Advances in technology have revolutionized the field of radiology. A director of radiology has a unique job that involves implementing the newest technology into his field while overseeing other radiologists and staying up-to-date on changes and discoveries in the medical arena. He is the public face of the radiology department, so his job also involves a degree of politics and public relations.

Duties

A director of radiology oversees an entire radiology department, including managing the budget, promotions within the department and the purchase of new technology. Responsible for planning the department's future growth, he creates an operational plan each year and provides reports on the department's progress, along with the individual progress of each of his employees. If one of his employees has received a complaint from a patient, the director must follow up on it. In addition to overseeing radiology and patient care, the director may also network with outside sources to secure donors.

Education

The education requirements for a director of radiology are not extensive. He should have a bachelor's degree, preferably in a field that covers radiology. To be a director, he will also need about seven years of work experience, with five years in management.

Qualifications

A director of radiology should be knowledgeable of the latest technological advances in radiology, and have extensive experience working in radiology that prepares him for running a department. He should know how to perform quality control procedures, have strong verbal and written communication skills and be a people person who works well with subordinates.

Work Environment

A director of radiology should truly enjoy his work because it can be stressful at times. He is essentially on call 24/7 in case an emergency happens within his department. As the public face of the department, the director may be called upon to speak with the president of his company or even the news media. Managing a large operation and overseeing different personalities who work together can be trying at times, so a good director needs to be cool under pressure.