How do I become a Radiologist, an Interventionalist, Body Imager, Mammographer, a ...(fill in your favorite)...? These are common questions that all of us have asked at some point when we found the best specialty in medicine.
There are many unique facets to being a military Radiologist, and education is definitely one of them. For starters, there are differences amongst the various branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and USPHS (e.g. Navy are more likely to have GMO tours). There are also different paths one can take, each with different obligations:
- Full-Time In-Service
- Full-Time Out-Service
- Deferred
These same choices again arise when discussing fellowships.
One thing is for certain, whichever route you take, you will receive a world-class education. Furthermore, while some of these aspects may be a little tricky at first glance, there is almost always someone who has been in the situation before.
What is/was your pathway to becoming a Radiologist?
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John R. Dryden, M.D.
Vascular & Interventional Radiologist
Bethesda, MD
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