What is a Radiologist?
The Radiologist is really your doctor's doctor. The radiologist is different from other physicians because he or she diagnoses diseases by obtaining and interpreting medical images. A radiologist correlates medical image findings with other examinations and tests, recommends further examinations or treatments, and confers with your physician.

There are a variety of imaging tests that radiologists use. Some of these are mammography, diagnostic ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), barium enema, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine scans. Some images are obtained by using x-rays or radioactive substances, others by means of sound waves or the body's natural magnetism. Radiologists also treat some diseases by means of radiation (radiation oncology) or minimally invasive, image-guided surgery (interventional radiology). No other doctors have as much special training in reading imaging studies as do radiologists.

All of Valley Radiologists are board certified, that is, have taken and passed an examination and have been approved to practice radiology by the American Board of Radiology. Like other physicians, the radiologist must have graduated from an accredited medical school, passed a licensing examination, and completed at least 4 years of graduate medical education (residency). Many of Valley Radiologists have also subspecialized in an area of radiology which requires even further education, known as a fellowship.

Our training includes 1 year of internship, and 4 years of diagnostic radiology residency. Fellowship training is another 1-2 years.

Overall, radiologists play an important role in the delivery of health care. Imaging tests detect diseases at early, more treatable stages, saving lives.