A Portrait of Pediatric Radiologists in the United States

Abstract

A shortage of pediatric radiologists exists and is likely to intensify. Access to pediatric radiologists is probably a problem except for children in large metropolitan areas who connect readily to academic hospitals. Means to overcome these problems need to be actively sought.

Advancing from gender equity to women in leadership in pediatric radiology

“…Academic radiology salaries have been suggested to be gender-neutral [9], with one study suggesting that radiology is the lone academic specialty in which women are paid slightly more than men [10]. In the case of pediatric radiology, approximately half of pediatric radiologists work in academically affiliated practices [11], but this descriptor includes radiologists employed by large private children's hospitals who have varying university affiliations. Pediatric radiology thus subsists as a mosaic subspecialty with a significant number of practicing radiologists who dwell in the gray area between private and academic practices.…”

Current Status of Diversity by Race, Hispanic Ethnicity, and Sex in Diagnostic Radiology

“…An institutional review board evaluation exemption was granted for the study, as primary data were obtained from publicly available registry sources, with no identifiable private or protected (AI/AN/NH/PI), accounting for nearly 35% of the U.S. population in 2010, a number of pressing issues highlight the need for a diverse diagnostic radiology workforce (7,8). Examples include inadequate numbers of radiologists to perform breast imaging in all areas of the country (9), a critical shortage of pediatric radiologists (10), and racial and ethnic disparities in cancer screening, which include imaging tests as a major component (11). Given that women are more likely to enter breast imaging and pediatric radiology (12) subspecialties and that racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to practice in areas with higher minority and underserved populations, increasing female and racial and ethnic minority representation in diagnostic radiology may aid in addressing these disparities and other health care needs of the overall population.…”

Imaging challenges: a US perspective on controlling exposure to ionizing radiation in children with cancer

“…As of the year 2000 census, approximately 29% of the population of the United States (80,473,265) was younger than 19 years [32]. In 2006, pediatric radiologists numbered 800–900, composing about 3% of radiologists [33, 34]. Current estimates based on the placement service of the ACR indicate a continuing shortage of pediatric radiologists amounting to about 11% [35].…”

“…Current estimates based on the placement service of the ACR indicate a continuing shortage of pediatric radiologists amounting to about 11% [35]. Most pediatric radiologists are concentrated in large cities and academic centers and are thus not readily accessible to many pediatric patients [34]. At about the time of the ALARA Oncology Conference, 84 positions for pediatric radiologists were listed on the website of the Society for Pediatric Radiology.…”