Diagnostic Radiologist
Mitchellville, Maryland

Given the option again, I still would choose to be a radiologist. I love my job and I wouldn’t pick any other specialty.

I’ve been around the field of radiology for a long time. I first started working with radiologists when I was working as an X-ray technician in college. Seeing what they did and how they did it helped me decide that I wanted to continue my education and become a doctor.

I attended the Medical College of Pennsylvania, which was a historic honor, given the fact that it was the very first medical school for women. We have to be aware of so many different areas of the human body; we need an intensive education that gives us an overall understanding of the entire body.

When I finished medical school, I went to Washington, D.C., where I completed both a residency and fellowship in neuroradiology, a specialty that uses imaging to understand the brain and spinal chord. Now I work in private practice, but I have found that the days are still very busy. There is a shortage of physicians in my specialty, so I work long hours and do a wide variety of things. True, I spend time reading a host of films, including X-rays, but I also spend about four hours per day one-on-one with patients,.

My interactions with patients are some of the most rewarding parts of my job. For example, if I have a patient who has difficulty breathing, and through imaging I’m able to discover that he or she has fluid buildup in the lungs or abdomen, I am the one who helps to take that out. After the procedure, it is amazing to see these patients’ relief and how grateful they are.

My first priority is patient care. As a radiologist, I play a key role in the well-being of people who are in the hospital. I also guide clinicians on what is best for their patients. Together, we make a team of trained professionals with one goal in mind: give the best care we can give to each individual patient.

I’m proud to be a member of that team.