Radiology

“Only a few more months and life will be good!” It’s the rallying cry of radiology residents and fellows everywhere. The idea that if we can just hang in there, we’ll be rewarded on the other side with a successful career, caring for patients.

Recently, 331 radiologists provided a glimpse into vRad by participating in Gallagher’s nationally benchmarked engagement survey of 12,000 radiologists.

Many radiologists know vRad as a teleradiology practice, but what many may not realize is that it’s also a tech company. In fact, more than a third of our non-physician team members are on our technology teams. The benefits of technology and physicians under one roof are enormous—leading to better patient care, a better radiologist reading experience, and better service to our clients.

Ask yourself: what is your current practice doing to alleviate burnout? Are they investing in programs that support your professional and personal life?

I’ve read more radiologist burnout articles than I can count. Each is generally the same, concluding that burnout is a major problem, followed by a few ideas of what radiologists can do to help themselves.

This is not one of those articles.

This is an article about what radiology practices should be doing.

Part-time, locum tenens, moonlighting—in its many forms, practicing radiology on the side is a time-honored tradition. It offers an alternate pathway to financial freedom, an opportunity to broaden your skillset, and a tool for career exploration. Maybe you do some yourself. You wouldn’t be alone; a recent study from Medscape found that 42% of radiologists supplement their income with extra work, either by extending their hours or working outside their current position.

Leaving private practice is hard. As vRad’s Medical Director, I interview radiologists every day who are wrestling with that difficult decision. Even in the face of exhaustion and burnout, they run up against loyalty to their colleagues. Others worry about the impact of unwinding their current financial entanglements.

For those considering teleradiology, the thought can seem particularly daunting. Will I feel isolated? How fast do I have to read? Can this really be a stable career change?

So how did those who made the switch do it?

After residency, I was full of energy and had a solid plan: I’d work in private practice and take on a part-time job in teleradiology. At the time, vRad was great but in my mind, it was a means to an end—paying off my student loans. That arrangement worked very well, and through remote radiology I was debt-free in less than a year. With my goal accomplished I left vRad behind to focus on my private radiology practice.

Earlier in my career, I had accepted that reading on a disjointed and inefficient platform was normal. There I was, Dictaphone in hand, bouncing between workstations, proofreading my dictations line-by-line. It wasn’t until I started working on the vRad Platform that I truly realized how a platform could work for ME. I can honestly say I will never go back to reading on any other platform.

For radiologists, finding time for personal interests can be challenging. However, Dr. Maryellyn Gilfeather has leveraged vRad’s flexible and predictable work schedules to blend a successful career with a remarkable passion for running.

With an extraordinary record of over 300 marathons, including more than 50 since joining vRad in 2019, Dr. Gilfeather embodies the work-life balance that vRad strives to offer. Her journey through marathons is as diverse as the locations she’s run, from energetic urban races to Antarctica.

Dr. Gilfeather’s experience demonstrates how working at vRad opens doors for personal fulfillment in a demanding field. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Dr. Gilfeather as her medical services liaison at vRad. I sat down with her recently to hear more about her fascinating story of 300+ marathons.