Advances in Breast Localization Techniques: An Opportunity to Improve Quality of Care and Patient Satisfaction

We will review imaging modalities used for localization in addition to current localization techniques for nonpalpable breast lesions

Strategies to Reach Gender Equity in Radiology

For decades, women have comprised only 25% of practicing radiologists in the United States, even though women now represent approximately 50% of medical students. Even fewer women in the United States rise into radiology leadership positions, with only 17% currently serving as a department chair. In contrast, globally, women represent over 33% of radiologists, with Thailand having the highest female representation at 85%. Despite increased awareness of this gender disparity in the United States, the field has seen little change in the diversity and inclusivity of its workforce

Representation of Women in Diagnostic Radiology Residency Programs: Does National Institutes of Health Program Ranking Matter?

PURPOSE: Women are consistently underrepresented in the radiology workforce. The authors examined recent trends in the gender distribution of residents entering diagnostic radiology residency programs. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of residents entering US diagnostic radiology residency programs for graduate medical education years 2009 to 2018. Demographic and program data were obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges GME Track Resident Survey. National Institutes of Health (NIH) ranking was determined according to the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the gender distribution of residents according to residency program ranking. RESULTS: The final analytic sample included 11,788 residents who entered diagnostic radiology residency programs during the study period, of whom 3,245 (27.5%) were women and 8,543 (72.5%) were men. A higher percentage of female residents entered programs ranked in NIH rank group 1st to 20th (351 of 1,185 [29.6%]) than entered programs that were ranked lower than 20th or were unranked (1,540 of 5,819 [26.5%]; P = .026). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings confirm repeated reports that women are underrepresented in radiology. The results indicate a need for further study on why a greater proportion of female residents are entering programs with higher NIH rankings. Better understanding of factors and interventions that led to this rise in the percentage of women in higher ranked programs provides an opportunity to expand gender diversity across the field of radiology

Fostering Patient- and Family-Centered Care in Radiology Practice

Patient- and family-centered care (PFCC) is “a model of providing care in which the patient and family are partners with the provider and care team”. With reimbursement linked to health care outcomes and patient satisfaction, radiology has an opportunity to add value to the health care system by fostering partnerships with patients and families

Women\u27s response to state-mandated language in dense breast notification

Many states require radiologists to notify women of dense breast status. Our aim was to elicit women\u27s response to state-mandated dense breast notification language. Of respondents, 82% report that current notification does not inform them of additional screening studies available, and 41% report notification does not inform them of next steps. Open-ended responses indicate three main areas of patient concern: Decisional Needs, Decision Quality, and Decision Support. We modified an existing Decision Support framework to capture additional themes specific to dense breast decisions. The developed framework can be used to revise and improve current breast density reporting methods

Health Care Disparities in Radiology - A Review of the Current Literature

INTRODUCTION: Health care disparities exist in all medical specialties, including radiology. Raising awareness of established health care disparities is a critical component of radiology\u27s efforts to mitigate disparities. Our primary objective is to perform a comprehensive review of the last 10 years of literature pertaining to disparities in radiology care. Our secondary objective is to raise awareness of disparities in radiology. METHODS: We reviewed English-language medicine and health services literature from the past 10 years (2010-2020) for research that described disparities in any aspect of radiologic imaging using radiology search terms and key words for disparities in OVID. Relevant studies were identified with adherence to the guidelines set forth by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. RESULTS: The search yielded a total 1,890 articles. We reviewed the citations and abstracts with the initial search yielding 1,890 articles (without duplicates). Of these, 1,776 were excluded based on the criteria set forth in the methods. The remaining unique 114 articles were included for qualitative synthesis. DISCUSSION: We hope this article increases awareness and inspires action to address disparities and encourages research that further investigates previously identified disparities and explores not-yet-identified disparities

Transitioning From Radiology Training to Academic Faculty: The Importance of Mentorship

Transitioning from radiology residency to academic faculty presents many challenges. In this review, we discuss the importance of introspection and mentorship to successfully navigate this process. Key points include alignment of goals with those of the institution, formation of a mentorship program, and periodic reassessment of career goals. These tips and tools can help make the transition from residency to academic faculty more seamless

Transitioning from Radiology Training to Academic Faculty: Defining Your Role and Interests

Transitioning from radiology training to academic faculty presents many challenges. In this review, we discuss strategies to navigate this process and to facilitate success through appropriate selection of career tracks. Various modern avenues include roles as a Clinician-Educator, Clinician-Investigator, and Clinician-Administrator. Selection of the appropriate career track based on personal interests and institutional culture is critical for early and long-term career satisfaction

Radiology Research Funding: Current State and Future Opportunities

Funding for research has become increasingly difficult to obtain in an environment of decreasing clinical revenue, increasing research costs, and growing competition for federal and nonfederal funding sources. This paper identifies critical requirements to build and sustain a successful radiology research program (eg, key personnel and leadership, research training and mentorship, infrastructure, institutional and departmental funding or support), reviews the current state of available funding for radiology (including federal, nonfederal, philanthropy, crowdfunding, and industry), and describes promising opportunities for future funding (eg, health services, comparative effectiveness, and patient-centered outcomes research). The funding climate, especially at the federal level, changes periodically, so it is important to have radiology-specific organizations such as the American College of Radiology and the Academy of Radiology Research serving as our key advocates. Key to obtaining any funding, no matter what the source, is a well-formulated grant proposal, so a review of opportunities specifically available to radiologists to develop and hone their grant-writing skills is provided. Effective and sustained funding for radiology research has the potential to cultivate young researchers, bolster quality research, and enhance health care. Those interested in pursuing research need to be aware of the ever-changing funding landscape, research priority areas, and the resources available to them to succeed. To succeed, radiology researchers need to think about diversification and flexibility in their interests, developing multidisciplinary and multi-institutional projects, and engaging a broader base of stakeholders that includes patients