| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Clinical and Medical |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Head of Department (Clinical) |
| Direct reports | CT Technician, MRI Technician, X-Ray Technician |
| Experience | 2 to 6 years after MD in hospital or diagnostic centre radiology |
Radiologist job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Radiologist
Department: Clinical and Medical
Reports to: Head of Department (Clinical)
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Radiologist interprets medical images and reports what they show: X-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI and mammograms. They protocol scans so the right images are taken, report urgent cases fast, perform image-guided biopsies and drainages, and advise clinicians on the next best test. Many radiologists also report remotely through PACS. A good radiologist gives accurate, clear reports within the agreed time, calls critical findings immediately and keeps radiation doses as low as the diagnosis allows.
Key responsibilities
- Protocol CT and MRI requests, choosing sequences, contrast and coverage that answer the clinical question.
- Report X-rays, ultrasound, CT and MRI studies with clear findings, impression and recommendations.
- Report emergency scans such as trauma and stroke head CT and acute abdomen CT within the agreed turnaround.
- Phone critical findings such as brain bleed, pneumothorax or bowel perforation to the treating doctor and document the call.
- Perform ultrasound, Doppler and mammography, comparing with previous imaging wherever available.
- Perform image-guided biopsies, FNACs, drainages and nephrostomies under ultrasound or CT guidance.
- Supervise contrast safety by screening kidney function and allergies, and treat contrast reactions.
- Follow radiation protection practice with technicians, including dose optimisation, lead shielding and dosimeter use.
- Present imaging findings and staging at tumour boards and clinical meetings.
- Review discrepancies and missed findings at the department's peer review meeting and apply the lessons.
Requirements
- MD or DNB in Radiodiagnosis, or DMRD
- Valid registration with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council
- Fellowship in neuro, body, musculoskeletal or interventional radiology is an advantage
- 2 to 6 years after MD in hospital or diagnostic centre radiology
KRAs and KPIs for a Radiologist
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Emergency turnaround | Emergency CT reports within 60 minutes of scan completion for 95 percent of cases |
| Routine turnaround | Routine CT and MRI reports within 24 hours for 95 percent of studies |
| Critical findings | 100 percent of critical findings called within 30 minutes and documented |
| Reporting accuracy | Significant discrepancies below 2 percent of peer-reviewed reports |
| Contrast safety | Kidney function and allergy screening documented before 100 percent of contrast studies |
| Procedure safety | Major complications below 1 percent of image-guided procedures |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: PACS and reporting workstation, CT scanner, MRI scanner, Ultrasound and Doppler machine, Mammography unit, Voice recognition dictation, Personal dosimeter.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Head of Department (Clinical), Medical Director
Interview questions for a Radiologist
- A trauma head CT arrives at 3 am while 20 routine scans are waiting. How do you prioritise?
- How do you word a report when you find a small lung nodule by chance?
- A patient becomes breathless right after contrast injection. What do you do?
- You notice a finding missed on a colleague's earlier report. What do you do?
- How do you choose between CT and MRI for low back pain with leg weakness?
- How do you keep radiation doses low when scanning children?
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What does a radiologist do?
A radiologist is a doctor who interprets medical images such as X-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI and mammograms, and writes reports that guide treatment. They decide how scans should be done, report emergencies quickly, call critical findings to doctors, and perform image-guided biopsies and drainages.
What is the difference between a radiologist and a radiographer?
A radiologist is a doctor with an MD, DNB or DMRD in radiodiagnosis who interprets scans and performs image-guided procedures. A radiographer or imaging technician holds a diploma or degree in medical imaging technology and operates the X-ray, CT and MRI machines to take images safely.
What is the difference between a radiologist and a sonologist?
A radiologist is trained in all imaging, including X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound, through a postgraduate degree in radiodiagnosis. A sonologist performs and reports ultrasound only, and may be an MBBS doctor with recognised ultrasound training or a specialist such as a gynaecologist doing pregnancy scans.