As imaging gets crunched between government efforts to cut healthcare costs and a vacillating U.S. economy, it can be hard to determine the state of the radiology job market. Its future health, however, may depend more on public relations, according to an article in the July issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.  

Salaries for both radiologists and radiologic technologists (RTs) in the U.S. fell in 2011, according to new salary data from AuntMinnie.com. Meanwhile, radiology administrators appear to be improving their economic lot, reporting six-figure average salaries for the first time.  

The number of first-year students enrolled in radiologic technology programs in 2011 remains relatively steady compared to 2010, according to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.  

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) has announced that it is the initial organizational sponsor of the new Advanced Cardiovascular Sonography professional career designation, offering senior-level cardiovascular sonographers a new pathway for career advancement.  

The Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section (SNMTS) has relaunched its Professional Development and Education Fund to support the advancement of molecular and nuclear medicine technologists through clinical excellence and optimal patient outcomes.  

The American Board of Medical Specialties has approved the field of clinical informatics as a new subspecialty for physicians, according to an announcement made by the American Medical Informatics Association.  

The vacancy rate for radiologic technologists has dropped to 2% in 2011, the eighth straight year it has declined, according to a new report from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.  

The future of radiology may be bright -- there is that big crowd of aging baby boomers just waiting to be imaged, after all -- but the future for radiologists is uncertain, according to a presentation at the recent AHRA meeting in Grapevine, TX.  

Salaries for diagnostic radiologists decreased 1.6% in 2010 but still improved for the five-year period between 2006 and 2010, according to the Medical Group Management Association's (MGMA) 2011 Physician Compensation and Production Survey.  

In the past, having specialized radiology knowledge wasn't crucial to providing excellent patient care. Now, the bulk of a radiologist's day can cover CT, MR, and PET -- and whether general radiology even has a place in the clinical care continuum has come under debate.  

The median salary for first-year postresidency or fellowship radiologists in the U.S. was $350,000 in 2010, according to a new report by the Medical Group Management Association.  

Pricing Information (.pdf)