Lucky to have surfed each wave of radiology’s evolution

My radiology journey began in 1993 at Massachusetts General Hospital, where my medical school elective introduced me to imaging. Back then, CT scanners were single-slice, stop-and-shoot affairs – more tortoise than hare. Spiral CT soon revolutionised volumetric imaging and, by the late 1990s, MRI had cemented itself as a diagnostic powerhouse. It was said that MRI would replace CT but, like vinyl records, CT remains a chart-topper.

Nuclear medicine kept pace. From early gamma camera PET to fully digital PETCT, sensitivity and resolution have soared. Isotope advancements are further elevating PETCT’s role across oncology, neurology and cardiology. My work in PETCT has progressed alongside these innovations, since 2005, from basic reporting to AI-driven reconstructions and operational wizardry. This ‘new clear medicine’ continues to prove that radiation and relevance go hand in glove.

Now, AI has entered the chat. Initially just enhancing reconstructions, it now optimises workflows and supports clinical decisions. Radiologists initially feared being replaced; instead, we are just busier than ever. I have had the fortune (or misfortune?) of being at the forefront, ensuring AI delivers real-world
benefits rather than just futuristic hype.

From my early days in imaging to this AI-infused present, I feel lucky to have surfed each wave of radiology’s evolution. The next frontiers – quantum-inspired computing and personalised medicine – promise more change. But if history teaches us anything, radiologists will still be debating scan protocols over coffee in another 50 years.

The content on this page is provided by the individuals concerned and does not represent the views or opinions of RAD Magazine.