NEOMED College of Medicine students Layth Khawaja (M2), Devendra Patel (M2), Manav Patel (M2) and Alex You (M3) had the opportunity to complete a pre-clinical elective in diagnostic radiology in the Department of Radiology at University Hospitals—Cleveland Medical Center. The students shared their perspectives with The Pulse, and have special thanks to Dr. Pauravi Vasavada and the University Hospital team for providing this opportunity.
What did you find most valuable about the opportunity?
Manav: I appreciated the structured yet low-pressure exposure to multiple subspecialties, including neuroradiology and musculoskeletal, which allowed me to explore diagnostic radiology alongside incredible residents and attendings.
Layth: Working closely with residents and attending physicians made the field feel accessible and collaborative, and I valued the opportunity to ask questions in a supportive environment.
Alex: Early exposure to imaging interpretation helped reinforce my interests in radiology and gave me a clearer understanding of how impactful imagining interpretation is to a wide range of clinical specialties. This further motivated me to continue mastering what I learned across different clinical opportunities.
What did you learn?
Manav: The experience taught me how imaging guides clinical decision making and how effective communication between radiologists and referring teams directly impacts patient outcomes.
Alex: I gained a better understanding of the workflow of a radiology department and the balance between independent interpretation and team-based collaboration. Witnessing how radiologists systematically approach imaging studies to construct a differential diagnosis was a valuable prelude to the diverse pathologies I am currently learning about as a third-year.
Dev: I gained a better understanding of important characteristics of diagnostic radiology including strong anatomical knowledge, pattern recognition and continual learning as imaging technology continues to evolve.
What advice do you have for students in the early stages of exploring specialties?
Alex: Attendings and residents are often very willing to work with students, and the University Hospital experience was welcoming and educational. Even if you discover your interests have changed, still show care and thoughtfulness towards their specialty as it can still be helpful later. Early in my medical school journey, I was open to both interventional and diagnostic, but as I explored conferences, workshops and completed the third-year rotations, I became more confident in my decision to pursue diagnostic. However, all rotations have taught me valuable concepts from building differentials to working with the care team.
Dev: NEOMED has incredible student groups that provide early career exploration on campus. These can provide a great introduction when considering more hospital-based and longitudinal experiences. Even though it can feel overwhelming to keep track of all the opportunities, this Pulse article and other emailing lists are very helpful. In addition to learning about the content of the specialty, consider the day-to-day workflow and whether it aligns with your preferred learning and working style.
Manav: Seek early exposure to fields you are curious about, even if you are unsure as firsthand experience often challenges preconceived notions. When interacting with residents and attendings, including when they visit NEOMED for lectures, take advantage of their expertise and ask questions!
Layth: Keep an open mind and allow your interests to evolve. Many students in the Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Interest Groups are still deciding between the two. Engaging in these workshops and lectures can help your career decision.