Patient-Centered Imaging Care Led by Radiologists

Adyasha Pradhan, MS, third-year medical student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and member of the MSS Pre-Radiology Advocacy Network Subcommittee, contributed this article.

During the New York State Radiological Society 2025 Fall All-Members Meeting, Sharon D’Souza, MD, MPH, delivered the inspiring talk, “Advocating for Physician-Led Care.” As a medical student considering a career in radiology, I enjoyed getting a grounded look at physician-led care in practice and why radiologists play such an essential role in keeping imaging patient-centered.

Radiologist-led care means that radiologists take the responsibility for supervising and interpreting studies while collaborating with a team of skilled healthcare professionals, such as radiologic technologists who perform the imaging itself, ensuring each study is done safely and with optimal technique. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants often manage patient histories, follow-up coordination and broader aspects of clinical care. Referring physicians, such as internists or surgeons, integrate the radiologist’s findings into the overall treatment plan.

Each role is essential and complementary, but each member of the healthcare team offers different aspects of patient care, depending on their training. As Dr. D’Souza explained, when radiologists guide the imaging process, their training in anatomy, pathology and disease processes pairs with the expertise of the entire care team, helping ensure that imaging results are interpreted within the full clinical context. Radiologists also ensure accurate imaging interpretation and engage patients in shared decision-making.

That’s why radiologist-led care has become a key issue in healthcare advocacy today. Earlier this year, ACR^® helped its state chapters fight scope of practice (SOP) expansion. Many advocates of SOP legislation are well-intentioned, but radiologists worry that the risks to patient safety outweigh possible gains.

During Dr. D’Souza’s talk, she described recent battles in state legislatures where radiologists banded together to oppose bills that would allow non-physicians to practice independently in areas like imaging interpretation. For example, in Oklahoma and Wisconsin, radiologists (with support from ACR) helped defeat legislation granting broad imaging authority to non-physician providers. Those victories are a testament to what organized advocacy can achieve.

I felt empowered by these advocacy successes because they demonstrate how some radiologists are actively shaping healthcare policy to keep patients safe. This aligns with what I’ve been learning about ACR and its mission. For years, ACR has been a champion for physician-led care to ensure that it remains high-quality, safe and equitable under the oversight of doctors specifically trained in imaging.

ACR medical student members can get involved with advocacy through their state chapters, networking events and educational sessions. Sign up for the Rad Reserves monthly email update to learn about upcoming radiology events, programs, activities and volunteer opportunities.

Attending meetings, whether in person or virtually, helps us understand state-level legislative priorities and connects us with passionate leaders. Staying updated on issues like scope-of-practice laws, Medicare reimbursement and imaging access gives us insight into the challenges our field faces.

Programs like the Radiology Advocacy Network (RAN) and Pre-RAN make it easy to engage with lawmakers and peers. Apply for Pre-RAN, and participate in monthly calls with other medical students to discuss current bills, share insights and brainstorm action ideas together. Whether it’s attending a virtual meeting, signing a petition or sending a message through a RAN Action Alert, there’s always a way to participate. Even a short post on social media or a conversation with a classmate can spark broader awareness.

My biggest takeaway from attending the fall meeting is that the future of radiology will depend as much on people and advocacy as it does on technology. Radiologist-led care ensures that imaging decisions reflect both medical knowledge and the input of the broader healthcare team, supporting safe and consistent outcomes for patients.

As a medical student stepping into this field, I feel motivated to carry that mission forward. When students take part in RAN or Pre-RAN, we start building the habits and perspective that will define the next generation of radiologists. And when it is our turn to lead, we’ll be ready to uphold the same standard of patient-centered, physician-led excellence that ACR leaders and so many others are fighting for today.