Road to Becoming a Y90 Authorized User (While in Training!)

In this episode, interventional radiologist Dr. Rakesh Ahuja and our host Dr. Michael Barraza continue the BackTable Trainee Series by discussing the meaning, benefits, and pathway for residents to become Y90 Authorized Users (AU).

The doctors discuss what it means to be an AU in interventional oncology, a rapidly growing field. The major benefit of Y90 licensing is that AUs can have the freedom to independently prescribe and administer customized doses to patients. Additionally, AU status can make a physician more marketable to private practices and it can allow them to perform cases on their own schedule. AU status is transferable to different sites and states, and it does not expire.

Dr. Ahuja speaks about eligibility requirements and emphasizes that trainees do not have to be board certified in radiology to start Y90 training. Supervised clinical training throughout an IR/DR residency will make most PGY-5 residents eligible to start the Authorized User training process. While this alternate pathway of Y90 Authorization can be faster than the traditional pathway (waiting until after board certification from the American Board of Radiology), it is important to work with local radiation safety officers to ensure that all eligibility and training criteria are met.