Subspecialization, Senior Residency, or Private Practice: The Dilemma of Final-Year Radiology Postgraduate Residents in India

Background Radiology is among India's top five speciality choices pursued by meritorious medical graduates. With the advent of the subspecialization degree courses, fellowships, the requirement of senior residency as faculty eligibility criteria, and the lucrative option of private practice, the final-year postgraduates are given opportunities to choose from but with little guidance on what and how to choose. This study aims to analyze the views of the final-year radiology postgraduate residents in India regarding their understanding of how to proceed in their professional life with options available. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted online via Google forms distributed via email and social media platforms. The questionnaire was prepared after going through previous literature, video blogs, and media available on the Internet and was further validated for content. Results About half (48%) of them wished to pursue higher studies in the form of Doctorate of Medicine (DM) degree courses or fellowships. Almost three-quarters of the participants preferred short-term subspecialization via fellowships over 3-year DM courses (28%). Regarding clinical practice, 61.9% preferred to take up senior residency, while slightly over one-third (35.7%) expressed their will to move on to private practice. Conclusion A relative conundrum was observed in the decision to take up senior residency or private practice or to go for DM but had to pursue a fellowship due to limited choice in topics and seats available in the country for subspecialization.