Why are medical physicists, some of the most highly trained problem-solvers in healthcare, drowning in basic, repetitive regulatory work?

In this conversation, Dr. Thomas Griglock breaks down the systemic challenges behind Level 1 task overload, from equipment testing to compliance workflows. He explains how the increasing volume of imaging studies, shrinking workforce pipelines, and continuous new technology adoption have collided to create a time crisis. And in a world where AI is touted as the future of radiology, Tom reveals why most health systems still struggle to implement meaningful automation.

Drawing from his experience in academia, clinical physics, and industry, he shares candid insights on burnout, workforce shortages, and how misaligned decision-making at the leadership level creates costly mistakes. Tom argues that without rethinking time, staffing, and training, AI will continue to fall short, not because the tech isn't ready, but because the people who need to oversee it no longer have the bandwidth.

What You’ll Learn:

Why Level 1 regulatory tasks dominate physicist workloads
How stress and burnout come from being pulled away from meaningful, higher-level work
Why new technology doesn’t automatically save time, and often adds more
How workforce shortages limit AI adoption and advanced imaging capabilities
The downstream cost of leadership decisions made without consulting key stakeholders
Why training and education pipelines will determine the future of imaging innovation

Chapters:

[00:00] Introduction — Technology, Stress, and Workflow
[04:27] The Reality of AI Tools in Clinical Practice
[08:00] Why New Tech Often Increases Work Instead of Reducing It
[14:53] Understanding Level 1 Tasks in Medical Physics
[20:30] Burnout, Bandwidth, and the True Cost of Time
[26:53] Leaving Academia and the Mid‑Career Reality Check
[34:19] Workforce Shortages and What’s Actually Possible
[43:32] Theranostics, Photon‑Counting CT, and Training Needs
[49:43] Leadership, Vendors, and the Responsibility to Support Change
[55:29] Closing Thoughts — Why Time Is the Ultimate Limiter

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Why Medical Physicists Are Drowning in Level 1 Tasks (And What It Means for AI Adoption)