Membership engagement is paramount to unifying the voice of Canadian radiologists. Through support from the CAR, the Resident and Fellow Section (RFS) working group has invigorated that rallying cry. Comprising one-quarter of the CAR membership, our medical students, residents and fellows are rich with energy, drive and tremendous potential in their careers Over the past 12 months, the RFS has been working diligently to put forth new projects which support, encourage and foster the radiology community. This joint collaborative effort of resident liaisons and volunteers from all 16 residency programs across Canada has developed new RFS-specific projects, information and resources, related to leadership, advocacy, quality, safety and economics.
Under the leadership of their former Chair, Dr. Lindsay Cherpak, the working group drafted an ambitious workplan and have been forging ahead to ensure the effectiveness of their initiatives while supporting their mandate to engage a nationwide network of radiology residents.
The April 2019 Board of Directors meeting saw the passing of the torch, as the CAR welcomed Dr. Baljot (Bill) Chahal as the new RFS Chair. The CAR is looking forward to working with Dr. Chahal to foster and lend resources to his initiatives. Chief among his ideas is a need to increase fellow involvement. The RFS will be making a concerted effort to improve engagement amongst ACR Young and Early Career Professionals. Additionally, the RFS is working on a medical student project Radiology Interest Group: A Recipe for Success, which is based off an educational exhibit from the recent CAR 2019 conference – an excellent example of what our annual scientific meetings are all about!
With a dedicated portal on RAD Academy, the CAR’s learning management system, the RFS showcases a collection of projects spearheaded by this dynamic and enthusiastic working group. New content includes:
- Medical Student Modules
- Introduction to Chest Radiology
- Introduction to Pediatric Radiology: Emergency MSK
- Resources
- Projects in development
- Royal College Exam Prep Doc
- Staff Profiles
- On-Call Imaging in Pregnancy FAQ
- Research Resources Repository
- Resident – Student Mentorship Program
These projects are only a few of the exciting initiatives that the RFS is currently undertaking, with so much more on the horizon. Namely, a collaborative effort with Memorial University and a strengthened partnership with program directors from coast to coast.
The CAR would like to thank Dr. Cherpak for her leadership and dedication as chair of the RFS over the past year. We look forward to Dr. Chahal and the RFS’s future achievements as they begin a new chapter for the CAR.