Improving recruitment and retention in radiology

Amid increasing retirements, burnout, medical school graduating an insufficient number of new radiologists, and a shortage of residency positions, McGinty highlighted the significance of prioritizing provider wellness. At Weill Cornell Medicine, there is a strong emphasis on fostering a supportive environment. She outlined several strategies implemented within her radiology department:

• Clarity and support: Defined metrics for success, clear organizational values and robust support mechanisms are vital. Establishing expectations and ensuring these are both communicated and practiced creates a framework for success.
• Development and mentorship: Providing avenues for growth, effective faculty mentoring, and visible leadership enable radiologists to progress in their careers. McGinty underscored the importance of active mentorship in career advancement.
• Transparent communication: A visible and accessible department chair fosters an open dialogue. McGinty highlighted the need to track turnover rates and investigate departures proactively, seeking to understand and address the underlying causes.

She also emphasized the importance of engaging residents, showcasing an environment where they can envision a fulfilling career trajectory. This includes having diverse radiology leaders in the department who look like them. 

Increased pay is a motivator, but McGinty said most radiologists are looking for more than money from their job. Motivators beyond compensation include schedule flexibility and autonomy. Beyond financial incentives, offering radiologists the freedom to balance professional commitments with personal life through remote work options and flexible schedules emerged as crucial retention tools.

"Flexibility and autonomy are so key for physicians, enabling some remote work, making sure that people aren't bogged down with training and meetings that are eating into the time that they might have with their families," McGinty said. She further emphasized the need to acknowledge and accommodate diverse personal responsibilities, whether they are childcare, personal health, or caring for aging parents.

McGinty's insights provide a roadmap for hospitals and healthcare institutions seeking to address the challenges of recruitment and retention in radiology. By prioritizing wellness, professional growth, transparent communication and flexibility, institutions can create environments where radiologists feel valued, support and empowered to thrive professionally and personally.

"Those are really important things. We're not there yet, but I think we're making a lot of progress," she said. 

McGinty is an expert in imaging economics, having served as chair of the American College of Radiology Commission on Economics and was the radiology member of the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Update Committee. She was also chair of the ACR's Board of Chancellors.