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Rashel
Student
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Question
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What was the most challenging part of becoming a radiologist and how did you stay focused on pursuing your career?
Im interested in becoming a radiologist but I want to know if it'll be a good fit for me and what hardships I'm going to have to face. I want to stay focused on my journey and be motivated by peoples story who have alredy done it.
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3 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Rashel !
It is wonderful that you're exploring a career as a Radiologist ! Even though I am not a Radiologist, I can advise you on some things that you seem concerned about. A Radiologist is a medical doctor, so first and foremost, you should love school and studying and look forward to 13 to 15 years of college and Medical School. If this sounds exciting and doable, you would be a very good candidate to become a Radiologist in the United States !
One of my favorite pieces of advice is that other people's stories about their path or career will not be your story. What you find challenging or smooth are not the things that other people have experienced. It's a lot of studying, sacrificing of time, financial investment and your passion should override these if you really want this career. There's no way to predict how your education or career will go because it is an episodic journey that needs to unfold naturally for everyone. It's okay to not know how your specific experience will be. That being said, to see if this career is for you, explore the academics and the work so that you can decide if it is the study and work you want to do.
In undergraduate school for your Bachelors Degree, it is recommended to Major in the usual life sciences like Biology, Anatomy (which would be really helpful to learn all parts of the body for radiology later on). You can even consider finding a college for your Bachelors Degree that offers a Bachelors in Radiation Science. Typical courses in that path include Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Sciences Pathology for Radiation Sciences, Patient Care for the Radiation Sciences, Introduction to Radiation Safety and Radiobiology, Medical Ethics and Law, Radiation Sciences Quality Management and Health Care Administration, Research Methodology for Radiation Sciences , and Introduction to Radiation Therapy. There's also an undergraduate program for a Bachelors Degree in Radiation Therapy. It would just be a matter of exploring colleges to see who offers these programs. Whatever path sounds good specifically to you is the one you should choose.
You would need to complete courses in anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics regardless of your Major for your Bachelors and when you receive your Bachelors, you then go to Medical School and they will let you know when to choose Radiology as your specialty.
Once you understand the academic details and timeline, if it all sounds good to you, you can then explore the work - what you would actually do as a Radiologist. As a Radiologist, you would diagnose and treat injuries and diseases using X-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography, and ultrasound. Your main job would be interpreting medical images to make diagnoses, which may include evaluating the results of imaging tests, comparing findings with other examinations, and recommending further tests or treatments based on the images. You also would write up treatment plans for patients. There are sub-specialties in radiology, too that you can look up online.
A good and quick way to learn more about the work would be to watch videos on You Tube about the career. There are some good, informative ones that I have provided in a link below for you. You can also visit the Library and borrow some books on the subject. Once you understand the schooling and the actual work you'd do, I think you'd be able to determine whether or not it is best for you to pursue this career.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
WHAT IT IS LIKE BEING A RADIOLOGIST [VIDEOS] https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=What+is+it+like+being+a+Radiologist+%3F
It is wonderful that you're exploring a career as a Radiologist ! Even though I am not a Radiologist, I can advise you on some things that you seem concerned about. A Radiologist is a medical doctor, so first and foremost, you should love school and studying and look forward to 13 to 15 years of college and Medical School. If this sounds exciting and doable, you would be a very good candidate to become a Radiologist in the United States !
One of my favorite pieces of advice is that other people's stories about their path or career will not be your story. What you find challenging or smooth are not the things that other people have experienced. It's a lot of studying, sacrificing of time, financial investment and your passion should override these if you really want this career. There's no way to predict how your education or career will go because it is an episodic journey that needs to unfold naturally for everyone. It's okay to not know how your specific experience will be. That being said, to see if this career is for you, explore the academics and the work so that you can decide if it is the study and work you want to do.
In undergraduate school for your Bachelors Degree, it is recommended to Major in the usual life sciences like Biology, Anatomy (which would be really helpful to learn all parts of the body for radiology later on). You can even consider finding a college for your Bachelors Degree that offers a Bachelors in Radiation Science. Typical courses in that path include Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Sciences Pathology for Radiation Sciences, Patient Care for the Radiation Sciences, Introduction to Radiation Safety and Radiobiology, Medical Ethics and Law, Radiation Sciences Quality Management and Health Care Administration, Research Methodology for Radiation Sciences , and Introduction to Radiation Therapy. There's also an undergraduate program for a Bachelors Degree in Radiation Therapy. It would just be a matter of exploring colleges to see who offers these programs. Whatever path sounds good specifically to you is the one you should choose.
You would need to complete courses in anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics regardless of your Major for your Bachelors and when you receive your Bachelors, you then go to Medical School and they will let you know when to choose Radiology as your specialty.
Once you understand the academic details and timeline, if it all sounds good to you, you can then explore the work - what you would actually do as a Radiologist. As a Radiologist, you would diagnose and treat injuries and diseases using X-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography, and ultrasound. Your main job would be interpreting medical images to make diagnoses, which may include evaluating the results of imaging tests, comparing findings with other examinations, and recommending further tests or treatments based on the images. You also would write up treatment plans for patients. There are sub-specialties in radiology, too that you can look up online.
A good and quick way to learn more about the work would be to watch videos on You Tube about the career. There are some good, informative ones that I have provided in a link below for you. You can also visit the Library and borrow some books on the subject. Once you understand the schooling and the actual work you'd do, I think you'd be able to determine whether or not it is best for you to pursue this career.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Mike Malthus
Health Sector ICT Sales
2
Answers
Wellington, New Zealand
Updated
Mike’s Answer
Hi Rashel
Being a radiologist is a wonderful career choice. It's both rewarding and challenging if you decide to pursue it.
To become a great radiologist, you should focus on developing these three key qualities:
- Attention to detail: Radiologists need to be very meticulous.
- Strong communication skills: You must have excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
- Analytical problem-solving: Radiology involves more than just identifying abnormalities. It requires analyzing patterns, understanding clinical context, and making informed diagnostic decisions, often in complex situations.
Every day, you will feel inspired by the positive impact you are making on the health and well-being of the community.
Being a radiologist is a wonderful career choice. It's both rewarding and challenging if you decide to pursue it.
To become a great radiologist, you should focus on developing these three key qualities:
- Attention to detail: Radiologists need to be very meticulous.
- Strong communication skills: You must have excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
- Analytical problem-solving: Radiology involves more than just identifying abnormalities. It requires analyzing patterns, understanding clinical context, and making informed diagnostic decisions, often in complex situations.
Every day, you will feel inspired by the positive impact you are making on the health and well-being of the community.
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Rashel. Becoming a radiologist is a long and challenging journey, but it can also be very rewarding for those who are passionate about medicine, technology, and helping others.
One of the most difficult parts of becoming a radiologist is the amount of time and effort it takes. Students have to study for long hours, learn complex medical information, and gain experience interpreting images like X-rays, etc.
Another big challenge is staying confident when things get hard. Many students struggle with self-doubt or fear of failure, especially when comparing themselves to others. Radiology is a competitive specialty, and it requires strong academic performance and good problem-solving skills.
There are also emotional challenges. Radiologists often deal with serious diagnoses and must stay calm and professional while making critical decisions.
If you enjoy learning, have patience, and are curious about how the human body works, radiology could be a great fit.
One of the most difficult parts of becoming a radiologist is the amount of time and effort it takes. Students have to study for long hours, learn complex medical information, and gain experience interpreting images like X-rays, etc.
Another big challenge is staying confident when things get hard. Many students struggle with self-doubt or fear of failure, especially when comparing themselves to others. Radiology is a competitive specialty, and it requires strong academic performance and good problem-solving skills.
There are also emotional challenges. Radiologists often deal with serious diagnoses and must stay calm and professional while making critical decisions.
If you enjoy learning, have patience, and are curious about how the human body works, radiology could be a great fit.