Description
Radiology is the hi-tech branch of medical science, which helps in diagnosing and treating various diseases, disorders and abnormalities. Radiology is both a diagnostic specialty and interventional specialty, with direct links to almost every other department in a hospital. They use their expertise in reading X-rays, ultrasound, CT and other medical images to “see” inside the body. They treat or detect diseases percutaneously. A radiologist, through extensive clinical work and related research, may also specialise in one or more radiology subspecialties viz breast imaging, cardiovascular radiology, chest radiology, gastrointestinal radiology, head and neck radiology, musculoskeletal radiology, neuroradiology or paediatric radiology.
Requirements
Take up physics, chemistry, biology at the plus-two level, clear the pre-medical entrance examination and study MBBS and become a physician. Following this, you have to write the postgraduate entrance exams (conducted by the CBSE or state boards or National Board of Examinations, and qualify for DMRD or MD/DNB. Then you have to work hard to acquire the required knowledge and skills. During the MD/DNB, you also have to carry out research. However, you are almost there once you qualify the postgraduate exams. You can then go for a three-year senior residency and/or sub-specialty training, after which you can practice as a radiologist
Job Prospects
Earnings are variable, depending upon where you work and what you do. In a Government hospital, a senior resident (for three years) may get around Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000 per month. An assistant professor can get upwards of Rs. 70,000 per month. An associate professor (takes around eight years), gets Rs. 75,000 per month.
In private/corporate hospitals: An assistant consultant, with an experience of one year can expect a package upwards of Rs. 1.2 lakh per month. A senior consultant with five years’ experience can make around Rs. 3 lakh per month. But if you have your own set-up, you could earn more.
Pros & Cons
You will have the opportunity to be involved with all the interesting cases or clinical practises in the hospital. You make a real difference by helping guide patient management, monitoring disease progression or helping diagnose a particularly dangerous ailment enough to prevent it from causing further harm to a patient. You will be able to work with cutting edge and rapidly advancing technology in a booming field. You get job and career flexibility. It is not as challenging as surgery.
