Why should the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognize interventional radiology as a subspecialty within radiology? A summary of the application for subspecialty recognition

• Published in: Canadian Association of Radiologists journal Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 55 - 60
• Main Authors: Woolfson, Jessica P, Baerlocher, Mark Otto, Giroux, Marie-France, Simons, Martin, Millward, Steven F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC 01.04.2008
• Subjects: Canada; Clinical medicine; Humans; Radiology; Radiology - organization & administration; Radiology - trends; Radiology, Interventional - trends; Societies, Medical; Specialists; Studies; Canada
• ISSN: 0846-5371; 1488-2361

Other countries have already recognized IR as a formal subspecialty, including the United States and the United Kingdom. There is often reluctance within Canada to follow the US, particularly when it comes to health care issues; however, this is one decision where Canada should follow their example. Currently, many Canadian radiology residents go to the US for their IR fellowship upon completion of their regular diagnostic radiology residency. The US has an IR Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) exam that recognizes the additional training and body of knowledge involved in pursuing a career in the field of IR. Canada has no such formal standardization or accreditation of IR fellowship training programs. Canadian radiologists receiving IR training in Canada are ineligible to write the CAQ or any other equivalent IR subspecialty examination recognizing their clinical-based expertise when compared with diagnostic radiologists, or other specialists. Canada is losing many radiology residents to the US, when these individuals could potentially practice in Canada. Formal recognition of IR in Canada by the RCPSC would lead to standardization of IR fellowship training programs. The American Board of Radiology has stated that if the RCPSC accredits IR fellowship programs in Canada, Canadian-trained fellows would then be allowed to write the American IR CAQ exam. This may in turn encourage more Canadian IR trainees to remain in Canada for their IR fellowship, and for eventual practice. This recruitment and retention of interventional radiologists in Canada will improve access among Canadians to interventional radiology procedures, helping to offset the predicted shortage. Further recognition may encourage foreign interventional radiologist trainees to train and practice in Canada, as they would receive formal recognition of their IR training. Therefore, the RCPSC's decision may have a large impact on future IR manpower in Canada.