Julia R. Fielding MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Nancy Marie Major MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Brian F. Mullan MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Janet Ann Neutze MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kitt Shaffer MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Claire Berteel Wilcox MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Etta D. Pisano MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The number of women choosing radiology as a career has been declining in recent years. Our goal was to determine the factors important to medical students when choosing a career.

An anonymous survey was completed by medical students at the completion of their third or fourth year radiology clinical clerkships at 5 institutions. In addition to demographic data and residency choice, respondents ranked 10 factors in order of importance to their career choice. These included salary, work hours, job flexibility, intellectual stimulation, use of emerging technology, contact with patients and impact upon their lives, perception of peer group toward the specialty, perceived job satisfaction among those in radiology, available job opportunities, and competitiveness of residency programs. For those respondents who did not consider radiology as a possible career, a second, similar set of 8 factors was ranked for importance in dissuading them.

168 students completed the survey, 89 (53%) male and 79 (47%) female. 131 (78%) were in the fourth year of medical school and had chosen careers, while 37 (22%) had not chosen specialties. Mean age was 27 years, 97 (58%) had a significant other, and 32 (19%) had children. 29 (22%) students had chosen radiology as their career; 19 were male and 10 were female. Intellectual stimulation and job satisfaction were ranked as the most important factors in choosing a career in radiology. 96 students (57%) did not consider radiology a possible career(42 males and 54 females). Of this group, 51 women and 41 men reported lack of direct contact with patients as the most important factor in deciding against radiology. Possible exposure to radiation, requirements of physics expertise and competitiveness of residency programs were not mentioned.

Patient contact remains an important factor for medical students when choosing a career. In order to attract high caliber students and particularly women, medical students should be exposed to those areas of radiology involving patient interaction such as pediatrics, mammography and interventional procedures.

J.R.F.: Julia Fielding serves on a speakers' bureau for GE/Amersham Health.

Fielding, J, Major, N, Mullan, B, Neutze, J, Shaffer, K, Wilcox, C, Pisano, E, et al, , Choosing a Specialty in Medicine: Medical Students and Radiology.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4408331.html