Transitioning from the Clinical Practice of Interventional Radiology: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Society of Interventional Radiology Members

Sunday, March 30, 2025

4:21 PM – 4:30 PM CT

Location: Music City Center, 204

Presenting Author(s)

RT

Richard B. Towbin, MD, FACR, FSIR (he/him/his)

Emeritus Radiologist-in Chief,
Phoenix Children's Hospital, United States

Author/Co-author(s)

EN

Easton Neitzel, BS

Medical Student
University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, United States
EV

Eric VanSonnenberg, MD

Clinical Professor of Radiology
University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, United States
CI

Chase Irwin, MS

Biostatistician
University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, United States
Daniel Y. Sze, MD, PhD

Professor of Radiology
Stanford University, United States

Purpose: To assess the factors that affect interventional radiologists’ decision to transition away from the clinical practice of interventional radiology (IR), and to determine what activities they pursue following this transition.

Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire gauging influences on interventional radiologists’ decision to transition from IR was posted to the Society of Interventional Radiology Connect Forum. 167 questionnaires were completed voluntarily by respondents. 27/167 (16%) were interventionalists who had fully transitioned away from clinical IR, 28/167 (17%) were in the process of making a transitioning, and 112/167 (67%) had not transitioned.

Results: Among respondents who had fully transitioned or were in the process of transitioning from clinical IR, nighttime call responsibilities (30/55, 55%), burnout (23/55, 42%), and age (20/55, 36%) were the most frequent factors cited in the decision to make the transition. Increased diagnostic radiology (DR) workload was reported by 23/55 (42%) respondents during their transition. Other than DR, the most commonly pursued activities following transition were athletics (17/55, 31%) and mentorship to students/trainees (15/55, 27%). Among respondents who had not transitioned and remained clinically active, nighttime call responsibilities (81/112, 72%), burnout (64/112, 57%), and age (59/112, 53%) were considered the most influential factors regarding when to transition from clinical IR. Among all respondents, job satisfaction decreased for 82/167 (49%) during their career in IR. However, a large majority of respondents (136/167, 81%) reported they would pursue the field of IR again.

Conclusion: Nighttime call responsibilities, burnout, and age were the major influences in the decision to transition away from clinical IR. Job satisfaction decreased for nearly half of respondents during their career in IR, yet over 80% would pursue the field of IR again.