Semin intervent Radiol 2018; 35(05): 363-364
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676330
Editorial
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Thank you, IR

Charles E. Ray Jr
1   Department of Radiology, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, Illinois
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
05 February 2019 (online)

I spent a good part of this evening signing thank you letters to donors, followed by working on the final edits for this issue of Seminars. Perhaps those letters have put me in somewhat of a reflective mood, or at least one that is more appreciative of things given to me. It occurred to me as I did these two tasks tonight that I haven't really paused to reflect on our field of IR, and why it is that I feel so grateful for what I do on a daily basis. So, in the spirit of the season, here is a list of why I am thankful for IR.

I get to go to a job that I love every day.

I get to be involved in the most cutting field in all of medicine.

I don't have to be pinned down to one type of pathology, one imaging modality, or one body part.

I'm grateful that I got into the field when I did—since there is no way in hell I'd get in now.

I'm not a lawyer.

I have been given opportunities in academic medicine that someone with my skillset shouldn't expect.

I have been exposed to wonderful, talented colleagues in other fields of medicine.

I was introduced to my wife. Well, wives, really—but I don't want to talk about it.

My best friends are IRs.

I feel like a valued part of a team doing incredible things for patients.

I can't ever get bored at work.

I have a skillset that is translatable to so many things.

I'll never have to worry about financial well-being for myself or my family.

I've been around the world, learning and teaching.

There are many other reasons for my feeling grateful for this field in which we all live, but they are truly TNTC. Let me just say that every day I am privileged to be in this field, I feel more and more fortunate. And if I feel this way about the past and present, I can't possibly tell you how fortunate and grateful I feel for my future in IR.