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blog//Is a Fellowship Worth Your Time and Trouble

By Janet Baer-Lile

If you’re new to the marketplace of today’s Radiology, then you’re new to a rapidly growing field, rich in promising career opportunities. As the world’s population grows and ages, the demand for Diagnostic Imaging is growing quickly, therefore the need for talented people is growing with it.

Over the past three decades medical imaging has come a long way from film based x-rays to sophisticated computerized imaging procedures. Even the last 10 years has shown great strides in the development of new techniques in Computed Tomography (CT), Ultrasound, Digital Radiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). These new techniques have revolutionized the field of diagnostic radiology, providing new information about the interior of the human body that has never been available before.

Along with this growth has developed a very big misconception. You will not be able to locate a fantastic job opportunity unless you have a Fellowship in this or that. Quite to the contrary, the majority of lucrative first time Radiology jobs Kendall & Davis represents are for a “Solid General Diagnostic Radiologist”. Our clients are looking for doctors who specialize in all general radiology modalities including MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Nuclear studies including PET, Neuro-Radiology and Mammography. The request for Fellowship trained Radiologists are becoming less and less everyday. One of the biggest questions I am asked almost on a daily basis is “Should I do a Fellowship or not and if I do a Fellowship which one gives me the best chance of finding that great opportunity”.

The most worthwhile Fellowships we are seeing in the market today are Body Imaging (MRI and MSK) and Women’s Imaging due to the ever increasing outpatient imaging centers popping up everywhere. I have had the honor and privilege of working with both Fellowship and non Fellowship trained doctors and had success with finding jobs for both, but the present day Radiology market is dictating a “jack of all trades” atmosphere.

March 7, 2006