Aparna Singhal, MD, has had many conversations with her children about what she does as a radiologist. And questions her children have had about the field have led to more questions about what mom does at work.
“Depending on their age, it’s hard to get into details with them without having an actual resource,” said Singhal, associate professor of neuroradiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
These talks with her kids inspired Singhal to author a children’s book that introduces young audiences to the field, titled "ABCs of Radiology for Kids." The 42-page book introduces young kids to radiology through simple imaging terms and colorful, family-friendly illustrations of scanners and imaging procedures.
Aparna Singhal, MD, wrote ABCs of Radiology for Kids with the intent of introducing the field to children and perhaps inspiring them to pursue careers in science and medicine.UAB
As the title implies, the book provides simple definitions of commonly used radiology terms in alphabetical order while also showing examples of what children can expect when they attend an imaging exam. The book also explains basic human anatomy and physiology, as well as how imaging tests are used on different body parts.
“I’ve always encouraged a love of reading in my kids, and while searching for books for them, I used to come across these specialized topic books, even for babies, and that would make me wish that there was such a book for radiology,” Singhal said.
Singhal talks about what inspired her to write "ABCs of Radiology for Kids."
Singhal has been at UAB since 2014. Before, she completed her medical school training from Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, India and later joined the University of California, Los Angeles’ Department of Radiology as a postdoctoral research scholar. She also served as chief resident in Bridgeport, CT. At UAB, Singal previously served in leadership roles as director and section chief of the university’s Neuroradiology Fellowship Program.
Singhal said she was inspired to pursue a career in medicine out of an interest in the sciences and in helping people. During her clinical rotations in medical school, she developed an interest in radiology.
“It plays such a central role in modern medicine. For nearly every disease, radiology opens the answers to what’s going on and what’s wrong and knowing how to help a patient get better,” Singhal said. “Early on, what also appealed to me was that as a radiologist, you need to learn about the whole body from head to toe. I always love learning, so needing to know the depth and breadth of so many pathologies was a big draw point for me.”
Singhal added that she “loved the problem-solving aspects” of medicine, including “listening to someone's problems, putting the pieces together and figuring out what is really going on.” This aspect also drew her to radiology.
“Ultimately, medicine is about being present for people in some of their most vulnerable moments and using my learning and knowledge to make a difference in their lives was quite powerful to me,” Singhal said. “So, this blend of science, problem solving, and meaningful human impact is what drew me in and keeps me going."
Singhal talks about what she hopes children and parents can take away from her book, including when it comes to career choices.
She added that the book could be a way for children, especially girls, to become interested in the field or pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It could also be a way for people to figure out what can be fulfilling toward students’ interests when carving out their own career paths, she said.
“If I can get even one kid, especially a girl, curious enough to look into radiology or medicine or any science field from a career perspective, I think that’ll be a great reward,” Singhal said.
ABCs of Radiology for Kids is available in both hard copy and e-book form.
