Radiologists have a lot to be excited about in 2018 and beyond. Jim Y. Chen, MD, of the department of radiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, explored some recent statistics in a new commentary published by the Journal of the American College of Radiology, detailing what they mean for the specialty this year and in the years ahead.
These are four reasons to be optimistic about the future of radiology, courtesy of Chen’s analysis:
1. Interventional radiology (IR) remains healthcare’s most competitive specialty
IR was the most competitive specialty in terms of positions per U.S. applicant (PPUSA) in 2017 and it repeated that distinction in 2018 with a PPUSA of 0.66.
“I expected the competitiveness of IR residency to decline as positions are continuously added after its inaugural year,” Chen wrote. “However, more students were interested and that drove the demand even higher.”
2. Diagnostic radiology (DR) is competitive as well—and trending in a positive direction
DR may not be quite as competitive as IR, but it had a respectable PPUSA of 1.43 in 2018. The specialty has grown more competitive since 2015, and Chen expects 2019 to be an even better year for DR.
3. Radiology has a thriving job market
“For students who cannot decide, the future is bright for both DR and IR,” Chen wrote. “The radiology job market is strong and continues to improve.”
Imaging is becoming a more and more vital component of patient care, with radiologists demonstrating their value in new, innovative ways. Utilization is also on the rise, as is the number of radiologists who are retiring.
Citing recent Merritt Hawkins research, Chen noted that radiology was once again one of the top 10 most searched specialties in 2017 for the first time since 2007. In addition a 2017 American College of Radiology survey found that the number of radiologist job openings increased by more than 14 percent from 2016 to 2017.
4. Those who choose radiology don’t regret it
Chen also pointed out that 96 percent of radiologists said they would choose radiology again, according to the 2018 Medscape Physician Compensation Report. This was the third highest percentage of all specialties, behind just orthopedics and plastic surgery, and speaks volumes about the health of the radiology job market. It also means disgruntled radiologists aren’t telling advice-seeking medical students to steer clear of the specialty, which could have an impact on things such as those previously discussed PPUSA scores.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.