Radiology group launches high school program to increase IR career awareness
An interventional radiology group is launching a program that introduces high school students to the medical and IR fields.
Virginia-based IR Centers on Monday announced the launch of its High School Educational Observership Program. The initiative was designed to give high school students a front row seat to what a day in the IR profession looks like. It will include both in-person observational rotations and virtual learning sessions, giving students an opportunity to experience the full patient care cycle, from consultation to follow-up.
"Medicine rewards early curiosity," Sandeep Bagla, MD, interventional radiologist and chief executive officer of IR Centers, said in a news release on the program released Monday. "We built this program to open the door — deliberately and safely — for students who are ready to walk through it. Giving a student an authentic look at this work can change the trajectory of a career before it begins."
The announcement comes amid a period of significant growth in IR settings. Since becoming an official specialty in 2012, interventional radiology has seen a widespread increase in demand. One report suggested that utilization of IR services spiked by 83% between 2018 and 2022 alone. The field has grown so much that organizations are struggling to keep up with patient demand, especially in rural areas.
Bagla and colleagues are optimistic that introducing high school-age students to the profession will pique curiosity and inspire more to consider a career in the specialty.
"Interventional radiology is the future of minimally invasive care," added Alex Pavidapha, MD, chief medical officer, innovation and development, at IR Centers. "Giving students an authentic look inside that future is one of the most important investments we can make. We want them to leave understanding not just what we do, but why it matters for patients."
Founded by Bagla, IR Centers is a platform that seeks to help other specialties manage and deliver interventional services. The company has now spread to 25 markets, under affiliated practices that specialize in treating gastrointestinal, urinary and orthopedic issues.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.