Radiologists looking for leadership opportunities, but employers coming up short
Radiologists are looking for more leadership opportunities, but the institutions employing them may be coming up short, according to new survey results.
Experts in the specialty recently convened a new Radiology Research Alliance task force, aiming to address this gap in leadership development and review currently available resources. As part of the process, the task force surveyed radiologists to better understand the current exposure specialists see at their workplaces.
In one key finding, about half of those surveyed said they have sought further leadership training, with most doing so outside of their organizations, experts write in Academic Radiology.
“This highlights a gap in some academic medical centers' institutionally provided training,” lead author Tara Catanzano, MD, with the Department of Radiology at Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, and colleagues noted. “Leadership development is continually evolving,” they added later. “While the healthcare landscape seems to be ever-changing, we must adapt our leadership approaches and styles to support those around us and nurture our future leaders.”
Catanzano et al. distributed the survey via email in March 2024, targeting members of the Radiology Research Alliance and the Alliance of Clinician Educators in Radiology. Questions focused on appraising key dimensions of leadership, such as skills, mentors, and available roles at the local and national levels. Out of 350 invitations, 89 individuals participated, for a response rate of 25%. Of them, about 86% were practicing radiologists, while medical trainees represented the other 14%. Most were affiliated with academic institutions, at 89%.
About 37% of respondents expressed strong interest in holding leadership roles, compared to 31% with moderate interest, and 10% with none. However, approximately 81% shared a desire to develop leadership skills as part of their career growth. The most sought-after skills among radiologists included “partnership and collaboration” (69%), “management/providing feedback” (64%), “conflict management/resolution (61%), and “negotiation skills” (60%). Patient engagement, meanwhile, was valued less, with only 16% citing an interest.
A total of 54% said they had participated in external development courses, versus 48% who said they had done so through their institution. About 32% had taken part in department courses, while 25% attended external medical leadership training. Catanzano also noted that more than 1 in 5 respondents (or 23%) felt that the leadership development opportunities they pursued fell short of expectations, signaling the need for more tailored and effective programs.
“Furthermore, nearly half of respondents personally sought out development courses, suggesting a need for institutional leaders to take a more proactive approach to developing, promoting, and implementing such programming,” the authors noted. “Preferences for course length, format, and delivery were diverse, indicating a need for customizable learning options and flexibility in programming strategies. Lastly, almost half of respondents preferred that current radiology leaders facilitate these courses, emphasizing the value of learning from experienced peers within the field. Overall, the survey underscores the importance of comprehensive and internally focused leadership development programs tailored to the unique needs of radiology professionals.”
Read more, including potential limitations, in the official journal of the Association of Academic Radiology.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.