Radiologists are physicians who use cutting-edge imaging technology to examine organs and tissues inside the body in gentle, noninvasive ways. Their expertise in physics, anatomy and the disease process allow them to diagnose injuries and illnesses so treatment can begin. A growing subset of these specialists called interventional radiologists performs surgical procedures under imaging guidance in order to minimize damage to health tissue. (InnerBody) They generally work behind the scenes analyzing studies, making diagnoses and consulting with physicians. In some cases, they get involved in the procedure in order to help prepare the patient or outline further instructions to the technician. Interventional radiologists take imaging
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The road to a career as a radiologist typically begins with earning a bachelor's degree. Medical school prerequisite courses include biology, chemistry and physics. A number of undergraduate students opt to work or volunteer in medical settings to gain experience. The road continues with four years of medical school to become a physician. Medical school consists of two years of classroom education in the sciences, such as anatomy, pathology, pharmacology and biochemistry, followed by two years of clinical rotations in different areas of medicine, such as pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery and internal medicine. After graduating from medical school, a physician must complete four years of a radiology residency, which is a combination of specialty medical education and paid on-the-job training, to become a radiologist. Residents complete clinical rotations in different subspecialties of radiology, attend lectures and conduct research. Some radiologists then go on to complete additional training so that they may further specialize. For example, interventional radiology, which requires doctors to use catheters, wires and other probes during certain imaging procedures, involves 1-2 years of fellowship training following completion of a residency. In addition, the continuing emergence of new technologies requires extra training for the equipment to be used safely and accurately. It's common for even advanced radiologists with many years of practice to take part in specialized training programs.
The road to a career as a radiologist typically begins with earning a bachelor's degree. Medical school prerequisite courses include biology, chemistry and physics. A number of undergraduate students opt to work or volunteer in medical settings to gain experience. The road continues with four years of medical school to become a physician. Medical school consists of two years of classroom education in the sciences, such as anatomy, pathology, pharmacology and biochemistry, followed by two years of clinical rotations in different areas of medicine, such as pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery and internal medicine. After graduating from medical school, a physician must complete four years of a radiology residency, which is a combination of specialty medical education and paid on-the-job training, to become a radiologist. Residents complete clinical rotations in different subspecialties of radiology, attend lectures and conduct research. Some radiologists then go on to complete additional training so that they may further specialize. For example, interventional radiology, which requires doctors to use catheters, wires and other probes during certain imaging procedures, involves 1-2 years of fellowship training following completion of a residency. In addition, the continuing emergence of new technologies requires extra training for the equipment to be used safely and accurately. It's common for even advanced radiologists with many years of practice to take part in specialized training programs.