As I continued through different clinical rotations in medical school, I gradually came to more fully appreciate why I felt especially drawn to radiology, over and above my passion for the other branches of medicine. I think the central aspect of this was my profound admiration for the way that radiology spans so many different disciplines, with diagnostics always as the central core. I was fascinated by radiology attendings’ breadth of knowledge across various medical fields and enjoyed collaborating with physicians of diverse specialties.
My passion for neuroradiology blossomed when I joined the four-year radiology residency training program at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. It was not long into my whole immersion experience in radiology that I started to gravitate towards neuroradiology and began working towards carving out for myself a particular focus in this area of radiology. I enjoy very much the diversity of experiences in neuroradiology and the need for in-depth knowledge of neuroanatomy and medical physics. In September 2009, I completed my radiology residency and began working as a diagnostic radiologist.
For a restless person with an ambitious personality like mine, it was just the start of a long journey. In 2013, my desire to advance my career and participate more fully in global medical research led me to secure a research position in the Pediatric Radiology Department of Texas Children’s Hospital. As a clinical research fellow with a focus on neuroradiology research, I quickly found myself working on several projects including the application of fMRI and quantitative imaging biomarkers in the study of epilepsy. My ongoing research efforts in this area have resulted in several peer-reviewed publications and oral presentations at scientific conferences, with one of my co-authored papers winning the annual Lucien Levy Award as the best research article published in the American Journal of Neuroradiology in 2016.
My ardent desire to expand my clinical knowledge led to my entering a radiology residency program at Baylor College of Medicine in 2016. Rotations have enriched my radiology residency at multiple hospitals including Ben Taub community hospital, the MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Texas Children’s Hospital. My training in a community hospital has been instrumental in developing my organizational skills and proficiency in time management, helping me to further develop confidence and autonomy in performing minimally invasive procedures, having completed more than four hundred image-guided procedures so far. Furthermore, I have had the opportunity to work alongside some of the most distinguished neuroradiologists in the country and gained in-depth clinical experience in all aspects of neuroradiology including emergency neuroradiology, pediatric neuroimaging, and oncologic neuroimaging.
Of all the factors involved in making my decision for neuroradiology, the most important one is the excitement and fulfillment that comes with facing a spectrum of challenging neuroradiology cases where my clinical judgment has a meaningful impact on patient outcomes. It was during my neuroradiology rotations that I found myself waking up in the morning before my alarm went off with joyful anticipation of what the day would bring. At the end of each day, I couldn’t wait for the next workday to arrive.
I intend to continue my career in academic medicine where I can participate in patient care and teaching and pursue my research interests. I aspire to become part of a fellowship program with extensive exposure to a variety of topics in neuroradiology that can further enhance my clinical and teaching skills. Additionally, I look forward to the research opportunities that make me able to dive into the most current, innovative research and make significant contributions to the field of neuroradiology. To my program, I will bring my enthusiasm, perseverance, and passion for excellence.
Comments