Amy K. Patel, MD: Expert Insight for Future Radiologists

Why did you choose to enter medicine?

I chose to enter medicine as I come from a family who are primarily in healthcare, which began with my grandfather who was a surgeon. He taught us that there was no other profession which was more noble in serving others. We were raised with that “call to serve” mentality from a very early age, and that just kept with me until I needed to decide on a career choice. 

Why did you choose radiology?

I chose radiology because particularly, I was drawn to women’s health, and I knew breast radiology was a great field that had all facets in which I was interested, from patient interaction, procedural and multidisciplinary care, diagnostic interpretation at the workstation, and ways to reach patients beyond the clinical day-to-day, such as community outreach.  

What advice do you have for medical students who are considering radiology but aren’t totally sure it’s right for them?

The advice I have is that radiology is a wonderful field with something for everyone depending on interests. We are a very collaborative, warm, and supportive community with a plethora of mentors and sponsors to help you along your career. We are often at the center of critical decision making for patient care, which makes us indispensable when it comes to the multidisciplinary care team. We are also at the forefront of innovation when it comes to patient care, and that in and of itself, makes the field exciting and perpetually rewarding.

You have been a very successful advocate for radiology and women’s imaging.  What are a few ways that others can get started down the advocacy path?

First of all, it is never too late to get involved in advocacy endeavors! Joining organizations such as The American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging which have advocacy branches and committees can be a great way in which to get involved. Reaching out to others who are known “radvocates” can also help when formulating your own advocacy path. At the local level, getting involved in other advocacy groups locally such as Susan G. Komen and American Cancer Society can be an effective approach. Another avenue you can learn more about all the ways in which you can advocate and get involved is through the comprehensive manuscript where I outline this in “Breast Radiology Advocacy: Responding to the Call-to-Action.”

You were a fellow at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology shortly before I started there as an assistant professor. What are some of the key lessons you learned from your time at Mallinckrodt?  

I had a simply wonderful experience at MIR. I learned so much from some of the most world renowned and respected breast radiologists. The key lessons I learned were the intricacies of the business of radiology, from my incredible mentor Dr. Kate Appleton, the importance of being efficient and clinically accurate from my mentor and the person who I attribute to me becoming a breast radiologist, Dr. Kim Wiele, and that clinical research is important, regardless of practice type, from my mentor, Dr. Steve Poplack. Finally, I learned how to advocate vociferously for our patients and to do so effectively through one of my most beloved mentors, Dr. Barbara Monsees who still supports and guides me to this day even though she is retired. I guess you could also say from these remarkable individuals I learned the importance of mentorship, sponsorship and the “pay it forward” attitude which I hope to exude all of my career.

Many readers of this article will embark on their radiology job search in the next 1-3 years.  What advice do you have for them to find their ideal job? 

The advice I would give is do some deep soul searching of what you really want out of your career and what your priorities are. If your priority is a geographic location, then reach out to practices in that area at least 2-3 years before you graduate so that you can be on their radar in the event they are needing to hire as well as forming that relationship early. If you are wanting to make a commitment to research for your career, try interviewing at as many academic programs as possible with a strong research background where you feel you would be supported and mentored. If you are someone who likes the clinical aspects of medicine but wants to be involved in some education such as teaching but not so much a lot of research, then perhaps a hybrid model is for you (employed by private practice with academic affiliation)? All in all, reflection is key and turning to mentors at this point in your career can be helpful when navigating the waters of a job search. And remember: if you don’t get it right the first time, it’s not the end of the world! Most radiologists do not stay in one practice, so do not be too hard on yourself if it doesn’t work out! Life happens and it’s important to remember, life is too short, and you deserve to be happy, both professionally and personally! 

 What changes do you hope to see in the specialty of radiology during your career?  

I hope to see more representation of women in radiology in the future. I truly believe we are making a concerted effort in that there is more heightened awareness, whether it’s via social media or other communication means, that women in radiology are supported and the profession will continue to push for equitable change. Unfortunately, we still are seeing approximately 27-29% of the field comprised of women, so the more of us who are in positions to be more outspoken about the supportiveness of the field, the more likely we are to change those percentages. Also, organized radiology campaigns such as #HeForShe have been great ways to demonstrate to the house of medicine that the commitment of the advancement of women in radiology is a priority.  

I also hope to see more diversity in radiology. Multiple studies have shown that diversifying teams are better for patient care as we continue to serve more diverse populations. That is why pipeline creation of diverse candidates in medicine is so critical. Also, if the house of medicine is truly committed to health equity and equity in general, regardless of race, gender, or background, we must put forth active efforts to ensure diversity is at the forefront and a moral imperative in the house of radiology. 

Finally, I hope to see the optimization of patient care with innovative avenues such as artificial intelligence making we, as radiologists, better at what we do, whether it’s from a clinical diagnostic to workflow efficiency standpoint. 

 Thank you so much for your time. Any parting advice?  

My parting advice would be to that radiology is a wonderful field where the possibilities are endless, from clinical to advocacy to innovation and beyond! As much as we hear about the challenges of medicine and the future of radiology, I fervently feel the future of radiology is bright and that we all must work together to ensure its success. 

Interview with: Amy K. Patel M.D.

Institution: Liberty Hospital/Alliance Radiology/University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Position: Breast Radiologist, Medical Director of the Breast Care Center at Liberty Hospital, Partner, Assistant Professor of Radiology 

Fellowship: Breast Radiology- Washington University in Saint Louis Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology

Residency: Diagnostic Radiology- University of Kansas-Wichita 

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine 

Years in Practice: 4

Did you like this article? If so, also check out this Q&A with Yasha Gupta, MD.

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