My Virtual ACR Experience

My experience at the American College of Radiology^® (ACR^®) 2021 Annual Meeting was delightful. It was a new experience listening in on meetings about different topics and learning more about radiology beyond the imaging aspect. This engaging meeting attenuated my interest in the field, and I am excited to get more involved in the ACR as my role in this specialty develops.

As one of the winners of the 2020 ACR Medical Student Scholarship award, I was excited to go to Washington, DC for the meeting. Alas, our whole world changed, and this could not be. However, there was a benefit to doing the meeting virtually. Going to Washington DC. would have been my first medical conference. Submerging yourself into teams of highly educated, profound physicians when you are the “new person” can be intimidating. I liked that the virtual meetings gave me a safe insight as to what to expect during the conference — I was able to “put my toes in the water” rather than “dive right in.” This experience will make it easier for me to fully enjoy the in-person experience of the 2022 ACR Annual Meeting.

I was particularly interested in watching Council meetings. My interest in administrative work continues to grow, but as a student, there is not much opportunity to learn more about this subject. I enjoyed listening to objections and testimony given regarding different amendments. I plan to have a better understanding of ACR policy one day so that I may be able to participate and contribute my two cents as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time during the virtual meetings of ACR 2021. I am thankful for the opportunity to participate and the inclusion of medical students into something so important. I am very excited to learn more about the ACR and can’t wait for the next meeting.