HCB News: What is your most memorable experience of your time as president? RA:Certainly, being part of the RSNA centennial celebration has been a remarkable experience, providing insights into our history and a glimpse at what the future holds for our specialty. The centennial celebration began at RSNA 2014 and will culminate at the conclusion of RSNA 2015, marking the 100th anniversary of the Society’s founding. But I also should mention that serving on the board of directors of the RSNA and serving as president has allowed me the opportunity to work with an outstanding group of fellow board members and RSNA staff.
HCB News: What challenges are RSNA members facing today? RA:Trying to convert from a volume-based practice to a value-based one is perhaps the greatest challenge facing not only RSNA members, but radiologists across the globe. However, it is not an insurmountable obstacle. We must adapt and evolve with the changing face of health care. One priority must be the elimination of waste in the health care system. If we improve the efficiency of health care delivery, we can improve the patient’s experience throughout the continuum of care.
HCB News: What opportunities are on the horizon? RA:Innovation and informatics have been vital to the advances seen in radiology and, specifically, in RSNA initiatives. I expect that this trend will continue. Precision medicine will play a huge role in health care in the coming years, and will open up new opportunities for utilization of advanced imaging modalities, such as PET/MR and MR spectroscopy.
HCB News: What are members requesting the most from their association? RA:With the health care system in a state of flux and radiology undergoing an unprecedented transition to a new model of care, members want their association to provide the tools, education and opportunities to allow them to navigate the changing tide and to excel in their field. RSNA provides its 54,000 members worldwide with a unique mix of global collaboration and networking opportunities, research support and advancement, access to top peer-reviewed journals, a wide array of educational opportunities and standardization of medical information sharing that will allow them to deliver optimal care to their patients.
