Meeting MI—Graduation Edition: Dr. Taehoo Kim

#MeetingMI offers the Department of Medical Imaging the opportunity to meet the members of MI and learn about their experience in their own words, starting with the next generation of radiologists: MI Residents and Fellows.

Name: Taehoo Kim
Pronouns: She/her
Residency Training Program name & PGY or Fellowship name: PGY-6, General pediatric radiology program
Hospital site: SickKids

1. How would you describe your overall experience in MI’s pediatric residency program?
It was a roller coaster ride. You begin the journey full of excitement, then find yourself unable to get off whether you like it or not. Finally, it is over before you even realize it and only the best memories linger in your mind. It was extra fun to be on the ride with awesome colleagues and would do it all over again.

2. What drew you towards pediatric imaging over other subspecialties?
You never get bored when working with the pediatric population. A baby boy might pee on your hand during a scrotal ultrasound, or a five-year-old girl might refuse to leave the CT room until she gets a sticker of Elsa on her hand. But no matter what happens, you can never get upset with them!

3. What is the biggest lesson you learned during residency?
It is okay to say ‘I don’t know.’ Last July, as a newly minted PGY-6/fellow, I felt like I had to have an answer to every question—whether it was from a medical student shadowing me, a consultant coming down to see me, or an attending radiologist during rounds. But now, I’m no longer ashamed to acknowledge that I do not know everything, and I encourage others to help me find answers. I really value that sense of teamwork.

4. What are your next steps as a pediatric radiologist after graduation?
I will be working as a general pediatric radiologist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa. But first, please wish me luck on the upcoming Royal College exam in pediatric radiology.

5. What would you tell future residents wanting to learn pediatric imaging?
Pediatric radiology was one of my least favourite subspecialties during radiology residency, as I made so many mistakes on-call (e.g. calling the not-yet-ossified patella an ‘absent patella’ on a knee radiograph of a 2-year-old). So, I asked for an extra month of pediatric imaging rotations and after-hour shifts to improve. That is how I fell in love with this unique subspecialty only later in my PGY-3 year, but it was never too late to apply for a fellowship. I hope residents keep an open mind and stay curious about pediatrics, instead of being intimidated by them!