Douglas G. Burnette Jr., MD, CFP®

The culprit for the worldwide shortage of barium? Government regulation. But when markets are allowed to work, price reflects reality.

Considering the advances in our craft, radiology should be the most admired specialty in modern medicine. But we are often considered with contempt.

Many physicians don’t consult an expert when it comes to their finances. Focus on practicing medicine, and leave financial health to a wealth manager.

The current political rhetoric about controlling the costs of health care can only mean one thing: decreased reimbursement.

The way radiology reports are generated has certainly changed since I began my radiology residency in the Navy in the late ‘70s.

Ultra-fast multi-slice CTs, speech recognition, and teleradiology - this is not my grandmother’s radiology. But will there be a granddaughter’s radiology?

Based on my personal experiences in the Navy, I have grave concerns about the government’s ability to manage a complicated system like health care.

Shift changes and Fridays at the hospital seem to positively correlate with “stat” requests in our radiology department.

There are many things we as radiologists cannot control. But with careful planning, I found a second career that fueled my passion and generated an income.

Adding 30 million people to the health care system means longer waits, de facto rationing, and people still in the emergency room.

Facing a physician shortage, why not force the ones left to live where they work without the distractions of family or friends, similar to cloistered monks?

From changing the way we practice our specialty to using a comprehensive, wealth management approach to plan our way to financial independence, there are things we can do in this tough environment.