Yasha Parikh Gupta, MD
Resident Voices Make a Difference — Serve on the ACR RFS Executive Committee
As we approach the ACR® Annual Meeting, I would like to encourage all of my RFS colleagues to run for a position on the ACR Resident and Fellow Section (RFS) Executive Committee (ACR RFS EC)! This has been a wonderful experience for me so far, and I am looking forward to serving as the Chair of the ACR RFS EC next year.
Maybe you are wondering, “Well, why should I run?” Radiology is changing so quickly, and many of the changes that occur in our specialty will affect us as trainees, either during our training or afterward in our long careers ahead.
For example, last year I had the chance to speak to the ACR Council about the importance of family and parental leave for trainees. The RFS advocated for twelve weeks of family and parental leave for trainees without having to extend training, a very important matter that hopefully will benefit trainees across the United States. Without our voices, the ACR may not make crucial changes that can improve our training experiences. So above all, you should run because you want to advocate for your fellow trainees — past, present and future!
I also really enjoy seeing changes heading our way before they truly make an impact on our specialty. Things like climate change, the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act (MARCA), Medicare payment changes, and many others are among the topics that we have discussed over the last couple of years while I have been on the EC. Being able to advocate for what we believe is right as trainees is extremely rewarding, especially since it is really our careers that will be impacted by many of these changes.
One of the greatest things about the ACR RFS EC is that the time commitment is totally manageable on a trainee schedule. We have great staff that work with us (and are so flexible!) to keep us and our projects on track. This helps us think of and generate projects that are meaningful to us as trainees without interfering with our work and personal lives. Win-win!
Hopefully, I have now convinced you that you can make meaningful change through the ACR. In order to run, you will need to create a speech. I encourage you to talk about why you are running and what you hope to accomplish during the year in your role. You have many positions to choose from, depending on your skills and interests. Read more about those positions — and if you are in the field of radiation oncology, we would love to see you on the ACR RFS EC too!
If you are still undecided, please reach out to any of the current ACR RFS EC members and we would be more than happy to discuss the positions and what to expect. And if you’re still not convinced, I hope you will at least attend the ACR 2022 conference where so many of these important topics will be discussed. You can register for both virtual and in-person options, depending on what fits into your schedule.
I hope you will consider serving on the ACR RFS Executive Committee. I cannot wait to see what we can accomplish in the next year — and I’d love to work with you!
Maybe you are wondering, “Well, why should I run?” Radiology is changing so quickly, and many of the changes that occur in our specialty will affect us as trainees, either during our training or afterward in our long careers ahead.
For example, last year I had the chance to speak to the ACR Council about the importance of family and parental leave for trainees. The RFS advocated for twelve weeks of family and parental leave for trainees without having to extend training, a very important matter that hopefully will benefit trainees across the United States. Without our voices, the ACR may not make crucial changes that can improve our training experiences. So above all, you should run because you want to advocate for your fellow trainees — past, present and future!
I also really enjoy seeing changes heading our way before they truly make an impact on our specialty. Things like climate change, the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act (MARCA), Medicare payment changes, and many others are among the topics that we have discussed over the last couple of years while I have been on the EC. Being able to advocate for what we believe is right as trainees is extremely rewarding, especially since it is really our careers that will be impacted by many of these changes.
One of the greatest things about the ACR RFS EC is that the time commitment is totally manageable on a trainee schedule. We have great staff that work with us (and are so flexible!) to keep us and our projects on track. This helps us think of and generate projects that are meaningful to us as trainees without interfering with our work and personal lives. Win-win!
Hopefully, I have now convinced you that you can make meaningful change through the ACR. In order to run, you will need to create a speech. I encourage you to talk about why you are running and what you hope to accomplish during the year in your role. You have many positions to choose from, depending on your skills and interests. Read more about those positions — and if you are in the field of radiation oncology, we would love to see you on the ACR RFS EC too!
If you are still undecided, please reach out to any of the current ACR RFS EC members and we would be more than happy to discuss the positions and what to expect. And if you’re still not convinced, I hope you will at least attend the ACR 2022 conference where so many of these important topics will be discussed. You can register for both virtual and in-person options, depending on what fits into your schedule.
I hope you will consider serving on the ACR RFS Executive Committee. I cannot wait to see what we can accomplish in the next year — and I’d love to work with you!