This was incredibly accurate and succinct. The real world experience is radiating from the way you described call, and after taking trauma surgery call at a level 1 trauma center in SoCal, the experience couldn't have been described any better
I have been watching your videos on my lunch breaks while studying for the MCAT. I just wanted to let you know that your compassion, swag, and immense knowledge inspires me to become as great a physician as you someday. If you have the time, I was wondering if you could maybe answer some questions I have about radiology?
hey man, thanks for your comment. feel free to msg or email me. or we can hash it out right here in the comments section and others can benefit. choice is yours - sg
Hell yeah, you responded So I am interested in radiology, mainly because of my fascination for nuclear medicine and medical imaging. Unlike your sub-specialty, I was hoping to do something a little less invasive: diagnostic radiology. My only concern is, however, the rapid rise in machine learning algorithms (AKA Artificial Intelligence). I have been reading some journal articles, and some people believe that Artificial Intelligence may soon replace the diagnostic radiologist, since machines might eventually be able to learn (with the help of humans) how to diagnose pathologies from a CT Scan, MRI, etc. To me, this seems not too far in the future considering that even my college roommate is currently doing research at our University to advance machine learning. This is definitely an growing field. If you are familiar with the topic, do you have any advice for a pre-med student who will likely be practicing as a radiologist 10 years from now? Do you think the technology will eventually replace the diagnostic radiologist? Or do you think AI will be a tool diagnostic radiologists use in order to improve patient outcomes, without being replaced? Also, why did you choose IR over DR? Did you ever consider DR or other specialties? Btw if you don't mind, could I get your email address? Just so I don't need to comment on a YT video if I ever have any more questions about Medicine (I'll still watch, I promise haha) Thanks dude, AG
haha : sarel.gaur@gmail.com. yes re. AI and radiology. very hot topic, i've been doing some reading. Rewatching the movie "The Matrix". I have some thoughts. AI will not replace radiologists in your lifetime, IMO. I could "prove" this in a video, thinking about creating it. the short answer is the multitude of decisions we make as radiologists are often based on subconscious thought and imperfect information. If AI was able to perform these tasks adequately, i'd be more concerned about the human race being taken over by machines than the lack of need for radiologists. I chose IR because although I enjoy computers and image interpretation, there was something missing. Theres nothing like the visceral feel of percutaneous procedures. Also I am able to interact directly with patients, something I realized I needed after medical school. thought about plastic surgery and dermatology. Neither really fit me. I am biased towards procedural fields: it's nice to get paid for what you can do with your hands. Diagnostic rads is like getting paid for what you can do with your mind. best, sg
Excellent video Dr. Gaur. What are your thoughts on radiation exposure from IR procedures? Also, I am an employee of that Level 1 Trauma Center here in Atlanta! Thanks for your informative videos!
haha i duno why i'm secretive online - i'm talking about Grady or 'The Grady' of course. radiation exposure- we stay safe by wearing lead and lead goggles, using shielding and proper source to image distance ratios. the major risk that i've been alerted to is the development of cataracts which is reduced by lead goggles. luckily its also a pretty easily treatable condition. I try not to worry too much about radiation exposure but after a long case with a long fluoro time you definitely think about it
Thanks for your reply Dr. Gaur! I'm actually starting med school this Fall and am interested in IR because of the awesome treatments that are able to be done in that field. I am considering the radiation exposure however. I think you guys/gals in that field do great work so thanks for what you do! Maybe I'll see you around Grady one day soon and I'll be sure to say hello!
congrats on med school. of note, other fields will also have rad exp including vasc surgery and ortho, as fluoro is used for a lot of their surgeries. Some of the best fluoro suites i've seen are in the ORs. theres also a lot of US and CT guided IR procedures where your exp is nil. Just more food for thought
If a patient comes to the ER such as the (lovely I'm sure) patient that was stabbed in the kidney, does a diagnostic radiologist on call read the imaging study first and then call you for intervention, or does IR do all readings that come into the ER
in my current setup, we don't read images on call, we only provide IR services. usually we are consulted by trauma surgery or called by a radiologist with findings of active bleeding
of note that dude was a nice decent guy, just a bad situation and different societal construct. but as a doc you're exposed to that so try not to dismiss it too quick, just my .02
Thanks for the reply....I am a med student. My father died of cancer. I saw him suffering from side-effects of chemotherapy. Now when I see DEBs, TACE, Radio-embolisation, these seem to me just like a magic. So these are a source of inspiration to me. I am coming to US for SIR annual scientific meeting at Washington DC on 5th march. You are an inspiring teacher of me. So kindly tell me whether you will be there at meeting or not. I will love to meet you for a few minutes if possible.
kindly make a video mentioning ur experience of residency match, your residency experience, what things a student interested in IR must do, Is there any use of attending conferences in US, Is there any carrier for IMGs there in US, I know these are odd questions but as an IMG we all have a lot of questions like this in our minds....so kindly make a video for us...
hey man sorry to hear of your father. i will not be at SIR. re. IR residency, unfortunately I can tell you its extremely competitive and as an IMG, it may not be very likely to match. however, diagnostic radiology is a different story and you have a decent chance (imo) of matching into that. After that you should be able to either get IR training during your residency or match into a 2 yr fellowship. in any case, if you want IR bad enough and are willing to be trained, I think you will end up where you want to be. best of luck - sg
