3 to 4 billion people lack access to medical imaging and its potentially life-saving diagnostic insights, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). RAD-AID was founded in 2008 to answer this need. What began with a few radiology professionals has grown to include more than 10,000 volunteers from 100 countries, 75 university-based chapters, on-site programs in over 30 countries, and an annual conference on global health radiology.

I was proud to deliver a check for $77,719 to RAD-AID on behalf of my generous vRad and MEDNAX colleagues at the 2019 RAD-AID Conference in Washington, DC. In just our second year, First Read Initiative added nicely to our inaugural-year gift of just over $72,000.

I love to watch the colors change in October, when pink is in full display during Breast Cancer Awareness month. With each hot-pink scarf, T-shirt and pair of football cleats I see, I’m reminded of the vital role radiologists have played – and continue to play – in combatting this disease.

Radiologists are savoring new selections on their CME plan menu: Succinct, quarter-credit case reviews, available free from MEDNAX Radiology Education. Since April 2019, we’ve been making weekly additions to our library of 15-minute Radiology Case Reviews, and radiologists are eating them up.

Burnout has become commonplace among medical professionals, especially radiologists. While increasing caseloads are part of the picture, much of the stress physicians are experiencing comes from areas that distract them from patient care – shifting regulatory requirements, confounding processes and systems that complicate medical practice, hospital politics, or challenges to balancing work life with home life.

For me, the collegiality of the practice of radiology is a highlight of my daily work. When I first considered leaving a traditional practice for teleradiology, I was worried that working remotely would leave me feeling disconnected. In actuality, I’ve never felt more engaged in a supportive and interdependent team committed to delivering quality patient care.

Over 4 billion people – two-thirds of the global population – do not have access to imaging technology or radiology services, according to RAD-AID. The lack of effective diagnostic tools has dire consequences for patients in unserved and underserved regions of the world.

Some radiologists perceive teleradiology as the “Dark Side” of our profession. I may have counted myself among those skeptics, but I now see the light and am happy to share a place among the converts.

One in a series from people sharing their experiences as vRad teleradiologists. In this entry, Jonathon Lee describes his typical workday as a vRad diagnostic radiologist.