Abstract No. 72: Private Equity in Interventional Radiology: Analyzing Shifts in Practice Structures and Clinic Responsibilities
The interventional radiology employment landscape is always changing, especially as private equity (PE) involvement grows—and as PEs become more prevalent, there is a need to ensure that the field adapts while maintaining a focus on high-quality patient care, according to the authors of Private Equity in Interventional Radiology: Analyzing Shifts in Practice Structures and Clinic Responsibilities, one of the SIR 2025 Featured Abstracts.
Rahil R. Patel
“The field of medicine, including IR, has seen significant shifts driven by PE's increasing presence,” said Rahil R. Patel, a medical student at the George Washington University School of Medicine. Patel and his team were inspired to delve into the topic to ensure that the field remains adaptable and continues to prioritize optimal patient care while navigating these changes.
“By understanding how PE affects practice structures and clinic responsibilities, we can better prepare IR for a sustainable and thriving future,” Patel said.
The study, which screened the American College of Radiology (ACR) and SIR Career Center employment portals over a 4-month period in 2023, identified 289 unique IR-related job listings—44.3% of which were affiliated with a PE group.
Researchers also looked closely at how practice structures and clinic responsibilities compared between PE-affiliated and non-PE listings. One key difference they found was in dedicated clinic time; non-PE listings more often listed dedicated clinic time as part of the job posting (45.3% vs. 32%).
The research also revealed variations in practice settings. Among PE listings, the majority were hospital-based nonacademic (53.1%) or hybrid (39.1%), with a smaller proportion in outpatient settings (7.81%). In contrast, non-PE groups had a higher proportion of outpatient practices (23.6%).
Looking ahead, Patel's team plans to expand their dataset and analyze trends longitudinally to capture the evolving influence of PE over time. They also aim to broaden their scope by examining overarching trends across different practice types, focusing on procedural variation and other clinical responsibilities.
“To ensure the study aligns with the needs of IRs and future trainees, we aim to gather feedback from applicants and trainees to identify the types of information most relevant to them,” said Patel, adding that they also hope to collaborate with employment portals to incorporate this additional information.
The IR job landscape is dynamic and constantly adapting to broader changes in healthcare, Patel says, and understanding these shifts—whether driven by PE or other forces—is essential for preserving the integrity and growth of IR.
“Our work is a call to action for continued research and advocacy to ensure IR remains at the forefront of innovation while prioritizing high-quality, patient-centered care,” Patel said. “We hope our findings inspire others to investigate these critical topics and contribute to the field’s long-term success.”
Patel will present these findings at SIR 2025 on Sunday, March 30, at 3.p.m. during the Practice Development, Economics, and Quality 1 session.
