RANZCR: Clinical Radiology Trainee Matters

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)

Inside News March 2020

The beginning of the year 2020 has been unprecedented. Starting with devastating bushfires across much of Australia, we now face another challenge as a global community in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of vital measures during the pandemic will impact all industries, but perhaps none more than healthcare. Difficult decisions need to be made to best protect our colleagues, our families and our broader communities.

Unfortunately, but not without much consideration and the community’s best interests in mind, it was decided to cancel the series one examinations. This was devastating to many of you. I know first-hand the level of academic, personal and emotional investment that goes into preparing for these examinations, having sat part two exams last year. The clinical radiology trainees’ committee (CRTC) and I have been in contact with the senior leadership of RANZCR and will be working to find the best solutions moving forward.

This difficult year for many of you has just become more unpredictable, but not unsurmountable, and I have every confidence that you will cross the final hurdles and become an excellent clinical radiologist.

I am immensely fortunate to be part of a superbly talented and hardworking clinical radiology trainees’ committee (CRTC) this year, including representatives from VIC (Surain Rajadurai and Caitlin Farmer), SA (Sophie Thoo), WA (Shoba Ratnagobal), NSW (David Ong and Leonard Tiong), QLD (Sarah Robertson) and NZ (Sarah Benson-Cooper). Outside of this year’s interrupted examinations process, some of the key areas we will be focusing on in 2020 include:

• Feedback regarding the new enhanced curriculum and assessment format, and assistance with the implementation processes

• Advocating for trainee-centred and optimised subspecialty pathways (e.g. interventional radiology, nuclear medicine)

• Contribution to the trainee selection working group

• Delivery of the trainee day program at the Melbourne 2020 ASM

• Advocacy and assistance for trainees who are experiencing difficulty

• Contribution to local branch committees and assistance with local training issues

Dr Matthew Lukies Alfred Health

Finally, I encourage you all to take a proactive approach to consider how you personally can best prevent yourself from contracting or spreading the COVID-19 virus. As the situation evolves (hopefully for the best!), I’m optimistic that we will look back upon this period as a time when the broader healthcare community faced an immense challenge and responded with the determination and qualities that brought us to a career in medicine and radiology in the first place.

Much like your parents, we would love to hear from you more often! Please feel free to email the CRTC at clinicalradtc@gmail.com with your thoughts, questions, and feedback.