What's in a Name? Report of the ACR Task Force on General Radiology and Multi-Subspecialization

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Practice Management
• Professional Development

Background:

• A task force was formed in 2020 to explore the concept of the "multispecialty radiologist."
• This concept was previously proposed in 2012, but gained little traction.
• The task force aimed to clarify roles within the radiology field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interest and definition of the "multispecialty radiologist" title.
• To propose standardized definitions for different radiologist roles in clinical practice.
• To improve radiologist recruitment and data collection.

Main Methods:

• Conducted eight virtual meetings over eight months.
• Analyzed data from the 2020 ACR Membership Tracking Survey.
• Reviewed current literature and collected anecdotal evidence.

Main Results:

• Found scant interest in the "multispecialty radiologist" title within the radiology community.
• Identified no agreed-upon definition for the term.
• Observed that radiologists practice in general, multispecialty, and subspecialized roles.

Conclusions:

• Proposed definitions for general, multispecialty, and subspecialized radiology roles.
• Recommended adoption of these terms by the radiology community, recruiters, and employers.
• Suggested adaptations for resident training and board examinations to align with defined roles.