AJR Podcasts

Please check out the AJR's podcast offerings, including: •AJR Conversations: Podcasts hosted by the journal’s Section Editors, interviewing the authors of recently published Review and Clinical Perspective articles •AJR Series: Monthly or bimonthly episodes on major topics affecting radiology today, with a dedicated host per series •Trainee podcasts: Critiques of recently published research by the editorial board’s trainee members

Radiology Economics Forecast: Is It Doom and Gloom? 08/12/2026

Radiology Economics Forecast: Is It Doom and Gloom? Curious about the future of radiology economics? Richard E. Heller III, MD, MBA speaks with co-hosts Sherry S. Wang, MBBS, and Surbhi Raichandani, MD, to discuss radiology economics, from the basics to the niche and what is up ahead. Listen to their discussion in episode 2 of Difficult Conversations, an AJR Podcast Series. Full article: *Key Takeaways The Efficiency Fallacy: CMS recently implemented a 2.5% efficiency reduction to work relative value units, assuming that technology makes reading scans faster. However, modern multiplanar CTs contain thousands of images which can slow down down interpretation times. The No Surprises Act and Ghost Rates: While designed to protect patients from unexpected out-of-network bills, poor implementation allows insurers to use "ghost rates," which are contracted rates for never-billed services, to artificially lower the Qualifying Payment Amount and force rate reductions on practices. Advocacy is Essential: Radiologists serve as the nexus of the hospital. If the specialty does not demonstrate its downstream value, such as avoiding unnecessary surgeries and shortening hospital stays, business-minded policymakers will continue to treat it as a high-cost expense center to be cut. *Chapters 0:00 - Welcome 1:12 - Future Outlook For Radiology 2:27 - How Radiologists Generate Revenue 3:09 - RVUs Conversion Factor Basics 4:30 - MIPS And Payment Adjustments 5:59 - Revenue Versus Paycheck 7:22 - Medicare Fee Schedule Trends 8:53 - Efficiency Adjustment Debate 12:50 - How CMS Sets The Rules 14:24 - Comment Letters And Advocacy 17:16 - Medicare As System Benchmark 19:09 - Commercial Insurer Headaches 21:21 - Steerage And Pediatric Risks 22:57 - No Surprises Act Explained 27:59 - Arbitration And Implementation Issues 29:10 - Radiology as Nexus 30:16 - Proving Downstream Value 31:34 - Total Value Equation 33:44 - RVUs and Complexity 36:53 - Fixing Incentives 46:04 - AI as Capacity Booster 49:01 - Will AI Cut Pay 50:12 - Teleradiology Done Right 54:30 - Radiology in 10 Years 57:53 - Optimism and Call to Action Follow AJR on Social Media LinkedIn: YouTube: Instagram: TikTok: X: BlueSky: Threads: *These sections were generated using artificial intelligence (Descript and Google Gemini) and then reviewed for accuracy. /episode/index/show/ajrpodcast/id/41924505

Medicare Advantage and Imaging Costs: What Radiologists Should Know 08/10/2026

Screening for Fibrosis in MASLD 08/06/2026

To Fellow or Not to Fellow? 08/05/2026

To Fellow or Not to Fellow? Completing a fellowship was once not a question in radiology, but today’s market has changed the hiring landscape. Bruce Distell, MD, a radiology department chair, speaks with cohosts Elizabeth Hecht, MD, and Winnie Hahn, MD, about why we do fellowships and if we need them today given market demands and looming future of artificial intelligence. Listen to their discussion in episode 2 of Mentorship Unfiltered, an AJR Podcast Series. *Key Takeaways The Value of Fellowship: An extra year of training provides protected time to develop deep clinical expertise and signals a commitment to continuous education, which remains highly attractive to large practices. AI and the Future of Radiology: Despite trainee fears of artificial intelligence eliminating jobs, human oversight will remain essential. Highly specialized expertise secures the radiologist's role as the indispensable pilot of patient care. Lifelong Learning vs. Formal Training: Dedicated fellowship training demonstrates a commitment to clinical expertise, empowering radiologists to lead rather than be replaced in an AI-driven field. However, straight-to-practice routes can also succeed through dedicated, lifelong education. *Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 0:52 - The Existential Choice 1:52 - Pros and cons breakdown 3:20 - Hosts share their paths 4:49 - Meet Bruce Distell 11:04 - Endorsing Fellowships 12:29 - Inside a Modern Practice 16:28 - Training Beyond Fellowship 18:51 - AI and Future Expertise 21:46 - Speed vs Accuracy Debate 25:30 - Hiring What Matters Most 29:51 - Marketability and Mobility 36:38 - Private Equity Pressures 44:00 - Is Fellowship Worth It 47:51 - Advice for Those Considering Fellowship 49:37 - Final Takeaways Follow AJR on Social Media LinkedIn: YouTube: Instagram: TikTok: X: BlueSky: Threads: *These sections were generated using artificial intelligence (Descript and Google Gemini) and then reviewed for accuracy. /episode/index/show/ajrpodcast/id/41923725

Feeding Artery Sign on Prostate MRI: Tipping the Scales Towards Biopsy 07/27/2026

BI-RADS v2025: Updates and Implications 07/23/2026

How to Choose a Research Question That Survives Reality 07/22/2026

How to Choose a Research Question That Survives Reality A good research idea is not always a good research question. Bruno Hochhegger, MD, PhD, speaks with host Amit Gupta, MD, about choosing research questions that are clinically relevant, feasible, and worth pursuing in real-world settings. Listen to their discussion in episode 1 of The Early Career Researcher’s Playbook, an AJR Podcast Series. Full article: *Key Takeaways Defining Clinical Relevance: A strong research question must answer a direct patient management issue, such as determining if a nodule is benign or malignant. The Feasibility and Sustainability Matrix: Moving from simple case reports to professional science requires navigating EMRs, securing IRB authorizations, and finding reliable grant funding. The AI Implementation Trap: While building artificial intelligence models on GitHub has become more accessible, adequately validating these tools for real-world clinical practice remains a massive, frequently underestimated hurdle. Multidisciplinary Research Networks: True feasibility requires nonmedical input; successful projects demand early feedback from IT departments, technologists, and referring surgeons to ensure workflows survive reality. *Key Moments 00:00 Intro and Welcome 01:18 The Importance of Small Steps: Lessons from a Failed MRI Lung Cancer Screening Trial. 04:30 Defining Clinical Relevance and the Crucial Role of the Physician-Researcher. 07:47 Assessing Feasibility: Navigating EMRs, IRB Approvals, and Data Access. 08:45 Research Sustainability: Securing Grants and Transitioning from Voluntary to Professional Science. 10:50 The AI Feasibility Trap: Why Validating Models is Harder Than Coding on GitHub. 16:08 Identifying the Key Indication: Solving Direct Patient Management Questions. 21:51 Beyond Mentorship: Building a Network Across IT, Technologists, and Referring Clinicians. 28:51 Establishing Niche Expertise: Strategic Advice for Radiology Residents and Fellows Follow AJR on Social Media LinkedIn: YouTube: Instagram: TikTok: X: BlueSky: Threads: *These portions of the page were generated using artificial intelligence (Google Gemini) and then reviewed for accuracy. /episode/index/show/ajrpodcast/id/41591075