Turf wars in radiology: the future of radiology depends on research--and on your support of it!

The private practice radiology community relies on academic radiology departments to (1) do research and make advances in imaging science, (2) justify reimbursement for those advances, and (3) train new generations of radiologists. This has been largely a one-sided arrangement, with the academic departments footing the bill and the private practice community deriving the benefits and pretty much getting a free ride. But academic radiology is facing a crisis, and the research productivity of our specialty is in jeopardy. Leadership in research is a crucial element in the effort to keep out untrained and inexperienced physicians from other specialties who are largely motivated by the desire for profit. Better support from private practice radiologists is badly needed to help their academic colleagues maintain that research leadership.