RETURN TO ABSTRACT LISTING


Background
The purpose of this exhibit is to heighten the exposure of pre-secondary and secondary students to the field of radiology. This exhibit is designed with the goal of generating further interest within students for future careers in radiology. As of now, many places offer minimal exposure to radiology within medicine. This exhibit aims to combat this exposure gap in settings around the world, and can also be applied to other topics in medicine.

Educational Goals / Teaching Points
The exhibit highlights international discrepancies of student exposure to the field of radiology, proposes effective strategies to globally raise radiological awareness in younger-level students, and demonstrates the implementation of these strategies using current global examples (including improvements and valuable take-aways for implementers, catering to their specific region).

Key Anatomic/Physiologic Issues and Imaging Findings/Techniques
This exhibit begins with an overview of countries gauging availability of radiological/medical career promotion and exposure, followed by a list of countries that currently offer this exposure and countries having a lack of availability to this exposure. Then, the exhibit delves into existing examples of such programs and suggested implementation strategies for other regions. These include secondary level radiological/medical activities competitions (award-based), and promoting radiological information (careers, research, etc.) through guest lectures. The exhibit proposes more availability and a wider variety of secondary level shadowing/volunteering opportunities, summer enrichment programs/internships in the field of radiology, credit courses on radiological topics, and radiological research mentoring programs. In terms of full integration into education, this exhibit proposes pushing inclusion of radiological careers in school-conducted career-fit tests, and the inclusion of radiological concepts in STEM classes.

Conclusion
With proposed implementations, students can gain experience and extracurricular opportunities with these proposed programs and changes, and this will encourage students to consider a future in radiology, especially those in areas without prior exposure. Upgradation of existing resources to include knowledge of radiology career pathways , introduction to radiological medical sciences and creation of interactive quiz-based modules in career labs are important propositions made in the exhibit to create an effective career lab radiology career awareness program for undergraduate students. The curriculum will provide an effective basic introduction to X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound and basics of advanced imaging techniques. Modules will educate students on effective ways to combine their other interests with radiology careers such as genetic & biomedical sciences, business, post doctoral sciences and research, and careers in defense or social sciences. The curriculum design would facilitate ease of understanding with every advancing grade in school and undergraduate university. Reinforcements by means end-module questions, & integrated certification programs may encourage career lab participation of students.