Department of
Medical Education

Cara Lombard

Name: Cara Lombard

Board Certification: Yes, American Board of Radiology

Medical School: WVU

Residency: WVU

Faculty Rank: Assistant professor

Special Clinical/Research Interests: Abdominal imaging

Is there a particular population of students (e.g., ethnicity, spiritual, sexual orientation) that you would particularly like to advise?

No perference.

What does a typical day in the life of a radiologist include?

Being an abdominal radiologist, I read a variety of modalities every day. We see a lot of interesting cases here at WVU, so I am always problem solving and collaborating with my fellow radiologists and clinicians.

What is the biggest challenge of being a radiologist?

The difficult cases are the biggest challenge and sometimes the most fun part of the day. They push me to continue to learn and expand my knowledge.

How do you foresee radiology changing over the next 20 years?

I think we will continue to see new and improved imaging modalities with faster scan times and less radiation.

What advice would you give a student who is considering a radiology residency?

Spend as much time as you can in radiology but also in surgical specialties. Anatomy is a big part of radiology and there is nothing better than seeing it first hand. Understanding the surgeries and expected outcomes can make reading the follow up studies easier. Having a solid understanding of IT is also helpful as we are surrounded by and dependent upon technology.