A radiology doctor uses X-rays to diagnose and treat certain diseases.
A radiology doctor (or radiologist) uses X-rays and techniques that require the use of radioactive materials to diagnose and treat internal afflictions of the human body. She will use X-rays to determine the nature of the disease and the appropriate course of treatment, consult with the patient over what the treatment entails and the prognosis, then utilize exposure to X-rays and radioisotopes to treat the disease. She will deal with both malignant and benign diseases. Her salary reflects the high level of skill required to perform radiology treatments.
Salary
The website PayScale.com lists the average annual salary for a radiology doctor practicing in the United States of America to be between $45,041 and $199,797 as of December 2010. This figure applies to basic pay; the actual salary package a radiology doctor achieves will depend upon her experience and the precise nature of bonuses and benefits, such as pension and health-care, her employer offers and their location. For instance, PayScale calculates that a radiologist with between 10 and 19 years of experience has three times the earning potential of a newly qualified practitioner. PayScale also lists New York as the state offering the best starting salary at an average of $57,500.
Employment
A radiology doctor will find employment opportunities in hospitals, specialized outpatient care centers and community medical centers. They may also (particularly after gaining some professional experience) set up in private practice, on their own or as part of a group. Teaching in medical schools and undertaking government research are other avenues of employment possibilities.
Education
Like all specialist physicians, a radiology doctor must undergo extensive training to practice in the field. A bachelor's degree in a science and a four-year course at medical school are followed by five years in general medical practice. Only then can she specialize and undertake a fellowship, lasting between two and four years, in radiology, learning all the required techniques and knowledge through practical application and classroom work.
Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has conducted predictive evaluations about demand for certain professions in the United States. It estimates that demand for physicians and surgeons within all fields of medicine (including radiology) will continue to rise in the years up until 2018, at a rate of 22 percent This is due in part to a general expansion of the medical sector and the large number of physicians currently practicing who are due to retire in the coming years; their positions will need to filled by new radiologists. Remuneration in the profession should, therefore, continue to rise.
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