A radiologist is a physician that specializes in the branch of medicine known as radiology. Radiologists use radiation to diagnose and treat diseases. A radiologist has many areas of specialization to choose from.
Identification
A radiologist is a physician that diagnoses and treats illnesses using a form of medicine call radiology. Radiologists use both ionizing and non-ionizing forms of radiation such as x-rays, MRI's (magnetic resonance imaging) and ultrasounds to diagnose illnesses. Radiologists also treat both benign and malignant growths internally and externally by exposing them to high doses of radiation from x-rays, high energy sources and natural or man-made radioisotopes.
Types
There are many specialties in the field of radiology. Some of the specialties include diagnosis of illnesses such as diagnostic radiology, emergency radiology, ultrasound, and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Radiologists in these fields specialize in diagnosing illnesses in doctor's offices, clinics, and emergency rooms. Once a certain illness is suspected, or diagnoses, a patient may be referred to a radiologist that specializes in a certain field such as breast imaging, cardiovascular, chest, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, or neuroradiology. Radiologist in these areas often specialize in diagnosing and treating certain illnesses, such as breast cancer and tumors founds in the specific area in the body that their specialty involves.
Time Frame
Becoming a radiologist requires a formal education. A high school diploma or equivalent is required to enter radiologist training programs. A person considering a career in radiology should place special emphasis on mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics. Radiology programs range from 1-4 years in length. A radiology certificate program is a one year program that is offered to individuals that have already completed the requirements for a medical field and are seeking to change fields. An example is a registered nurse who wishes to become a radiologist. For individuals with no medical training, a 2 or 4-year program is required.The most common degree in radiology is an Associates degree (2 year), though a Bachelor's or Master's degree is required for specialties and administrative jobs.
Benefits
Radiologists earn an average salary of $48,000. Depending on level of experience and location, a radiologist's salary can range between around $32,000 per year to over $68,000 per year. Larger hospitals in larger cities often offer potentially higher salaries. Benefits also vary between doctor's offices and hospitals and can depend on size and location of the institution. The major benefit for those working in the health care field is that radiologist play a large role in diagnosing and treating illnesses and diseases that could not be treated in the past.
Potential
Opportunities for radiologists are expected to increase by approximately 15 percent in the decade between 2006 and 2016, which makes this one of the fastest growing careers available. Population growth and technological advances are two reasons for this expected growth. The medical field, in a broad sense, is one of the fastest growing career choices available to individuals today.
Tags: diagnosing treating, doctor offices, fastest growing, illnesses such, magnetic resonance
