Your First Year in Radiology: Tips for New ST1s

By Dr Maram Nabahin

ST1 Radiology Registrar

Congratulations on getting a training post! Radiology is an excellent choice of speciality, however starting as a radiology registrar is definitely a steep learning curve and can be understandably daunting. Here are some tips to help you along your new journey:

1. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT

Medics are often known for being high achievers, this mindset naturally continues when starting radiology training where people feel the pressure to excel from the beginning. But, radiology is a completely different side of medicine that most trainees have had limited exposure to, with new systems, new protocols and even a new language, so it is very normal to feel out of your depth at the start.

Be reassured, as an ST1 you are not expected to know everything or produce flawless reports from day one. The most important qualities at this stage are curiosity and a willingness to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask senior colleagues and consultants what something means, what you are even looking at or even which protocols to use, they’ll be expecting it! These questions are what will make you a safe radiologist, and over time, the knowledge, confidence and the radiology language will come much quicker than you expect.

2. EXAMS

As an ST1 you will be expected to sit the first FRCR exams – Anatomy and Physics. It is important to start preparing early, physics can be especially challenging, as it is often a subject that many trainees have not studied since high school or college, so give yourself plenty of time and make use of the many resources and courses available. Most training programmes also supplement learning with dedicated physics teaching from medical physics experts.

This being said, it is also important not to focus all your energy on physics while neglecting anatomy. Anatomy is highly relevant to everyday practice, so developing a strong understanding of anatomical structures across different imaging modalities and planes will help both in exams and in your day to day work.

It is also worth remembering that if you do not pass the exam the first time, it is not the end of the world, the exams can always be retaken and it does not stop progression into ST2. Many excellent radiologists have failed at least one exam during their training, so don’t be disheartened.

3. GET INVOLVED

There is much more to radiology than the stereotype of sitting in a dark room and reporting. Make the effort to get involved and engage with the department, whether that is scanning in ultrasound, observing interesting fluoroscopy/ interventional procedures, teaching or research. If you have any particular interest you can always ask your supervisor for advice.

Make sure to building good relationships with your colleagues, get to know fellow registrars, consultants, radiographers, and sonographers, the radiology department is a very friendly and supportive environment, these relationships will help make your day to day work more enjoyable and on-calls much easier.

Most importantly, try to enjoy your training, it can be challenging at times, but it is also extremely rewarding, and before you know it, you’ll be that senior/ consultant the ST1s will come to advice for!