Views of Radiology Program Leadership on the Impact of Resident Unionization

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Administration
• Labor Relations in Medicine

Background:

• Medical residents are increasingly seeking to unionize for better compensation and working conditions.
• The implications of resident unionization on medical education and program administration remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the perspectives of radiology program directors regarding resident unionization.
• To understand the perceived impacts of unionization on resident education and program management.

Main Methods:

• A 24-item survey was distributed to members of the Association for Program Directors in Radiology (APDR).
• The survey included questions on demographics, program characteristics, and Likert-scale assessments of unionization's impact.
• Ordinal regression was used for subgroup analysis.

Main Results:

• A 26% response rate (63/247) was achieved, with most respondents being program directors at academic, urban institutions.
• A majority of program directors agreed that unions complicate their roles, particularly in resident remediation and feedback.
• Most respondents believed unions positively impact residents' voices and benefits, with mixed views on salaries and faculty relationships.

Conclusions:

• Radiology program directors generally view resident unionization negatively, citing concerns about feedback, remediation, and faculty relationships.
• Directors believe unionization does not negatively affect resident well-being or educational quality.
• Unionization is perceived to improve resident compensation, benefits, and advocacy opportunities.