Taster Week Report
Prior to commencing foundation training years 1 & 2 I was unsure of my desired career path. This
continued throughout my FY1 year despite being exposed to a variety of specialities. My interest in
pursuing radiology as a career began during my FY2 A&E rotation. Since then I have spent time
researching the career path, spent time within the radiology departments, attended MDT's and
participated in teaching and audits in relation to radiology. It is for these reasons that I organised a
radiology taster week, which included spending time with radiologists at all training grades within a
large teaching hospital, in contrast to the small district general hospital I have previously worked in.
From October 21st to October 25th 2013 I spent a week within the radiology department at Derriford
Hospital, Plymouth. During this time I was fortunate enough to gain a variety of experience within
many areas within this large radiology department. For this I am very grateful to the staff at
Derriford, with particular thanks to Dr Bruce Fox and Marion Lane for organising the placement.
The week began with inpatient CT. Here, alongside the radiology registrar, I was able to observe
inpatient CT scans being reported, I was also able to interact with other specialities including A&E,
medical and surgical doctors who were requesting urgent scans. Coming from a small DGH I was
very impressed with the speed and efficiency of the department, in terms of performing the scan and
the almost instantaneously report that followed. I also learnt the importance of ensuring all scans
requested are done so appropriately and in the best interests of the patient. This requires a balance
between the radiation exposure risk and obtaining adequate images for diagnosis and further
management. The importance of good communication between the requesting clinicians and the
radiologist performing or interpreting the scan was also highlighted.
Following this I spent time within the nuclear medicine department. This was the first time I had
worked within such a department. With the guidance of Dr Brent Drake, I learnt the basic principles
of the technologies behind PET scans and their importance in aiding diagnosis and management,
with particular reference to the importance of combined CT/PET images. As well as this I was also
able to learn how one both performs and interprets ventilation/perfusion scans in cases of suspected
pulmonary embolism. Spending time with Dr Drake highlighted the importance the role of the
radiologist is within the MDT. On several occasions his focus was taken away from reporting scans
and instead his time was spent providing clinical advice to other doctors within the hospital, and
also ensuring patients who had received radiation contrast had adequate images obtained by the
radiographers.
One morning I was able to observe and assist the team within the inpatient ultrasound list. The cases
varied from patients with suspected hepatobiliary pathology to suspected bladder pathology, so as
such varied ultrasound images were obtained. Here I was able to learn the basic principles for
identifying the normal anatomy on abdominal ultrasound, whilst also having the chance to practice
performing ultrasound myself. This experience also highlighted the importance of good
communication skills as one patient who was pregnant, was found to have gallstones on the USS.
She insisted she knew the results instantly. I was also able to appreciate the consequences when
basic principles, such as patients having a full bladder, weren’t followed on patients has a bladder
USS.
Following on from this I spent a day within the MSK department. Here I was able to observe the
fluoroscopy list including therapeutic and diagnostic joint injections. Several patients on the list
explained that they had previously had joint injections without the assistance of imaging, and due to
poor results insisted a radiologist perform the next infection. This again highlights the increasing
importance of and workload within the radiology department. I was also fortunate enough to spend
some time sitting in with a registrar reporting MRI scans. One patient with suspected spinal stenosis
was found to have an incidental large abdominal aortic aneurysm. The registrar recognized the
clinical significance of this and informed the patients GP urgently.
The end of the week was spent in a variety of MDT’s including the colorectal, hepatobiliary and
upper GI MDT. Here I was able to witness first hand just how important the role of the radiologist is
within this team. They played a pivotal role in the diagnosis of pathology as well as being very
involved with the other clinicians in formulating future management plans. As a junior doctor I was
also able to learn basic anatomy and image interpretation skills at these MDT’s.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the taster week was spent within the interventional GI
radiology department. Here I saw OGD’s, EUS and colonoscopies. My previous experience of these
investigations had led me to believe that they were almost all exclusively performed by either GI
surgeons or GI physicians. With the instant imaging available and a clinician able to confidently
interpret what they are seeing it provided insight into the diverse workload on offer within
radiology.
Throughout the taster week I was able to interact with doctors of all grades, as well as the allied
health professionals who are pivotal within this environment. I found the experience to be very
social in terms of interacting with colleagues and patients alike. I was also able to experience hands
on how the radiology department is at the forefront of medical technology, and is constantly striving
to improve. Overall, the week was thoroughly enjoyable and I would recommend any junior doctor
considering a career within radiology to undertake a similar taster week at Derriford Hospital. The
experience has solidified my desire to pursue a career as a radiologist.