Interventional Radiology: Treatments You Didn't Know Exist with Dr. Matthew Hawkins, MBA
What if some of the treatments you need… don’t require surgery at all?
In this episode of Take Care, Melody Mulaik sits down with Dr. Matthew Hawkins, a board-certified interventional radiologist, to explore a powerful yet often overlooked field in medicine.
Interventional radiology uses imaging modalities such as X-rays, ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI to perform procedures inside the body with few to no incisions.
That means:
- Less pain
- Faster recovery
- Fewer hospital stays
If you’ve never heard of this before, you’re not alone. And that’s exactly why this conversation matters.
What You’ll Learn:
- What interventional radiology is and how it works
- The surprising range of conditions it can treat
- Why are many patients never told about this option
- How to ask your doctor about minimally invasive procedures
- The role of interventional radiology in cancer care and pain management
- What to do if there’s no specialist in your area
- How pediatric patients benefit from these treatments
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction to Dr. Matthew Hawkins
[01:00] What is interventional radiology?
[02:00] Common procedures and real-life examples
[03:00] Why IR isn’t widely known
[04:00] How patients can find IR specialists
[06:00] Interventional oncology and cancer treatment options
[08:00] Pain management and palliative care
[09:00] What to do if there’s no specialist nearby
[10:00] Telemedicine and remote consultations
[12:00] Pediatric interventional radiology explained
[14:00] Conditions that require specialized care
[15:00] A day in the life of an interventional radiologist
[17:00] The future of interventional radiology
[19:00] Final advice for patients and caregivers
Resources Mentioned:
- Society of Interventional Radiology – Find an interventional radiologist near you
- Connect with Dr. Matt on LinkedIn
