BackTable Vascular & Interventional

Ep. 551 Independent IR Practice: Opportunities and Challenges with Dr. Waqaar Diwan


Listen Later

What would you do if your IR/DR practice underwent major ownership and staffing changes just one week after signing your first attending contract? In this episode of BackTable, Dr. Waqaar Diwan joins host Dr. Michael Barraza to share his experience facing exactly that challenge—and how it led to the eventual development of his own independent IR practice.


---



This podcast is supported by:


RADPAD® Radiation Protection
https://www.radpad.com/
This podcast is supported by:


Medtronic Emprint
https://www.medtronic.com/emprint


---


SYNPOSIS


Dr. Diwan discusses how he navigated the unexpected transition of ownership and staffing changes, and ultimately secured a hospital contract that allowed him to perform IR procedures full-time. Since then, he has been building an independent IR practice with the support of his partner and a growing team.


Dr. Diwan shares his goals for the practice, including staffing and equipment logistics, strategic planning, and patient outreach. He emphasizes the importance of leveraging personal and professional networks to guide his business development.


He also outlines key differences between independent IR practices and combined IR/DR models. These include the need for greater investment in the outpatient experience, actively seeking referrals, and navigating hospital politics without the backing of a larger department. His top advice for building a referral base is to first earn trust—by excelling in straightforward cases and ensuring strong outcomes—and to market the practice directly to potential referring providers.


Overall, Dr. Diwan encourages early-career interventional radiologists to know their worth. He notes that in the real world, IRs are often seen as providers of “catch-all” services, making it crucial to ensure fair compensation. He stresses the importance of striking a balance between self-advocacy and humility, all while staying focused on serving patients.


---


TIMESTAMPS


00:00 - Introduction
01:42 - Navigating Contracts and Restructuring
8:07 - Upcoming Goals for His IR Group
14:00 - Strategic Planning and Marketing
20:16 - Compensation and Finances of Independent IR
27:38 - Future Plans and Market Trends
29:48 Advice for New Interventional Radiologists


---


RESOURCES


Minimally Invasive Specialists of Texas:
https://www.mist-health.com/

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

BackTable Vascular & InterventionalBy BackTable

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

133 ratings


More shows like BackTable Vascular & Interventional

View all
Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,227 Listeners

Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast by Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

1,302 Listeners

Pivot by New York Magazine

Pivot

9,120 Listeners

How I Built This with Guy Raz by Guy Raz | Wondery

How I Built This with Guy Raz

30,230 Listeners

White Coat Investor Podcast by Dr. Jim Dahle of the White Coat Investor

White Coat Investor Podcast

2,428 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

111,397 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,555 Listeners

The Daily Show: Ears Edition by iHeartPodcasts and Paramount Podcasts

The Daily Show: Ears Edition

14,244 Listeners

Money Meets Medicine by Doctor Podcast Network, Jimmy Turner MD

Money Meets Medicine

219 Listeners

The Passive Income MD Podcast by Peter Kim, MD

The Passive Income MD Podcast

280 Listeners

The Kinked Wire by Society of Interventional Radiology

The Kinked Wire

6 Listeners

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway by Vox Media Podcast Network

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

5,311 Listeners

BackTable MSK by BackTable

BackTable MSK

2 Listeners

Prof G Markets by Vox Media Podcast Network

Prof G Markets

1,039 Listeners

BackTable Tumor Board by BackTable Inc.

BackTable Tumor Board

0 Listeners