What Is a Radiologist?
Get to know the medical doctors and physicists that positively impact patients and healthcare through medical imaging and procedures.
Explore the Field of Radiology
Radiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases using medical imaging and procedures, including:
- X-rays
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Nuclear medicine
- Positron emission tomography (PET)
- Ultrasound
As medical doctors, radiologists complete at least 13 years of training, including medical school and a four-year residency. Most often, radiologists complete an additional one- or two-year fellowship that provides specialized training in areas such as radiation oncology, pediatric radiology or interventional radiology.
Certified by the American Board of Radiology, radiologists continually meet exacting requirements for continuing medical education throughout their practicing years.
Are You a Patient Looking for More Information?
Learn how different types of imaging procedures are performed, how to prepare for exams and what you can expect during your next scan.
Diagnostic Radiologists
Diagnostic radiologists focus on various imaging procedures to produce detailed pictures of what’s happening inside the body. Through extensive clinical work and related research, these radiologists may also specialize in any of 10 radiology subspecialties: breast, cardiovascular, chest, emergency, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, head and neck, musculoskeletal, neuro and pediatric.
Interventional Radiologists
These radiologists diagnose and treat conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and uterine fibroids using image-guided, minimally invasive techniques. Interventional radiologists use images such as X-rays and MRI and can thread instruments into the body, reaching the source of a medical problem and delivering targeted treatments, offering less risk, pain and recovery compared to traditional surgery.
Radiation Oncologists
Radiologists who specialize in radiation oncology prescribe and oversee radiation therapy treatment plans for cancer patients. As the treatment progresses, these oncologists monitor the patient's progress and adjust treatment to ensure that patients receive appropriate care.
Nuclear Medicine Physicians
Nuclear medicine radiologists use radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and treat disease. These physicians may treat patients by injecting radioactive materials to create better images to see specific diseases in the body. In other instances, they may have the patient swallow or inhale the material to help with visualization. Nuclear radiologists also use radiopharmaceuticals to treat diseases such as thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, hematologic malignancies and bone metastases.
Medical Physicists
Medical physicists specialize in optimization of equipment performance for medical imaging and radiation therapies, including imaging and therapies that use radiopharmaceuticals. They consult with physicians and technologists to ensure that imaging and treatments are performed safely and effectively. Many physicists also conduct research and provide physics education to physicians and other medical professionals.
