Sim Hoffman - How to Have a Successful Residency Program Interview

After successfully completing four years of medical school, students must enter a residency program in the specialty field you wish to pursue. For Sim Hoffman, it was important to find a program that would help him advance his knowledge and understanding of radiology. In order to land in the residency program that is best for you, you have to undergo an interview, much like the interview, you had to partake in when applying to medical school. 

Sim Hoffman

 The interview process for each residency program is highly evaluative in nature and is extremely important in the selection process. Medical students need to recognize the importance of the interview and follow these rules if they wish to succeed and land the residency of their dreams.

1. Dig deep and clearly convey who you are and what you know about the program. Those in the role of decision maker are looking for candidates that will help them achieve their own goals while finding success in the program.
2. Your first impression can make or break you. To make a good first impression, you need to arrive early to your interview and be well-dressed and impeccably groomed. Look each interview in the eye and shake hands properly.
3. Make yourself noticeable and stand out from the rest of the crowd. Be sure to discuss your remarkable accomplishments and talk about your unique strengths and strong qualities.

Remember, there are hundreds of applicants all vying for the same spot in the program, it is up to you to impress the decision-makers and make sure they remember who you are. Sim Hoffman completed his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at the USC Medical Center in Los Angeles and is now the Medical Director for Advanced Professional Imaging Medical Group in Buena Park, California.

Sim Hoffman on the Role of a Radiologist

When Sim Hoffman started out his impressive career, the role of a radiologist was still rather traditional in its nature. This meant – almost exclusively – the creation and interpretation of diagnostic images. This notion is rather obsolete now, as the role of today’s medical radio imaging experts, if anything, is ever-evolving. Radiologists are now expected to do more and be more, but that is not only a professional requirement but also a personal mission inspired by improving technology and the evolving roles that today’s medical professionals fill, which are also different compared to how they were even a couple of decades ago. 
Change Since the Mid 90’s
There have been marked changes in medicine in the last two decades. The technology and the funding for diagnostic tools have increased significantly. This changed the role of the radiologist as well.

Better Collaboration
The need to develop better working relationships with the ordering doctors (those who order certain imaging tests) has significantly increased as well. As a result, a radiologist today is required to survey other specialists to guarantee the standard of procedure expected of them.

Their Unique Role
As the number of outpatients increase, radiologists need to contribute more to their care, especially when it comes to developing and maintaining well-functioning working relationships with referring doctors. A hospital department that wants to function well involves radiologists at every phases of the decision making process.

As an expert radiologist himself, Sim Hoffman welcomes these new challenges that require more and more from him and his fellow radiologists.

Sources:
https://www.advisory.com/research/imaging-performance-partnership/studies/2012/the-changing-radiologist-role
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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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