Dr. Carla Ramas reflects on her unconventional path to radiology and how the specialty has allowed her to build a fulfilling career at Radiology Partners (RP) with balance outside of medicine.
Dr. Carla Ramas is a remote body radiologist based in South Florida. She joined Matrix at RP, the internal remote radiology practice of RP, in December 2020. Outside of work, Dr. Ramas enjoys the outdoors, visiting the beach, traveling, photography and spending time with her family.
We talked to Dr. Ramas about why she chose Matrix, her passion for supporting the radiologist experience, and her excitement about shaping the future of radiology through MosaicOS™.
Tell us about why you chose radiology.
Interestingly enough, radiology was not on my radar when I started medical school about 20 years ago. I went into medicine thinking I would become a surgeon. Then, during fourth year of medical school, I did a radiology elective and was surprised by how much I loved it, but thought it was too late to change course because I was already headed into surgery. During my general surgery internship though, I realized surgery was not the right fit for me, and I started thinking, “This does not have to be it. Maybe there is a way to switch into radiology.” I sent out my CV and emailed radiology program directors to explain my situation, but there were no open spots. Then, during my last month of internship, a radiology program director reached out and said someone in his program was leaving radiology to switch to surgery. I interviewed, and he offered me the spot right then. I did not waste any time. My general surgery internship counted as my preliminary year, and I went straight into radiology. It was honestly one of the best decisions I have ever made. I love radiology, I love what I do, and it has allowed me to build a fulfilling career while still having a personal life outside of medicine. To me, it is the best of both worlds.
What drew you to your subspecialty?
I felt like body imaging was an extension of what interested me in general surgery. That’s the part of the anatomy that I enjoy: the body. During my radiology residency, one of my mentors was a body imaging specialist, and I admired him and learned so much from him. I think having a mentor really helps shape what your interests turn out to be.
How did you connect with RP?
I knew early on that I wanted to do teleradiology. I wanted my own life outside of medicine, which was an important lesson I learned during my surgery internship, so I looked into teleradiology right out of fellowship. When I started, I did mostly deep overnights, which was the biggest need in teleradiology at that time; there was little daytime work. I started getting burnt out with the deep overnight schedule and wanted to switch to days. One of my friends worked at Matrix and said they had daytime positions available, and that’s what prompted me to make the move. I interviewed with Matrix, and I liked everything I heard. That was over five years ago.
What do you like about Matrix?
The best thing about Matrix is the people I work with. My co-radiologists, the support team and the leadership are amazing. I love coming to work and hopping onto Teams where we have our group chat, sharing interesting cases. You never feel alone or isolated, which was one of the biggest concerns I had about doing teleradiology.
As a radiologist at RP, you’re a user of MosaicOS. What does that mean for you as a practicing radiologist to have the ability to help shape the tools you will be using to try to keep up with the future?
I think it is wonderful. I like being part of something that is helping move radiology forward. AI is going to be an important part of our future, and I think radiologists have an opportunity to help shape how it is used in a way that truly supports our work and improves patient care. We have seen major changes in the field before. When I started residency, people were still using hard films and transcriptionists, and now digital imaging and voice recognition are simply part of how we practice. Mosaic feels like the next evolution. What is exciting to me is that radiologists are not just using Mosaic; we are influencing how it works. That means the tools can be designed around the realities of our day-to-day work, helping us become more efficient, more focused and better able to deliver high-quality radiology services for the patients and referring providers who depend on us. It is a powerful tool, and I look forward to seeing how it continues to evolve.
What excites you about utilizing Mosaic in your daily practice?
I think it is incredibly promising because it is already making a difference in practical, everyday ways. For example, if I am dictating a body case and identify an incidental liver lesion, I used to have to go to a separate screen, find the appropriate American College of Radiology (ACR) guideline and copy it into the report. With Mosaic, that step is built into the workflow. I describe the finding, include the measurement, and when I process the report, the appropriate guideline is automatically added into the impression. That may seem like a small thing, but it takes a significant mental load off the radiologist. It helps reduce extra steps and saves me time. It frees up my mental energy so I can stay focused on the case in front of me. That is what excites me most: seeing technology support the way we actually practice and help us deliver clear, consistent, high-quality reports for patients and referring providers.
What would you tell a radiologist who is considering joining Radiology Partners?
If somebody is considering joining RP, I would encourage them to look into it, talk to our radiologists and see the practice for themselves. One of the greatest strengths of RP is the depth and breadth of subspecialty expertise across the practice. As a body imager, there are certain cases I do not routinely read, like MSK MRI. At RP, I have colleagues on shift who are specialty trained in those areas. The same is true in reverse: if an MSK radiologist has a body MRI, I can read that case. That kind of support matters because it helps ensure each study is interpreted by the radiologist best suited for that case. To me, that is ultimately about delivering the best radiology care for patients. We can provide the most accurate, high-quality reports because we have a large, collaborative group with a wide range of specialties.
What would you say to encourage a young medical student to go into radiology?
I think it’s important to shadow a radiologist. Radiology is one of those behind-the-scenes specialties where a lot of lay people don’t even know about us. They think the ER doctor is the one reading their images. But we are the doctor’s doctor. We’re the ones they go to when they have questions about the studies. That’s an invaluable role. So for the right person and the right personality, I think radiology is one of the best specialties you can go into, and it allows you to enjoy medicine and have a personal life.
What are those hobbies and interests that you get to enjoy?
I live in South Florida, so I love the outdoors, the beach/ocean. I like fashion, photography and good food, and I like to travel. I’ve always had dogs – bull terriers – and I love being at home and being able to spend time with them. They’re great assistants, just sitting in the back snoring while I’m reading cases. I have a 7-year-old daughter, and we love going to the pool, beach and parks. Orlando, the Florida West coast and the Florida Keys are close by, so even staying within Florida, there’s a lot for us to do, and we always try to do a lot with her. We’re always outdoors, trying to enjoy the weather.
Dr. Carla Ramas earned her medical degree from SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine; completed her general surgery internship at NYU, her radiology residency at Winthrop University Hospital, and her body imaging fellowship at Stanford University.
Radiology Partners, Inc., through RP Clinical Services and its managed practices, together with Mosaic Clinical Technologies, Inc., its technology and AI division, is the leading provider of technology-enabled radiology services in the U.S., serving more than 3,400 hospitals and other healthcare facilities with high-quality radiology, technology and artificial intelligence solutions. As a physician-led and physician-owned practice, our mission is to transform radiology by innovating across clinical value, technology, and service, while elevating the role of radiology and radiologists in healthcare. For the latest news from RP, follow along on our blog and on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Interested in learning about career opportunities? Visit our careers page.
