722 - From Exit to Engagement: Using Stay Interviews to Strengthen IR Faculty and Staff Retention

Monday, April 13, 2026

4:57 PM - 5:03 PM ET

Abstract Presenter(s)

LC

Leonel Camejo, BA

Medical Student
Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, United States

Author/Co-author(s)

Brian Tung, MD

Radiology Resident
Westchester Medical Center, United States
WK

William Kasper, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiology
Temple University Hospital, United States
DL

Derek Lee, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiology
Temple University Hospital, United States
DN

Dmitry Niman, MD

Clinical Professor of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Temple University Hospital, United States
JP

Joseph Panaro, MD

Clinical Professor of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Temple University Hospital, United States
GC

Gary Cohen, MD, FSIR, FCPP

Chair and Chief of Radiology
Temple University Health System, United States
PG

Perry Gerard, MD, FACR, MBA

Professor of Clinical Radiology
Westchester Medical Center, United States
JM

Jared Meshekow, MD, MPH

Clinical Associate Professor, Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Temple University Hospital, United States

Learning Objectives:

Explain the concept of stay interviews and how they differ from exit interviews.

Describe how stay interviews help identify factors influencing retention and prevent turnover among interventional radiology (IR) faculty and staff.

Outline practical methods to incorporate stay interviews into departmental workflows to boost engagement and reduce attrition.

Background: Interventional radiology departments face growing retention challenges due to staff shortages, burnout, and competition for talent. Traditional exit interviews, conducted after an employee’s decision to leave, provide retrospective insights but little opportunity to prevent attrition. In contrast, stay interviews are proactive structured discussions with current employees aimed at uncovering what motivates them to stay, what are their workplace challenges, and what might cause them dissatisfaction before turnover occurs. As a result of this shift from reaction to prevention, leadership can build trust, increase job satisfaction, and better match resources to the needs of the organization.

Clinical Findings/Procedure Details: Elements of a successful stay interview for IR involve:

Leadership Training: Teaching section heads, medical directors, and managers how to have non-punitive conversations.

Structured Interview Guide: Asking standardized questions to find out what employees value about their jobs, what challenges they face, and what would make them leave.

Actionable Data Collection: Defining themes such as workload balance, career development, call burden, procedural mix, and support staff adequacy.

Timely Interventions: Resolving issues, like adjusting call schedules, expanding APP coverage, and creating academic time, and closing the feedback loop.

Continuous Quality Improvement: Conducting interviews annually or biannually, tracking results over time, and incorporating findings into departmental strategies.

Conclusion and/or Teaching Points: Stay interviews are a cost-effective and high-impact way to reduce turnover by shifting from reactive exit interviews to proactive engagement. This creates a nurturing environment by strengthening alignment between employee and organizational goals and boosting team stability and patient care. Success depends on authentic leadership dialogue and prompt follow-up, demonstrating that feedback leads to meaningful change. Integrating findings into quality improvement and workforce planning further supports retention and growth.