Current Status of Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Radiology Training in Latin America

Monday, March 6, 2023

4:20 PM – 4:30 PM

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 222AB

Presenting Author(s)

Roberto R. Galuppo Monticelli, MD (he/him/his)

Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiology, Academic Institute
Houston Methodist Weill Cornell Medical College

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Author/Co-author(s)

KR

Kristina Ramirez Garcia, NA (she/her/hers)

Medical Student
Tecnologico De Monterrey School of Medicine
Lorena Garza Garcia, MD , DR IR Board certified ABR

Assistant Professor
Radiology Associates of Albuquerque
Maria del Pilar Bayona Molano, MD

Associate Professor
USC University of Southern California

Disclosure(s):

Roberto R. Galuppo Monticelli, MD: No financial relationships to disclose

Maria del Pilar Bayona Molano, MD: No financial relationships to disclose

Purpose: To analyze the current status of Interventional Radiology Training in Latin America. Determine the accessibility, time and quality of training. Elucidate the access to fellowship training and the interventional/diagnostic technology and infrastructure.

Materials and Methods: A quantitative data collection with online survey was undertook. The questionnaire was developed on the platform “Google Forms”. It was divided in 3 sections: demographic, medical and residency training, and fellowship training. The survey was delivered via email by radiology organizations to physician and resident members. Survey results were compilated and analyzed. The quality of training was assessed with the provided academic time, access to current literature, and extra institutional opportunities. If the responder was trained on a country outside of Latin America or trained as surgeon, his responses were excluded.

Results: Seventy responses were received, describing the residency and fellowship training of 19 and 12 countries, respectively. Regarding access to training, less than 5 residency programs and less than 20 places for training were reported in six Latin American countries. Duration between 3-4 years of training was reported. Academic time was less than 10 hours a month in 48% of responders. Less than 50% of respondents receive training in radiology subspecialties. Only 62% of respondents receive interventional radiology training during residency years. Extra institutional training was optional in 55%, mandatory in 35% or did not exist in 10% of programs. Limited access to current literature during training was reported in 10% of respondents. 27 respondents in 10 countries declare that they have limited access to a tomograph, a resonator and ultrasound equipment. 80% of respondents were fellowship trained, out of them 45% migrate after residency training to a different country. 8 countries were reported to not have any fellowship training program including interventional radiology.

Conclusion: Access to residency, fellowship and required infrastructure is limited in half of the countries analyzed. There are significant discrepancies regarding time of training, academic time, exposure to radiology subspecialties and institutional opportunities. Large socioeconomic disparity exists among countries and residency programs. Further assessment is needed, as well as, cooperation by Latin-American radiology societies to improve overall training conditions in Latin America.