The European Society of Radiology (ESR) and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) have extended their cooperation in order to fortify the position of diagnostic and interventional radiology and to attract more clinically oriented medical students to radiology.
In the first stage of the initiative, ESR and CIRSE will send out a joint survey early this year on the state-of-the-art and current practice of interventional and diagnostic radiology. The goal is to identify synergies and ultimately optimize patient care.
Current CIRSE President Dr. Elias Brountzos said the societies want to support medical students and radiology residents in their ambitions to become interventional radiologists or radiologists with a special focus and experience in interventional radiology. They also want to shape future training models so that their future colleagues embrace clinical responsibilities and feel comfortable to pursue clinical management of patients, he said. The societies would like to concentrate on establishing and improving functional referral routines in hospitals.
As part of the collaboration, ESR said it has added additional clinical and patient-care-related aspects of interventional radiology to its Curriculum for Undergraduate Radiological Education as well as an update of CIRSE's input in its subspecialization curriculum. The revised versions of both curricula will be published on the ESR website in the spring. CIRSE also noted its European Curriculum and Syllabus for Interventional Radiology is currently being updated and the second edition will be released early this year.
In other future plans, CIRSE aims to have increased collaboration with ESR's European Union and International Affairs Department. The two societies also plan on having joint courses and society booths at major radiological events to further communicate that diagnostic and interventional radiology belong together. Moreover, the societies said they will work together on strategic issues to promote the subspecialty of interventional radiology and meet on a regular basis to improve communication and further deepen their links.
Chairperson of the ESR Board of Directors Dr. Katrine Riklund said she believed the increased commitment of both societies will benefit greatly both patient care and the radiological community.
The ESR also supported CIRSE's application to become a member of the European Cancer Organization (ECCO). The ESR joined ECCO in May 2016, CIRSE followed in November.
