Imaging experts from all over the country are sending warnings of a “severe” shortage of radiologists nationally, especially affecting the pediatric department. Experts have also called on this particular specialty to gear up to reverse this disturbing trend.

There has been a steady decline in the number of radiologists in the pediatric department since 2014, whereas 44 percent of programs do not have fellows at present, experts reported in the JACR. In addition, 38 percent of these pediatric radiologists are expected to retire within a decade.

On the same lines, pediatric radiologist Dr. Shannon G, Farmakis, MD, with a physician-owned provider group named Radia, based in Lynwood, Washington, together with co-authors, summoned the community to spread the word.

On the same call were Jocelyn D. Chertoff, MD, MS, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Chairperson of the Radiology Department, with Richard A. Barth, MD, a radiologist at the Stanford Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital.

The team added, “The nation is facing a severe dearth of pediatric oncologists. We have to invest in sharing the excitement in this specialty by engaging learners as well as educating them further. We have to explain to them about the career fulfillment opportunities and satisfaction they can experience as radiologists.”

The ACR Commission on Pediatric Radiology and the Society of Pediatric Radiology are adding resources to the same cause. According to a survey conducted in 2018, they found that approximately 36 percent of residents were exposed to pediatric radiology while they were in medical school.

As a result, residents, medical and paramedical students were targeted by the ACR Commission. They developed writing campaigns, educational videos, social media profiles, engagement subcommittee, and other important materials that spurred interest.

Farmakis with co-authors also wants prospective pediatric imaging specialists to know that there are negative perceptions of the subspecialty, which are overblown and outweighed by positive thoughts.

They concluded by saying, “We owe this only to ourselves as well as to the future of this subspecialty. The future of pediatric radiology, as well as diagnostic radiology, is still bright.

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