SHINE A LIGHT BLOG

Women in Radiology

Dr. Kate Hanneman, an Associate Professor and a cardiothoracic radiologist.

All the way along in medical school, I thought I wanted to be a paediatrician. I thought radiologists sat in the dark room and that it was mostly for men, that it was very technical and you needed to be a physics geek — and none of that which I’ve just described, which isn’t true, appealed to me.

Then, I did an elective with Dr. Nasir Jaffer, who is now my colleague, and I realized: that’s not radiology at all. Dr. Jaffer inspired me and opened my eyes to the possibilities in radiology. However, if you are not exposed and what you see is this picture of mostly older men sitting in the dark room and reporting by themselves, and not talking to anyone — that didn’t align at all with where I thought my medical career would go or what I thought I wanted in my life. I think allowing people to see what radiology is like is so important.

This month, I’m the guest of a special episode of our podcast Radiologists dedicated to International Women’s Day where I share my story of becoming a radiologist as well as the importance of mentors, the gender pay gap and if radiology is a right career choice for female medical students.