“Do nuclear medicine specialists do radiology work? ”

Yes and no. Yes in that all radiologists get some degree of nuclear medicine training. However, it is subpar to what nuclear medicine specialists receive. Nonetheless, because healthcare is now such that paying a specialist has become too inexpensive, a radiologist can state that s/he reads nuclear imaging. Some radiologists actually do a fellowship and become boarded in nuclear medicine as well. There’s also a nuclear medicine competency that radiologists used to be able to obtain, but I’m not sure if that’s still offered.

No in that some nuclear medicine specialists are just trained in nuclear medicine, meaning they competed a 3 year residency in this modality. The job market for this type of physician has dropped precipitously low to the point that it is unwise to go this route if nuclear medicine is your interest. Nuclear medicine only residencies are actually closing in the US because graduates year after year for the last several years have entered an essentially jobless market.

Hope this helps!

Nuclear Medicine started as a division of pathology. A separate nuclear medicine specialty became available in the early 1970’s. Those early practitioners still around for the most part were nuclear specialists only. With time nuclear medicine doctors started doing some radiology studies such as CT. Many nuclear medicine specialists now are board certified radiologists as a dedicated nuclear medicine specialist is fading by the wayside. I was a nuclear medicine physician who learned to interpret CT scans. For those considering NM, radiology is the way to go. There is now a program for radiology residents to do nuclear medicine in their senior year and become board certified in both. Good luck.