Sim Hoffman on Fetal Heart Evaluation

As an experienced radiologist who has seen his fair share of interesting medical cases, Sim Hoffman fully understands just how important it is to successfully evaluate the heart development of fetuses. Discovering certain conditions early on can save lives and create the possibility of long term health.

Fetal Heart Abnormalities 

In about 0.4%-1.1% of live births the doctors find some kind of heart abnormality. These problems are unfortunately leading causes of high infant mortality rates. Congenital heart defects are often hard to see, despite the consistent medical imaging efforts that try to discover preexisting conditions. An accurate and early diagnosis is extremely important because it allows the doctors to prepare for various scenarios. However, there are certain obstacles that make the imaging process challenging.

Heart size, High heart rate, Movement and Position 

In the early stages of pregnancy, the size of a fetus’ heart is very tiny, often only 2 centimeters (not even an inch in its diameter). Furthermore, it beats extremely fast. A fetus’s healthy heart rate varies depending on its age, but it can be as high as 180, which makes the imaging process even harder.

Then there are factors like the movement of the fetus and its position, all having a huge impact on the quality of the images.

4D is the future

4D imaging technologies are currently revolutionizing the field, making the early evaluation of fetuses - with special emphasis on the condition and development of their heart – quicker and more accurate. As an expert radiologist with a private practice, Sim Hoffman likes to take advantage of the latest technologies.

Sources: http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/fruit-womb/importance-fetal-heart-evaluation
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Sim Hoffman - The History of CT Imaging

As someone who often had to rely on Computed Axial Tomography or as most people know it, CT, Sim Hoffman appreciates the technology behind it. Being a compound word and a Greek one at that, Tomography comes from the words “tomos” and “graphia”. The former means a “slice”, a portion of something, whereas the latter translates to “describing something”. Put the two together and you get something that is capable of describing something by only seeing a small part (or really more like a lot of small parts) of it.

It all Started with Godfrey Hounsfield and Allan Cormack

Godfrey Hounsfield was a British engineer working at EMI Laboratories, who worked together with Allan Cormack, a South-African physicist from Tufts University, a prestigious institution in the state of Massachusetts. They invented the technology in 1972, for which they later received a Nobel Peace Prize.

The First CT Scanners

The first machines were put in practice between 1972 and 1974 and they were only used for head examinations. The first ones that were capable of examining a patient’s whole body were installed in 1976. By 1980 CT machines were available on a wide scale with almost 6,000 machines installed in the US alone, and more than 30,000 around the world.

The Evolution of CT

Since their implementation in the 1970’s, CTs have come a long way, with the newest models being able to provide not only superior speed, but also a vastly improved resolution. Sim Hoffman has relied on these machines in the last four decades.

Sources:
http://www.imaginis.com/ct-scan/brief-history-of-ct

Sim Hoffman - Becoming a Radiologist

As a valuable member of the growing field of radiology, Sim Hoffman knows what it takes to become a specialized physician. If you are thinking about pursuing this career, certain qualifications will of course be needed.

Requirements in the U.S.

The first requirement is the completion of one’s college studies. This usually implies a four-year period, but there are undergraduates who can finish college in three, or possibly even two years. The next stop is of course medical school, but between the end of your undergraduate studies and the start of medical school, you can use the time to develop a deeper understanding of radiology, attending public lectures and getting in contact with radiologists.

Medical School and What Follows

After getting into a medical school, you have to make sure that radiology electives (specified classes you take for your major and minor) are part of your finishing years. Once you completed the first phase of your medical studies, a one-year internship is required, followed by four years of radiology residency. During that period, you must pass several examinations carried out by the American Board of Radiology. The process involves three major tests, a written, an oral, and a physics examination.

Once the Residency Is Completed

When you completed your residency, you can either start your career as a radiologist or choose any one of the sub-specialties that include mammography, neuroradiology or interventional radiology. As an accomplished radiologist who specialized in nuclear radiology, Sim Hoffman completed this challenging process successfully.

Sources:http://www.gapmedics.com/blog/2013/12/06/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-radiologist-in-the-us/