Radiology Shadowing

Monday I had a tremendous experience. One that may have permanently affected my educational life. I shadowed a Radiologist at the hospital I work at.....it was amazing. Before I get into just why exactly it was amazing, I just want to give you a bit of information on the radiologist I was shadowing. He works at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is a level 1 trauma center which, for those of you who don't know, is the most equipped hospital to exist. It can handle any case that is thrown it's way, from a cough to a semi-decapitation. So needless to say the Radiologists, and all other physicians there, see many very interesting things. The Radiologist I shadowed also is involved in many of the academic activities that occur on the campus of FMLH, which so happens to be the Medical college of Wisconsin's campus as well. That being said he had a wealth of information for me as the day progressed. So on to the day at hand:

9:00am- I stepped into the hospital I work at almost everyday....but today was different. I was going to shadow someone who is the very person I hoped to become. Yes I will become a Radiological technologist, and yes I will become a Medical student and someday a Doctor, but most of all I hope to become a Radiologist. This Radiologist represented my future as I had known it. 

I worked my way through the Radiology Department and into the "Rad Pad" as we like to call the control room for diagnostic x-ray. I picked up the phone and paged the number that the Radiologist had given me to call when I had arrived. Within 5 minutes I was answered by a call from the Radiologist who said to meet him in the Radiology Reading Room......the Radiology Reading Room! I mean this is where all images are sent to from around the entire hospital, it is the room where 20 or more of some of the most highly trained professionals in Froedtert reside, and I was being given a front row seat! Plus directors cut!

I walked down the hall and stepped into the RRR, there I was...in the very place I hope to work some day. A goal that may take me well into my 30's to achieve....and there I was now at the age of 21. I shook his hand and he immediately told me how impressed he was with my determination. We sat at his workstation that was dominated by 4 large computer screens. The entire room was dark and quiet....but at the same time I could hear the bustle of Residents learning and Radiologist teaching them. The quiet mumbling of Radiologist dictating the image findings and patient diagnosis' was just barely audible in the background. It was comfortable, but I could almost feel the amount of knowledge that was racing throughout the 20+ workstations. 

"We're just getting the morning started so if you have any question don't hesitate to ask." He said and I looked at him with a face that showed I had no idea where to start. He jumped right in and began dictating his images... explaining to me all the intricacies of the image, his job, what exactly they look for and so on. The primary diagnosis, clinical findings, impressionary comments, and acute trauma were all things noted on almost every film. I sat in amazement as the Doctor read off image after image almost in a fluent motion. They use a dictating program that records what the Doctors say then type it out as a word document to be sent off with the image to the patients primary care physician. I asked many questions about how medical school is, what was the hardest part, how did he pay for it, what should be my focus, is the financial burdon worth it....and so on. And I will create a separate post that will contain all of these in interview format following this post.

We worked steadily through the morning...stopping to point out irregular findings and new things to his Residents. I couldn't help but wonder...Could I make it here?....Could I really become this man?....After everything we did that day I can't help but hope that I will achieve it. The day progressed quicker than I could absorb everything and before I knew any better it was lunch. 

"You can come with us to lunch if you want" He offered. Him and 4 other Radiologist were going to lunch together and he offered me to join them. He said it was a good opportunity to ask questions...besides he was paying right! So here I am thinking it was time to go to the cafeteria with 5 wealthy upstanding professionals....wrong! Instead we proceeded to head to the parking structure get into a rather nice vehicle, drive 15 minutes to downtown Milwaukee where we enjoyed a hardy meal for about an hour or so. I got to know the five Radiologist and they had asked a few questions about me and how I was doing with school. We returned to the hospital and continued to read films...An imaging came up of a man with Clay Shovelers Fracture (just a link to MyPACS.net where a case of Clay Shovelers can be seen). It is a rare fracture of the spinal processes and it is caused by uneven torsion of the spine, a discussion of it can be found on Here. He explained to me how this was just one of thousands of conditions that a Radiologist must keep an eye out for. 

 

One thing that struck me was just how closely Radiologist work with Radiological technologists. That day we had a CT of a forearm that was sub parr and defiantly was minimally diagnostic in quality. The Radiologist worked closely with the CT technologist to clear up the image as best they could to save the patient from having to repeat the examination.

All in all it was an outstanding day and through the knowledge and dedication of that Radiologist I learned a boat load. I learned that if you want something like Medical school you have to just go for it, there will always be ways to work around it. I also learned that Medical school is about efficiency and learning how to "make the call". A Radiologist is challenged on a daily basis and they are efficient and hard working. I will do my best to rise to the goal I have set ahead of me and I wish the best of luck to all who pursue a life goal. I'd also say a special thanks to the Radiologist who I shadowed...With his help I was able to clear away the anxieties of pursuing my goals.