{"id":7492,"date":"2024-10-17T08:54:26","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T12:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/?p=7492"},"modified":"2024-10-17T09:00:53","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T13:00:53","slug":"meet-dr-samuel-ostrum-exploring-a-career-in-radiology-at-unc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/2024\/10\/meet-dr-samuel-ostrum-exploring-a-career-in-radiology-at-unc\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Dr. Samuel Ostrum: Exploring a Career in Radiology at UNC\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Dr. Samuel Ostrum, Assistant Professor of Abdominal Imaging at UNC, has had a dynamic journey leading him to academic medicine. He received his medical doctorate from Ohio State University in 2017. He completed his Diagnostic Radiology residency and an Abdominal Imaging Fellowship from Duke University. Dr. Ostrum returned to the state after working at Vanderbilt University, drawn by personal ties and the vibrant academic opportunities in the Triangle. In a recent interview, Dr. Ostrum shared his journey to UNC Radiology, his interest in academic medicine, and his thoughts on AI for workflow enhancement.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What attracted you to UNC Radiology?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A Return to Roots<\/em><\/strong> Dr. Ostrum reflected on the sense of home that North Carolina had become for him: \u201cI lived here for five years for residency and fellowship. I left for a job opportunity but wanted to come back because North Carolina had become home.\u201d His parents living in Chapel Hill played a significant role in his decision, and UNC\u2019s academic environment provided the perfect platform for a young faculty member eager to grow. \u201cIt\u2019s an excellent place for early staff to learn, grow, and experience an academic medicine environment at a tertiary medical center,\u201d Dr. Ostrum noted. Being only a year out of training, the mentorship and collaborative atmosphere at UNC made it a natural fit for his next career step.<\/p>\n

Why did you decide to pursue medicine and, eventually, abdominal radiology Imaging?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Path to Medicine and Radiology<\/em> <\/strong>For Dr. Ostrum, the path to medicine was a natural progression influenced by his family\u2019s strong involvement in the field. \u201cI gravitated toward the sciences in high school and college,\u201d he explained. But it wasn\u2019t just the love of biology that inspired him. It was the application of that knowledge in helping people.<\/p>\n

He found his calling in radiology during medical school, where the combination of technology and diagnostic problem-solving intrigued him. \u201cAs a physician, I could prescribe medications or perform surgeries, but providing someone with a diagnosis so they can start the treatment process\u2014that\u2019s what drew me in.\u201d His passion for abdominal imaging was sparked by the challenge of diagnosing conditions like cholecystitis and appendicitis, which allowed him to use problem-solving skills to help patients and referring physicians find a clear treatment path.<\/p>\n

Why academic medicine?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Choosing Academic Medicine<\/em><\/strong> Unlike many of his peers who entered private practice, Dr. Ostrum chose academic medicine for its variety. \u201cI love the teaching aspect,\u201d he shared, noting that teaching keeps him constantly learning and staying up-to-date. The interaction with residents and fellows enriches his work, fostering a team environment where everyone learns from one another. \u201cSelfishly, it helps me become a better radiologist,\u201d he admitted. Dr. Ostrum\u2019s love for teaching stems from his passion for education and the constant pursuit of knowledge.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople want different things from their careers. For me, it\u2019s more than just dictating reports. I wanted a career where I could learn and teach,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Are there any medical advances you would like to see in the next five years in Radiology or in your subspecialty?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Future of Radiology <\/em><\/strong>When asked about future advances in radiology, Dr. Ostrum quickly pointed to artificial intelligence (AI) as the field\u2019s most significant frontier. \u201cIt\u2019s all AI these days,\u201d he remarked. While many discussions focus on AI\u2019s diagnostic potential, he\u2019s more interested in how it could enhance workflow processes. \u201cI\u2019d like AI integrated into our EMR and PACS to make obtaining patient histories, prioritizing cases, and streamlining the reading process easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing radiology?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Advice for Aspiring Radiologists <\/em><\/strong>For those considering radiology as a career, Dr. Ostrum advises spending time in the reading room to understand the environment and what day-to-day work in radiology looks like. \u201cRadiology is a lot different than other specialties,\u201d he said. Gaining a strong clinical background and passively absorbing the qualities of radiology is essential for those exploring the field.<\/p>\n

If you could give your younger yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Looking Back <\/em><\/strong>Reflecting on his journey, if he could offer one piece of advice to his younger self, it would be to focus on relationships. \u201cLearning and studying are important, but the people you meet along the way will be the most meaningful.\u201d From medical school to residency and beyond, he emphasized the importance of developing relationships alongside honing clinical skills.<\/p>\n

If you could pick the brain of someone alive or dead, who would it be and why?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Looking Forward <\/em><\/strong>If given the chance, Dr. Ostrum would love to have a conversation with Wilhelm R\u00f6ntgen, the pioneer of X-rays. He took the first X-ray photograph of his wife’s hand and is considered the founder of radiology. R\u00f6ntgen’s discovery was a scientific sensation, and scientists around the world were able to replicate his experiment. \u201cI\u2019d talk to him about radiology and see what he thinks about how far it\u2019s come. Did he ever imagine in his wildest dreams how much the specialty has grown?\u201d<\/p>\n

What do you do when you aren’t working?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Life Outside of Medicine <\/em><\/strong>Outside of his work, Dr. Ostrum enjoys being active and spending time outdoors, especially after hours spent in the reading room. \u201cI like going to the gym and I\u2019m trying to get back into running. I spend so much time indoors that I am trying to spend more of my free time outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

What would it be if you could have one superpower, and why?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Power of the Mind<\/em><\/strong> Dr. Ostrum also has a playful side, admitting that if he could have any superpower, it would be telekinesis. But not mind-reading: \u201cThat\u2019s too much power. I\u2019d rather just be able to move things with my mind and stay on the couch!\u201d<\/p>\n

In speaking with Dr. Ostrum, his passion for radiology, teaching, and continuous learning is clear. UNC Radiology is lucky to have him as part of our team.<\/p>\n

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Dr. Samuel Ostrum, Assistant Professor of Abdominal Imaging at UNC, has had a dynamic journey leading him to academic medicine. He received his medical doctorate from Ohio State University in 2017. He completed his Diagnostic Radiology residency and an Abdominal Imaging Fellowship from Duke University. Dr. Ostrum returned to the state after working at Vanderbilt … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83776,"featured_media":7466,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"layout":"","cellInformation":"","apiCallInformation":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[83,91],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-department-news","category-homepage-news","odd"],"acf":[],"featured_image":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1384\/2024\/10\/AI_OstrumSam_web.jpg","featured_image_medium":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1384\/2024\/10\/AI_OstrumSam_web.jpg","featured_image_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1384\/2024\/10\/AI_OstrumSam_web.jpg","featured_image_large":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1384\/2024\/10\/AI_OstrumSam_web.jpg","featured_image_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1384\/2024\/10\/AI_OstrumSam_web-150x150.jpg","featured_image_alt":"Sam Ostrum headshot, young man smiling at camera wearing a black suit, white shirt and dark red tie.","category_details":[{"name":"Department News","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/category\/department-news\/"},{"name":"Homepage News","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/category\/homepage-news\/"}],"tag_details":[],"_links_to":[],"_links_to_target":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/83776"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7492"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7492\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}