Engaging with the Next Generation of Radiologists 

Innovative programs aim to inspire the next generation of radiologists and address workforce shortages through early exposure and outreach.

“I don’t think I need to convince all of you that there is a growing need to build a pipeline for our radiology workforce,” said Judy Yee, MD, FACR, during an educational session Wednesday that presented strategies for building inclusive pathways for young people to pursue radiology. 

Dr. Yee, professor and university chair in the Department of Radiology of Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, served as a presenter and co-moderator of the session. 

The radiology workforce shortage is impacting practices worldwide, she said. This underscores the importance of developing effective, sustainable pipeline programs to interest more young people in pursuing the specialty. 

Dr. Yee described her institution’s outreach efforts with students from the Bronx High School of Science. She is a former attendee of the school, which offers specialized instruction for students who are particularly interested in science and mathematics. 

“In the Bronx, radiologists and other health care professionals serve the underserved, and there are significant health care disparities among the patient population,” she said. “This is why it’s crucial to have an adequate health care workforce that includes radiologists to combat these disparities.”

Capture the Interest of Students Early

During her institution’s outreach program, students learn about the scope of radiology and types of imaging as well as AI and 3D printing. Dr. Yee said they are also introduced to the many different types of careers available in radiology.

Other important parts of outreach efforts include career seminars and focused lectures as well as interactive workshops with technology demonstrations. Outpatient imaging center tours can give students the opportunity to get up close to different pieces of equipment. 

“These programs need to be scalable,” Dr. Yee noted. “You can start small and continue to enhance and grow the programs.”

Dr. Yee recommended that students meet residents, attendings, technologists, nurses and others during outreach events. Students can be paired with residents or attendings for additional career guidance afterwards. She noted that mentorship—either with summer programs or shadowing opportunities—can be beneficial to students.

In her view, it’s crucial to emphasize that radiology is a collaborative specialty, and radiologists play a pivotal role in patient care, from diagnosis to treatment.

“I want to make sure that all the wonderful aspects of radiology are recognized, including our pivotal role in detection, diagnosis and management of disease, and that students are aware of the many different opportunities in our field,” she said. “We need to capture the interest of students early on before they have decided on other fields or specialties.”

“All sites should start developing radiology educational events, career seminars, workshops, pathway programs, outreach programs, imaging center tours, technology demonstrations, mentorship programs and more to educate students in their formative years about the field,” Dr. Yee added. 

Other presenters included Olga Pasternak Wise, MD, MS, from the University of Chicago; Anand Narayan, MD, PhD, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Matthew Bucknor, MD, MFA, of the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco. Efrén J. Flores, MD, from Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General Brigham, co-moderated the session.

Access the educational session, “Best Practices for Inclusive Pathways to Workforce Development,” (W6-CNPM12) on demand at RSNA.org/MeetingCentral