What are the steps to becoming a radiologist and is it worth it?

Becoming a Radiologist?

• Hey everyone! I'm 14 and I'm considering becoming a radiologist. Could you please answer some questions for me about this job? Thanks! 1. What's the difference between a radiologist and an x-ray tech? 2. How much schooling is needed for each of these? 3. What classes should I take in high school to become a radiologist? 4. Does a radiologist talk to people a lot or is it a pretty solitary job? 5. Do you have to deal with blood and guts a lot? If yes, how often? 6. Do you have to take anatomy or whatever it is where you chop up a dead body? 7. Is it possible to work specifically in the ER? 8. Is there any books I could read or movies I could watch to better help me understand this subject? 9. What personality skills do you need for this job? (such as enthusiasm, quick-thinking, neatness, ect.) 10. What is your favorite and least favorite part of this job? Thanks so so much!

• Answer:

  1) A rad tech takes the x-rays and reviews them to make sure all pertinent anatomy/information is on them before sending them to the radiologist. They may also manipulate the c-arm in surgery, do portable exams, and assist in fluoroscopy, cath lab, and IVP's. A radiologist read and interprets the x-rays and manipulates the fluoroscopy tube. 2) For a rad tech it is usually a two year program after taking a year of pre-requisites. Schooling for a radiologist is around eight years. 3) Biology, anatomy, and physics. Especially physics. Also see if your high school offers algebra and rhetoric classes that count as college courses. 4) From what I've seen a radiologist's job is pretty solitary, usually the only time they interact with patients is during fluoroscopy procedures. 5) As a radiologist no, not usually. As a rad tech it will depend on where you work. In bigger cities with Level 1 trauma centers it is more likely you will encounter blood and gut. In small hospital and clinics it is not as likely. Also it depends on what shift you work, second and third shifts have more chances of blood and guts. 6) This depends on the college you attend. Some you just have to look at cadavers, others you might be required to dissect. 7) No, the radiology department is separate from the ER. As a radiologist you will be required to read ER, outpatient, and inpatient x-ray as well as other modalities. In smaller hospitals during second and third shifts, ER doctors will read their own x-rays and the radiologist will review them the next day. 8) Not that I know of off hand. But you could contact you local hospital and take a tour of the x-ray department. You might also be able to job shadow a tech of radiologist for a few hours. 9) You will need patient care skills, computer skills, good communication skills, and organizational skills. 10) As a tech, my favorite part is all the people I get to meet. My least favorite part is the paperwork. Being a rad tech, you will also have options of continuing on into other modalities such as CT, MRI, ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, and interventional radiography. You also might want to look into being a radiologist assistant (RA). It around four years of school and you will be able to interact with patients as well as interpret radiological images.