Radiology Expo Day: Developing a Framework for Increasing Interest, Awareness, and Understanding of Radiology Among...

Despite a growing interest in the field of radiology in recent years, the inclusion of women, underrepresented minorities, and first-generation practitioners in post-graduate training and leadership positions remains inadequate. Addressing these gaps is crucial for enhancing healthcare equity and outcomes, with targeted recruitment and inclusive practices identified as effective strategies for improving diversity in the radiology workforce. For schools without an integrated curriculum, focused Radiology Exposition Days and Workshops have proven effective in boosting interest. Although radiology outreach events are intended to increase student familiarity with and interest in the field, their effectiveness remains to be measured. To address this gap, the Radiology Interest Group (RadIG) at our institution organized a Radiology Exposition Day (RED) inviting medical students from across Southern California. We had three primary objectives: (1) to design and implement an event to foster an early interest in radiology among medical students; (2) to quantify changes in student familiarity with radiology, confidence in image interpretation, and interest in radiology through the use of pre- and post-event surveys; and (3) to use these findings to develop a reproducible, evidence-based update to the Association of Academic Radiology's (AAR) Medical Student Exposition Tool Kit.

The Radiology Interest Group at our institution organized a one-day Radiology Exposition Day (RED) to promote early exposure to radiology through lectures, hands-on workshops, and mentorship opportunities. Pre- and post-event surveys assessed changes in medical student familiarity with radiology, interest in the field, and confidence in image interpretation. Survey responses were analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests and thematic analysis.

Twenty students attended the event, and 17 completed both pre- and post-event surveys. Students reported significantly increased familiarity with radiology (p=0.02) and confidence in interpreting CT (p=0.03), MRI (p=0.02), and ultrasound images (p=0.01). Interest in pursuing radiology as a specialty significantly increased (p=0.04). No significant change was observed in perceived access to mentorship (p=0.38), though qualitative data highlighted persistent needs for mentorship, research opportunities, and financial support.

Our Radiology Expo Day effectively increased medical student familiarity, confidence, and interest in radiology. Our event successfully attracted students from diverse backgrounds, including a high proportion of first generation (76%) and URiM (29%) attendees. By increasing familiarity with and interest in radiology amongst this cohort, early exposure events like this one offer a promising model for engaging students historically underrepresented in radiology. Future iterations should strengthen mentorship components to address ongoing barriers.