nuclear medicine
Was there an aspect of the residency program that was unexpected and required adaptation on your part?
Not at all.
Do you follow the recommendations you give to your patients?
In majority
Yes
What do you think is the most difficult medical practice?
Family medicine
I really don't see - it all depends on the context
In your opinion, what is the easiest medical practice?
I can't say
I really don't see - it all depends on the context
What is your favorite alcoholic drink?
None in particular actually; I like to try something new every time.
What does a typical week look like? Do you spend more time seeing patients or at a computer analyzing images?
Usually in general nuclear medicine we see patients in the morning (myocardial stimulation, sentinel lymph nodes) and interpret the images in the afternoon. In PET, it's image interpretation all day long. During the free time between cases, we sign the exam reports that we have dictated and occasionally go get a coffee in the teachers' lounge to stretch our legs. Usually there are 3-4 days of clinical work per week and the rest in academic activities (course development, preparation of presentations, research, meetings, continuing education...). Also nucleists usually participate in 1 or 2 CTC per week. For my part, I have an atypical profile as a clinician-researcher, so 50% of my time is specifically assigned to research (course that I recommend!).
What personality traits are typical of your profession?
Sympathetic, like 'problem solving', like basic sciences (physics, chemistry, computing), calm, scientific curiosity.
Would you be friends with your colleagues if you had met them outside of work?
Yes for many
Probably not for most, but it's the diversity of our group that makes it so rewarding :)
What do you think is the most important factor for a successful residency in your specialty?
Passion
Study and practice (no secret). The attraction for research and curiosity is a rapidly evolving specialty, you have to keep yourself very informed.
What do you think is the most important factor for a successful career in your specialty?
love physiology
Study and practice (no secret). The attraction for research and curiosity is a rapidly evolving specialty, you have to keep yourself very informed.
What is the best advice you have received?
Choose your specialty according to what you like and not the city where you want to live afterwards
The patient must always remain at the center of your reasoning.
What does a typical week look like? Do you spend more time seeing patients or at a computer analyzing images?
About 30% with patients (persantin, hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, radium treatment and others, sentinel lymph node techniques for breast cancer, melanoma, ENT, insulin and heparin injections ..) And the rest in image analysis has the computer and in discussion with the consultants
Most of the time in front of a computer to analyze images, but also a lot of the patient's file because the images alone do not say everything
What is the most common criticism you receive?
Requiring
How would your colleagues describe you?
Wise
Persevering and optimistic.
If you had to specialize in something else, what would it be and why?
Medical oncology due to the prevalence of cancers and also important advances in treatment
I would have been unhappy, that's what I really wanted to do! Probably radiation oncology, for the oncology/physical/multi-organ side which is what I like.
Does your specialty take jokes well at work?
Yes Fortunately
Yes !
Do students/residents sometimes make you feel overwhelmed?
Yes
If your specialty had to have a romantic relationship with another which one would it choose?
Internal Medicine
Oncology, no doubt.
What specialty would you never do? Why?
Intensive care. I don't like to work under constant stress.
During your medical studies, what did you do on a Friday evening?
Relax, see friends, etc. There is a lot of material to study in nuclear medicine (as in all specialties) but it is easy to have a good work-family balance.
What is the most common criticism you receive?
I have not received any recurring criticism personally. As a specialty we have very sensitive examinations, so we often find things incidentally. Clinicians can blame us for these fortuitous events.
Do students/residents sometimes make you feel overwhelmed?
Not yet, but they push me to perfect myself.
How many hours of work per week on average?
Maximum 40 hours (academic and clinical activities). For the clinic alone, around 25-30 hours typically. For academic days, it depends on each person's tasks, but these days are not necessarily full. These are very flexible days on the schedule side, so each nucleist has his academic days as he wishes. We are on call approximately one week out of five, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But in reality, we hardly ever receive calls in the evening or at night and the weekend call days are carried out remotely (we have the software to read the images on our computers). In short, in terms of quality of life, nuclear medicine schedules are among my best in the medical profession!
What do you dislike most about your practice?
When I receive an examination request without useful clinical information, or if it is illegible...
What are the difficulties, the least pleasant aspects that you encounter in your specialty?
Mainly events beyond our control that prevent us from working: shortage of technical staff, shortage of radiopharmaceuticals, products discontinued by pharmaceuticals because nuclear medicine is a small market that is not too lucrative for older molecules (but still useful). Events that are not so rare. And, as in any specialty, having to take time again and again to convince the administration to grant us the budget for new devices necessary for the practice and for the purchase of innovative radiopharmaceuticals.
What car do you drive?
SUV; because it's versatile! useful for transporting sports equipment, for transporting materials during outdoor work, and pleasant to drive on the open road. Little interest in sports cars.
How do you plan your vacation?
Often they are linked to an international scientific congress, but otherwise they are new destinations to explore locally or around the world. Usually we all have 3 weeks of vacation in the summer (sometimes difficult to schedule because we often want the same weeks!) and a few weeks of vacation to take as we please in the rest of the year.