Developing Advocacy Skills in Breast Radiologists

Advocacy is an essential skill for all breast radiologists, and yet, few if any have formal training in how to be effective. Developing such skills allows breast radiologists to promote improved patient access to indicated imaging, secure resources to support evidence-based care, and advance one’s own career. Skills that are key to effective advocacy fall into 5 pillars: leadership, communication, branding, media and social media, and legislative engagement. In this article, we identify these critical skills and provide resources to help breast radiologists become better advocates for their patients, the profession, and themselves.