•
Opinion
•
Opinion
On the Importance of Teaching Undergraduate Radiology1 Lucy Frank Squire, M.D. and Joshua A. Becker, M.D. Radiology is a teaching tool that should be utilized throughout the four years of training of medical students. There are, however, not enough radiologists in academic life to teach radiology and recruit students to the specialty. INDEX TERMS:
Education. Radiology and radiologists
Radiology 117:227, October 1975
• Medical students now need and expect to be able to learn a great deal about radiology before they take their degrees. We fail them if we do not make this 'Possible. Not too long ago many of us considered that the students would learn enough simply by being in the radiology department for a week or so in their last year, watching us get our work done and having the odd case explained to them. Today this is patently not true. To continue such a program for them is, therefore, a breech of trust and a failure of academic responsibility on our part. It is becoming abundantly clear that we owe medical students an opportunity to use radiology, as the incomparable learning tool it is, throughout their training, beginning with anatomy in the first few weeks and carrying through most of the other disciplines. It is only by a continuous exposure through four years that they can ultimately use radiologic data to correlate and remember innumerable details of medical fact as they begin the practice of medicine. They must understand how to employ radiologic methods in the service of their own patients, of course, but teaching departments of radiology in the medical schools have a more complex academic responsibility to them than this. Even the students realize early, for example, that vasculature, is far more comprehensible anatomically from angiograms than from 'the cadaver and printed diagrams. Medical school departments of radiology must assist other academic departments in the use of radiographic materials in teaching medicine. The reluctance of some to undertake such joint responsibilities can only result in further splintering of the specialty since, even now, the explanation to students of film findings on their patients is, largely carried out, by uninstructed medical and surgical house staff and attending physicians.
The problems posed for teaching radiology departments by this expanding obligation are many: Medical school classes are steadily increasing in size, and at the same time the general ability of medical students is improving as a result of selection from a much larger number of applicants. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a proportionately larger number of radiologists turning to academic life to share a teaching load that is continuously more exacting of time and effort. Although lip service is given to the need for allowing time for undergraduate teaching as well as for the enormous time expended in the preparation of teaching materials, this facet of life for academic radiologists is now and always has been slow to be accorded recognition in the form of academic advancement and improved salaries. It is not surprising, therefore, that few consider developing a vocation in teaching even when their talents and inclination are clearly in that direction. And this situation is not likely to improve very much in the foreseeable future if the sudden greatly expanded need for radiologists which is anticipated with the evolution of general health care programs is upon us before we can attract more recruits to the field. It should be evident to those with vision in the specialty that recruitment is surely dependent on making the students aware of the existence and attractive character of radiology early in medical school before they have decided to become practitioners. Two good purposes are served by the interpolation of radiology into the teaching program for students throughout four years. First, the quality of medical training is enhanced, and second, more physicians will be attracted into radiology. Downstate Medical Center 450 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn, N. Y. 11203
1 From the Department of Radiology. Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, N. Y. Accepted for publication in July 1975. Additional articles on education will be found on pages 63 and 67. dk
227
INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS
RADIOLOGY is published under the supervision of the Board of Directors of The Radiological Society of North America, Inc., which reserves the right to reject any material submitted for publication, including advertisements. No responsibility is accepted by the Board of Directors or the Editor for the opinions expressed by the contributors, but the right is reserved to introduce such changes as may be necessary to make the contributions conform to the editorial standards of RADIOLOGY. Manuscripts and correspondence relating to publication of papers should be addressed to the Editor, William R. Eyler, M.D., Tower 14, Suite 1080,21700 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, Mich. 48075. Original articles will be accepted only with the understanding that they are contributed solely to RADIOLOGY. Manuscripts should be typewritten and double-spaced on only one side of the paper with margins 3 cm or more. Two copies of the manuscript and two complete sets of figures should be submitted. The author should retain a copy for reference, as accepted manuscripts will not be returned. The title page should include first names and degrees of all authors, the name and address of the institution from which the work originated, plus information concerning grants. The reprint address should include the full name, address, and zip code. An abstract of no more than 100 words for major articles and 60 words for single case reports, Work In Progress, and Technical Notes must be submitted with each manuscript, stating (a) what was done, (b) what was found, and (c) what was concluded. Three to seven key words should also be submitted for indexing. Abbreviations should be spelled out when first used in the text, as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Laboratory slang, clinical jargon, and uncommon abbreviations should be avoided. Discussion of previous literature and material presented must be restricted to significant findings. The style of references for periodicals should follow Index Medicus. The month and complete page numbers should be included. Abstracts, editorials, and letters to the editor should be noted as such. In the case of
books, the city, publisher, year, and specific page citations must be provided. Tables should be numbered in Roman numerals and should have a title. All abbreviations used in the table should be explained in a footnote. Illustrations should be limited to the number required to show the essential features described in the paper. Excessive illustrations encroach on the total space available in the Journal, to the detriment of the publication. For excess figures and for illustrations in color, estimates will be furnished by the Editor. Glossy prints no larger than 20 X 25 cm (8 X 10 inches), unretouched and unmounted, are desirable. Prints to be combined into one cut, such as antero-posterior and lateral views, should be of the same height to facilitate reproduction. These should be cropped to the areas of interest and neatly joined with cellophane tape but not mounted on cardboard. They should correspond in appearance to the tonal relations of the original radiograph, i.e., showing the bones white on a dark background, with the patient's right to the observer's left. Overlays may be used to designate the significant points of the illustration. Drawings and charts should be in India ink on white or blue-lined coordinate paper. Blueprints will not reproduce satisfactorily. All photographs and drawings must be numbered and the top indicated on the back. A caption must be supplied for each figure and should avoid duplication of text material. Captions should be separate from the text. Written permission must be granted from the publisher and author to reproduce any previously published figures, and any such material must be clearly noted and its source given in the manuscript. A letter of permission must accompany photographs of patients in which there is possibility of recognition of the individual; otherwise the eyes must be blocked out to prevent identification. Each author must be certain that no paper based on the same or similar material has been or will be submitted to another journal by himself or others in his institution prior to the publication of his paper in RADIOLOGY.
IF ARROWS, LETTERS, AND NUMBERS ARE ADDED TO FIGURES, THEY SHOULD BE OF PROFESSIONAL QUALITY. PROFESSIONAL ARTIST SERVICE IS A VAILABLE TO AUTHORS WITHOUT CHARGE. THE DE.;. SIRED ADDITIONS MA Y SIMPL Y BE INDICATED ON TISSUE OR A TRANSPARENT o VERLAY ATTACHED TO THE PRINT. PLEASE SUBMIT PRINTS UNMOUNTED.
228
Opinion
•
Opinion
On the Importance of Teaching Undergraduate Radiology1 Lucy Frank Squire, M.D. and Joshua A. Becker, M.D. Radiology is a teaching tool that should be utilized throughout the four years of training of medical students. There are, however, not enough radiologists in academic life to teach radiology and recruit students to the specialty. INDEX TERMS:
Education. Radiology and radiologists
Radiology 117:227, October 1975
• Medical students now need and expect to be able to learn a great deal about radiology before they take their degrees. We fail them if we do not make this 'Possible. Not too long ago many of us considered that the students would learn enough simply by being in the radiology department for a week or so in their last year, watching us get our work done and having the odd case explained to them. Today this is patently not true. To continue such a program for them is, therefore, a breech of trust and a failure of academic responsibility on our part. It is becoming abundantly clear that we owe medical students an opportunity to use radiology, as the incomparable learning tool it is, throughout their training, beginning with anatomy in the first few weeks and carrying through most of the other disciplines. It is only by a continuous exposure through four years that they can ultimately use radiologic data to correlate and remember innumerable details of medical fact as they begin the practice of medicine. They must understand how to employ radiologic methods in the service of their own patients, of course, but teaching departments of radiology in the medical schools have a more complex academic responsibility to them than this. Even the students realize early, for example, that vasculature, is far more comprehensible anatomically from angiograms than from 'the cadaver and printed diagrams. Medical school departments of radiology must assist other academic departments in the use of radiographic materials in teaching medicine. The reluctance of some to undertake such joint responsibilities can only result in further splintering of the specialty since, even now, the explanation to students of film findings on their patients is, largely carried out, by uninstructed medical and surgical house staff and attending physicians.
The problems posed for teaching radiology departments by this expanding obligation are many: Medical school classes are steadily increasing in size, and at the same time the general ability of medical students is improving as a result of selection from a much larger number of applicants. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a proportionately larger number of radiologists turning to academic life to share a teaching load that is continuously more exacting of time and effort. Although lip service is given to the need for allowing time for undergraduate teaching as well as for the enormous time expended in the preparation of teaching materials, this facet of life for academic radiologists is now and always has been slow to be accorded recognition in the form of academic advancement and improved salaries. It is not surprising, therefore, that few consider developing a vocation in teaching even when their talents and inclination are clearly in that direction. And this situation is not likely to improve very much in the foreseeable future if the sudden greatly expanded need for radiologists which is anticipated with the evolution of general health care programs is upon us before we can attract more recruits to the field. It should be evident to those with vision in the specialty that recruitment is surely dependent on making the students aware of the existence and attractive character of radiology early in medical school before they have decided to become practitioners. Two good purposes are served by the interpolation of radiology into the teaching program for students throughout four years. First, the quality of medical training is enhanced, and second, more physicians will be attracted into radiology. Downstate Medical Center 450 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn, N. Y. 11203
1 From the Department of Radiology. Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, N. Y. Accepted for publication in July 1975. Additional articles on education will be found on pages 63 and 67. dk
227
INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS
RADIOLOGY is published under the supervision of the Board of Directors of The Radiological Society of North America, Inc., which reserves the right to reject any material submitted for publication, including advertisements. No responsibility is accepted by the Board of Directors or the Editor for the opinions expressed by the contributors, but the right is reserved to introduce such changes as may be necessary to make the contributions conform to the editorial standards of RADIOLOGY. Manuscripts and correspondence relating to publication of papers should be addressed to the Editor, William R. Eyler, M.D., Tower 14, Suite 1080,21700 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, Mich. 48075. Original articles will be accepted only with the understanding that they are contributed solely to RADIOLOGY. Manuscripts should be typewritten and double-spaced on only one side of the paper with margins 3 cm or more. Two copies of the manuscript and two complete sets of figures should be submitted. The author should retain a copy for reference, as accepted manuscripts will not be returned. The title page should include first names and degrees of all authors, the name and address of the institution from which the work originated, plus information concerning grants. The reprint address should include the full name, address, and zip code. An abstract of no more than 100 words for major articles and 60 words for single case reports, Work In Progress, and Technical Notes must be submitted with each manuscript, stating (a) what was done, (b) what was found, and (c) what was concluded. Three to seven key words should also be submitted for indexing. Abbreviations should be spelled out when first used in the text, as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Laboratory slang, clinical jargon, and uncommon abbreviations should be avoided. Discussion of previous literature and material presented must be restricted to significant findings. The style of references for periodicals should follow Index Medicus. The month and complete page numbers should be included. Abstracts, editorials, and letters to the editor should be noted as such. In the case of
books, the city, publisher, year, and specific page citations must be provided. Tables should be numbered in Roman numerals and should have a title. All abbreviations used in the table should be explained in a footnote. Illustrations should be limited to the number required to show the essential features described in the paper. Excessive illustrations encroach on the total space available in the Journal, to the detriment of the publication. For excess figures and for illustrations in color, estimates will be furnished by the Editor. Glossy prints no larger than 20 X 25 cm (8 X 10 inches), unretouched and unmounted, are desirable. Prints to be combined into one cut, such as antero-posterior and lateral views, should be of the same height to facilitate reproduction. These should be cropped to the areas of interest and neatly joined with cellophane tape but not mounted on cardboard. They should correspond in appearance to the tonal relations of the original radiograph, i.e., showing the bones white on a dark background, with the patient's right to the observer's left. Overlays may be used to designate the significant points of the illustration. Drawings and charts should be in India ink on white or blue-lined coordinate paper. Blueprints will not reproduce satisfactorily. All photographs and drawings must be numbered and the top indicated on the back. A caption must be supplied for each figure and should avoid duplication of text material. Captions should be separate from the text. Written permission must be granted from the publisher and author to reproduce any previously published figures, and any such material must be clearly noted and its source given in the manuscript. A letter of permission must accompany photographs of patients in which there is possibility of recognition of the individual; otherwise the eyes must be blocked out to prevent identification. Each author must be certain that no paper based on the same or similar material has been or will be submitted to another journal by himself or others in his institution prior to the publication of his paper in RADIOLOGY.
IF ARROWS, LETTERS, AND NUMBERS ARE ADDED TO FIGURES, THEY SHOULD BE OF PROFESSIONAL QUALITY. PROFESSIONAL ARTIST SERVICE IS A VAILABLE TO AUTHORS WITHOUT CHARGE. THE DE.;. SIRED ADDITIONS MA Y SIMPL Y BE INDICATED ON TISSUE OR A TRANSPARENT o VERLAY ATTACHED TO THE PRINT. PLEASE SUBMIT PRINTS UNMOUNTED.
228
