Diagnostic Radiology

As the United States’ population grows progressively diverse and varied, so does the need for similar increases in representation within the medical workforce. Potential benefits from such diversification include increased acceptance of and compliance with healthcare as well as improvements within implicit bias in both clinical and research realms. The medical field has responded to this need with gradually increasing heterogeneity in terms of gender, race, and ethnicity of practicing physicians. Although the subspecialty of radiology has also demonstrated increased diversity of physician population, the rate of this growth has been slower than the overall physician pool. For this to be remedied, challenges to diversity in radiology need to be addressed, specifically barriers in exposure to the field, recruitment, advancement, and retention. Many medical students do not receive direct exposure to radiology as few schools require a radiology clinical rotation. Potential solutions, among others, include development of radiology clinical electives designed for the first two years of medical school with a focus on historically excluded groups and introduction of student-faculty interest groups and pipeline programs which directly address issues with diversity in radiology. The residency selection process can aid in increasing diversity via efforts to implement holistic review of candidates, diversify residency interview and selection committees, and provide “Second Look” events. Strategies for improving the advancement and retention of underrepresented minorities already practicing radiology include robust development of identity-based societies with specific intentions in mentorship and career advancement. Industry partnership with historically excluded groups may further mitigate bias and aid in career development.