Her Shift to a ‘Day Job’ Took Years of Work
By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager
2024;18(2):9
There are career changes and there are career changes. Two decades ago, ABR volunteer Adina Alazraki, MD, made a huge switch in her work life.
After completing training and working in the emergency room as an urgent care physician at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Dr. Alazraki rebooted her career with the goal of becoming a diagnostic radiologist. In 2003, eight years after starting her pediatrics residency, she started anew as a radiology resident.
“I decided I needed a day job,” said Dr. Alazraki, a radiology and pediatrics professor at Emory University School of Medicine and director of pediatric radiology at the Arthur M. Blank campus of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “I couldn’t see myself doing primary care pediatrics. I decided to pursue radiology and I’m really glad I did.”
The career adjustment meant five more years of training at Emory University School of Medicine, where she had completed her pediatrics residency. In the process, she had to refamiliarize herself with an aspect of medicine that she hadn’t studied in a while.
“It had been seven years since I had done adult medicine,” said Dr. Alazraki, who also completed a pediatric radiology fellowship at Emory. “The hardest part was going back and relearning adult medicine. As a radiology resident, for example, you learn to read adult chest imaging, you learn prostate imaging, and you read all aspects of breast imaging.”
Fortunately, her career change happened in a familiar environment. She has been affiliated with Emory since starting medical school there in 1991. Spending three decades building a good reputation makes her a reliable resource in her new role.
“Having relationships already established, I became the pediatrician’s radiologist,” she said. “They knew me and were aware that I knew what they were looking for. I value those relationships. Being trusted by your referrers brings a higher level of job satisfaction.”
The change to radiology was a long time coming. Dr. Alazraki’s mother and stepfather were nuclear radiologists. She said her mother has always been her role model, making the career switch a little more familiar.
“She loved her job and was a leader in the world in nuclear medicine,” Dr. Alazraki said. “She started in the field as it was beginning. That was an influence on me. Her passion translated to me, and I never felt abandoned by her work.”
Dr. Alazraki’s path to becoming an ABR volunteer started when she worked for Board of Governors member Stephen F. Simoneaux, MD, when he was division chief and director of pediatric radiology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She said he often would stress the importance of volunteering to his colleagues.
Dr. Simoneaux said he’s pleased that Dr. Alazraki was listening, because she brings a unique viewpoint to discussions as a member of the DR Qualifying Exam Nuclear Radiology Committee.
“Dr. Alazraki is an exceptional radiologist whose expertise in abdominal imaging and nuclear radiology is well known locally and nationally,” Dr. Simoneaux said. “Her ability to bring the clinical perspective as a pediatrician is an added benefit. In her volunteer work on the nuclear radiology committees, her knowledge of both molecular imaging and pediatric radiology is greatly appreciated and not easily duplicated.”
One of the many reasons Dr. Alazraki volunteers for the ABR is her commitment to continuing education. She proves that by remaining board certified by the ABR and the American Board of Pediatrics and participating in the Continuing Certification programs offered by both organizations.
“Lifelong learning is something I thrive on,” she said. “Even learning adult nuclear medicine from my colleagues on the committee is an example of more continuous learning. Being at Emory and Children’s Healthcare also affords me the ability to be a lifelong learner.”
A commitment to learning and desire to contribute to their disciplines inspires ABR volunteers. They benefit from being around their peers and creating exams that accurately challenge their younger colleagues’ skills and knowledge.
“When you serve as a volunteer, you’re doing it for the development of future generations and making sure that the graduating trainees are well educated,” Dr. Alazraki said. “At the heart of it, everyone who’s a volunteer is an educator. What brings us joy is knowing that we’re contributing to that education.”
