” Instead, many other factors play into the equation. Student debt burdens some radiologists. Alternatively, the chains of bureaucracy and increasing workloads prevent the pursuit of their interests and infringe upon the professional lifestyle of a radiologist.

Regardless, we should not talk badly about radiologists who need to work in the profession merely as a job. Many radiologists have excellent reasons for that. Instead, we should work to fix those factors that have changed to make radiology into a job so that we can improve the quality of our profession and return it to a career for all.

 

 

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Twelve Red Flags At Your First Post Residency Radiology Job

red flags

 

Unfortunately, not all practices are equal out there. Some abuse the junior employees. Others require responsibilities of their employees that the employer does not outline in the contract. And, even others promise partnership with its employees and do not deliver. So how do you know that your first job is going to work out for you? Well, it can be exceedingly difficult to tell for sure. But, I have come up with twelve red flags while employed or interviewing that will enable you to figure out if you need to move on to a new job or interview elsewhere.

No One Tells You Anything

You show up to work one day and discover that the hospital owners changed the location of your reading area within the imaging center without warning. Or, the private practice partners have a partners’ meeting and are unwilling to divulge any information, even non-sensitive information such as compliance issues for the employees. If this pattern of poor communication continues over time, it is a sure sign that the partners either have poor communication skills or do not respect the employees’ work. Be very wary!!!

Constantly Changing Work Responsibilities

You may be a neuroradiologist, but the practice expects you to all of a sudden read mammograms that you have not read for many years. And, the next week, you are responsible for all the arthrograms, even though you have not done one since your residency. If this happens once or twice, it may be related to staffing or temporary issues. On the other hand, when it is a recurring theme, it may be the first signs of an inept management structure unable to either retain its employees or, perhaps, severe practice disorganization. Think twice about staying!!!

Severe Isolation Syndrome

When you come into work, you see all the offices with radiologists with the doors locked. Just like everyone else, you shut your door too. And, you don’t even hear a peep from another radiologist for days at a time. Is this a collaborative environment? Certainly not!!! It doesn’t bode well for a fruitful, enjoyable long career!!!

No Practice Socialization Events

Most practices have some sort of get-together for the members of the group or hospital, whether it be the attendings, technologists, nurses, or other staff. And, there is a good reason for that. It is essential to get to know your colleagues so that you can feel comfortable relying on them as people. If none of these events are available, it sure seems that a lack of trust may be in the cards. Do you want to be part of a practice where you don’t even know your colleagues?

Hallway Brawls

OK. Perhaps, once in a while, a colleague does not get along well with another. However, if you find this a regular occurrence, there is a good possibility that your colleagues have significant personality disorders. Are you willing to deal with this behavior for the rest of your working career?

No Rewards For Good Employees

Sometimes your employees go above and beyond what the employer expects of them. Practices that ignore good employees also tend to overlook each other. How do you reward someone who is adding value to an imaging business? Well, you give them a bonus, extra vacation, or at the very least essential verbal recognition of their excellent work. If your practice can’t see how good you are and are working hard to better the business, consider going elsewhere!!!

Always Being Told You Are Wrong

Perhaps, you are missing a lot of findings or do not communicate well with colleagues and physicians. But, if you find that you are within the bell curve and your employees are constantly criticizing your work, did you ever think that they might just not want you there? Start looking around!!!

Running Around Like A Chicken Without A Head

Living in constant stress with tons of studies and responsibilities without end is not sustainable over the long run. Some practices run continually by having radiologists read too many cases to be safe. They are just in the business to make money for the bottom line of the partners’ pockets. Can you work in this sort of situation for the rest of your working life? Think about finding someplace where you can work over a long, sustainable period!!!

Lack Of Hospital Involvement

You notice that none of your colleagues or future employers is on committees within the hospital staff. If you want to stay relevant to your place of practice, at least someone needs to be involved. Otherwise, if there is no connection to the practice facilities, the ax may fall when you least expect it, and all of you may be out of a job!!!

No QI Committees

Believe it or not, quality is a crucial element of good practice. How do you know how you are doing? Well, there is only one way. You need to have someone that monitors the quality of the practice. Does the imaging business have morbidity and mortality conferences or peer evaluations? If your future coworkers are embarrassed to have their work checked, you may be looking at a practice that doesn’t care how they are doing. Start thinking about finding a practice that cares about the quality of their work!!!

No One Cracks A Smile

I find it a relief to crack a joke or say something nice and get a good response. However, some practices take themselves way too seriously. Do you want to be in a practice where everyone is miserable?

The Almighty Buck Always Rules The Roost

If you have not learned it yet, you will undoubtedly learn it at some point. It is not always about the money. Employers need to value ethics, practicality, and hard work over money at many points to run a genuinely great practice. If there is never a time that your future employer factors these attributes above the almighty buck, consider your alternatives!!!

So There Are Red Flags. Now What?

Not all practices are perfect, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are dysfunctional. However, when you catch a pattern of multiple red flags again and again without correction, it may be time to rethink your employment strategy. Keep your eyes wide open and your ear to the ground!!!