Savannah Schow

9/13/14
2nd hour

Career Research Paper

Deciding on a career is a very tough decision. Some important factors you need to
consider include: amount of education, the salary you will be making, your interests, and the
location of where this career can be found. I am interested in becoming a radiologist.
Radiologists are physicians who use imaging technology to examine organs and tissues inside
the body in noninvasive ways. They specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and
injury by using many tools. These tools include: X-ray radiography, ultrasound, computerized
tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET),
and nuclear imaging. Some diseases they treat are cancer and heart disease. Radiologists usually
work behind the scenes analyzing studies, making diagnoses and consulting with other
physicians.
The working conditions of a radiologist consist of a full-time employment and work a 5day, 40-50 hour week. Depending on the experience youve had, the number of hours you work
may vary. Those who work in clinics or hospitals may have to work evening and weekend shifts
to meet the needs of their patients. Radiologists spend a decent amount of time interacting with
people, including patients, nurses, other doctors, and medical imaging techs. Therefore, they
need to be good at communicating. The average annual salary for a radiologist is $374, 995. The
lowest 10% of radiologist salaries are less than $272,856. The top 10% of radiologist salaries
reach more than $490, 149.

Savannah Schow
9/13/14
2nd hour
The first step in becoming a radiologist is to obtain a bachelors degree. Pre-medicine
students may major in any subject but need to meet the requirements in math, biology, organic
and inorganic chemistry, physics, and the humanities. Students can improve their medical
application by earning academic honors, volunteering, conducting scientific research and
achieving high scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Many four-year colleges
and universities have pre-med advisors who assist students in planning an appropriate program
of study. Afterwards, radiologists can then move onto medical school. During the last year of
medical school, students should apply for a four-year diagnostic radiology residency through the
National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Residents work an average of 60 hours per week
and spend some nights on call.
State licensure is mandatory for all practicing physicians, including radiologists. Most
employers require radiology candidates to hold board certification. Effective 2013, this will
require passage of a two-part examination covering medicine, anatomy, imaging modalities, and
physics. A professional organization associated with a radiologist is American Registry of
Radiologic Technologists (AART). AART is the national examining and certifying organization
for radiologic technologists. The staff members can provide information about AART programs,
examinations procedures, and continuing education requirements. Another organization is
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SDMS). It was founded in 1970 to promote,
advance, and educate its members and the medical community in the science of Diagnostic
Medical Sonography. It provides the oversees educational programs, collects and disseminates
information pertinent to the membership. Also, it establishes policies regarding the professional
status, legislative activity, and welfare of its members.

Savannah Schow
9/13/14
2nd hour
A social factor of being a radiologist is not being face to face with a patient because they
are mostly just reading screens with X-rays. They work in the dark a lot so they can read the
screens more easily. A psychological factor in this career is that you are very isolated. Also
becoming a radiologist is very expensive, it comes with a large amount of debt. It involves many
years of schooling which is very time consuming; its a very long process. This employment can
be found in hospitals, cancer centers, and many other medical facilities. According to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of jobs for all surgeons and physcians, including
radiologists, is expected to grow 22% from 2008-2018. Employment prospects should be greater
for specialists such as radiologists who work with elderly populations, given their greater risks
for diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
This field requires taking courses like anatomy, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and
physics. In order to get a job in this area, you need to prepare for employment by getting on-thejob training. It will allow you to receive first-hand knowledge of the daily routines. Also, this
involves passing the mandatory exams to become certified. Most states require individuals to
secure a license along with their certification.