Thread by @Ann016p

Letter to my younger self
#FOAMrad #FOAMed #radiologytrainees
A decade into #radiology
#neurorad #pedineurorad
Read on. Add your #rad life lessons too!

A lot of work in radiology can be mundane 'follow up', 'comparison' or 'surveillance'. Don't call it just a 'routine follow up study'
Make the most out of any exam by first BLINDING yourself to the history, opening the BASELINE imaging- be it any modality and QUIZZING yourself.

Read each study with your own standardized approach first.
Tumor follow ups can be much more interesting if you start by quizzing yourself on the baseline.
Also go back in time for size changes, slow growth can be missed.

Make the most of the resources you already have, rather than cribbing for what you don't. Never underestimate the local pathology in your part of the world. Read beyond the radiology journals."Ideas happen when different disciplines in science interact and cross-talk" RGunderman

Never leave the human touch.
These are not just images- they are real people!
Step outside the reading room more often.
Go to OR/units. See patients. Have a low threshold to call referring doc.

When I lose track of what I am doing and if need a good dose of patient-centered radiology, I go to my mentor Dr. Ravi Ramakantan's blog
sites.google.com/view/patients-…

The most difficult exam to read will be 'Normal'. It means you have carefully scrutinized numerous structures and gone methodically through your checklists. You have looked again in the region where it hurts/localizes.You have evaluated findings within the 'spectrum of normal'.

It is a big deal to call 'No abnormality to explain the patient's symptoms'.
Never underestimate the power of reading 'unremarkable' and what it does to build that normative database in your brains.

Always check the final sign off by attending staff- to look for changes to your report which may not be discussed during the review.
See how the final report is worded or if any recommendations are given.

If you are in the final years of your training, aim for 'NO CHANGE' in your reports by the attending.
Volume is important, but never compromise on quality.

"The best gift you can give to your family is a healthy you". Sitting is the new smoking!" Take time out to give yourself microbreaks (30 seconds matter)- stretch, breath deeply, get outside the dark room; exercise, ditch the elevator, park far away in the lot- little things help

Save images directly in powerpoint using screen capture software rather than images in a folder. Don't wait to save images till the last month of your training.
Maintain your excel sheet. Don't just keep adding cases- follow patients for their disease course.

Be the best of what you can be.
Strive to be better at what you do each day.
Be Competitive but don't Compare

Lastly for Mom Rads: Think twice before accepting that talk invitation in your early first postpartum period- take time off to enjoy the snuggles with your newborn- they won't stay in your arms for long. Thank you!

No such thing as 'having a QUICK LOOK at head CT or MR" No point calling ER in a rush and then changing your stand in next few minutes. We know results are needed urgently but not at the cost of missing something critical! Take appropriate time (not forever) and be thorough!