Following up on the previous blog, which primarily relates to setting up a successful, regular teaching program, this post will focus on expansion.

Having got this activity up and running with good support from faculty and residents, we feel comfortable that we are not politically aligned and are open to working with the best teachers in the area to come and speak to the group. This has been done at a minimal cost with maximum benefit to a large number of residents. At this time, the radiology department at the central institution takes on the responsibility of booking an auditorium and visiting faculty come by their own volition and cost. The only cost we take on is that of photocopying the feedback forms. It is important that we align with the radiology departments in the city as we are looking for their support and guidance as we grow.

The next obvious step in this activity is growth. While the success of our initial foray might enthuse us to dive headlong into many other projects, one must exercise caution to prevent dilution of ones energies.

The best way to learn anything is in small sessions that are focused. Ones that highlight important things rather than rambling details and ones that are delivered in an entertaining manner. Most everything else contributes constructively to the sleep cycle!

I am proud to inform you that through a group of dedicated radiologists I am part of a regular monthly radiology education programme in the city of Mumbai. I am also happy to say that its simplicity is probably the cause for its success. What I am about to share with you is top secret and a little dedication will enable you to develop a similar programme in your city and ramp up the quality of radiology education nationwide.

The piece is written in two parts, the first that focuses on the actual setup and the second on early and future plans for development.

So what is this success story and what are its ingredients?

I was fortunate to recently be invited as visiting faculty to a radiology department upon an invitation from a good friend. The experience I must say was wonderful and it often makes me wonder why we don't do this more often.

To give you some idea about what transpired in the week, I could split them up into a few broad areas and here are the highlights:

Informal teaching and learning:

During my week, I spent most of the time in the MSK radiology reading room. Here, I went over cases with the residents as they read them and then sat with them as the attending came over to read them out with them. We discussed different view-points, interesting observations and pointers that we had learned along the way. Residents chimed in with their own opinions and added the opinions of other faculty in the department. Some of them had interests in other areas of medicine or informatics and so added more interesting insights into how we did, do and should do things. It was a great way for residents and faculty from various places to meet, greet, and discuss. I found it extremely stimulating and apart from the fact that the residents went home a little later than usual, I didn't see a significant down side.

This one is less of a personal choice than a suggested natural progression of the previous two posts. It is also written under the influence of jet lag and an accompanying three year old with jet lag.

It's now been three years since I completed my fellowship ("baccha hai" as most would say) and already, I find myself forgetting much I learned during my training. My residency training was great in giving me the time and guidance to see a host of common and uncommon conditions and my first few years in practice threw me into an ocean of uncertainties where every case was a teaching case with an uncertain result from which I have emerged stronger and more clinically adept.

"Who is this little imp to write about our education system?" For what it's worth although I never trained in radiology in India, my initial steps towards radiology were thanks to a cousin and his partner in Mumbai who are excellent radiologists and even nicer people. I am fortunate to have as a neighbor, friend, philosopher, guide and father in law a senior radiologist and educator. In addition to this I am also fortunate to spend time candidly once a week with one of the most well recognized radiology educators in the country. Furthermore, my wife trained in radiology in India and finally, I have found a way to torture residents at a variety of radiology programmes in Mumbai and elsewhere. This leaves me in unique the position of being trained outside but getting an insight into our education system and seeing it vis-à-vis elsewhere.

The two famous educators mentioned above have similar and yet varying opinions about trainees today. Both believe that radiologists who come out of training in general are not that great and that the educators are terrible for the most part. They differ as one has more respect for the intellect and commitment of residents than the other. Going back to the basics, from this n of 2 individuals (which I think is reasonably strong), radiology education in our country leaves much to be desired. Although later in life they may excel, many of the radiologists we let loose on society could certainly be better trained. The part I try to address here is how we as educators (and I include myself quite conveniently as the author!) can change this in a long lasting way.

It appears that the wandering radiologist has recently caught the wandering eye of the editors at IRADIX. At their request, I will be trying to contribute two blogs a month to IRADIX. This should serve two purposes; firstly get me two write more regularly and secondly give me the opportunity to exhibit my ignorance publically! The blogs will be on issues that relate to radiology education and practice with potential to expand into subjects that interest readers at IRADIX.

My first foray in this relates to the issue of radiology education. The topic is a large one where many facets need individual attention. Since residents, having been badgered by their teachers and patients for so many years are the most thick skinned, I think it is only appropriate to begin with them as they are least likely to get offended.

My views on education are backward. If, for a minute we look back at why we get an education and what its ultimate goal is, it might give us a better perspective on how we should go about it.