Evolution of a Specialty: The Case for the Association of Chiefs of Interventional Radiology

Most physicians are students of the history of their profession. Some come by it naturally, others become intrigued during their training, while others simply hear it again and again from their professors until they embody an appreciation for where medicine has been and where it might go.

In the big scheme of things, the history of interventional radiology (IR) is relatively short. Much of the earliest work predates even the definition of the specialty. But defined it became. And like so many other fields of study and practice, it has undergone a series of developments that have led to a maturing specialty that is now better organized and widely appreciated. Form follows function, and the administrative structure has followed device and technique breakthroughs. Academic centers have for quite a while supported increasingly focused IR divisions, while most moderate-to-large size private practice groups restrict the performance of advanced procedures to an IR section.

Studying the development of other specialties and professions and applying those lessons to the current state of IR, we propose that a next logical step is a mechanism to allow IR chiefs to communicate better together, develop and refine skills particular to running an IR division, and facilitate sharing of data crucial to running an effective and efficient practice. We believe a new association, an Association of Chiefs of Interventional Radiology, would best provide such a mechanism. This communication will review the history of IR leadership, look at similar efforts by other fields, provide justification for such a group, and present a proposal for next steps in the process.