Women in Radiology: How These Visionaries are Revolutionizing the Industry

Radiology is a medical specialty that uses imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI, and ultrasound to diagnose and treat diseases. In recent years, more and more women have been entering the field of radiology and making a significant impact. Here are some successful contemporary women in radiology who are making their mark:

  1. Dr. Hedvig Hricak: Dr. Hricak is a world-renowned radiologist and researcher. She is the Chair of the Department of Radiology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and has held leadership positions in several professional organizations, including the RSNA, the American College of Radiology (ACR), and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). Dr. Hricak has also received numerous awards for her contributions to the field of radiology, including the RSNA Gold Medal and the ACR Gold Medal. She was a pioneer in proving the clinical utility of MRI in the diagnosis of prostate, kidney, and gynecological cancers, and she is now engaged in cutting-edge research. To better comprehend molecular and anatomic tumor characteristics, her lab at the Sloan Kettering Institute's Molecular Pharmacology Program combines imaging with genomic and other data.

  2. Elizabeth Krupinski is a professor and researcher in medical imaging, with a focus on the development and evaluation of diagnostic imaging technologies. She has published over 250 research articles and has been recognized for her contributions to the field with numerous awards. Dr. Krupinski is an experimental psychologist whose areas of interest include human aspects in radiology and telemedicine, observer performance, medical decision-making, and medical image perception. Her work aims to advance our knowledge of the perceptual and cognitive processes behind the interpretation of medical images in order to minimize errors, enhance training, and enhance the reading environment, all of which will lead to better patient care and results.
  3. Dr. Carol Rumack: Dr. Rumack is a pediatric radiologist and researcher who has made significant contributions to the field of ultrasound imaging. She is a professor of Radiology at the University of Colorado and has served as the President of the Society for Pediatric Radiology and the RSNA. Dr. Rumack has also received numerous awards for her contributions to the field of radiology, including the Gold Medal from the Society for Pediatric Radiology and the Presidential Citation from the RSNA.

  4. Dr. Etta Pisano: Dr. Pisano is a breast imaging specialist and researcher who has made significant contributions to the field of mammography. She is a professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School and has held leadership positions in several professional organizations, including the ACR, the RSNA, and the American Association for Women Radiologists (AAWR). Dr. Pisano has also received numerous awards for her contributions to the field of radiology, including the Gold Medal from the ACR and the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Award from the AAWR. Dr. Pisano is known for leading landmark clinical research trials, including the Digital Mammography Screening Trial (DMIST) and the ongoing Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST). Dr. Pisano is the Chief Research Officer of the American College of Radiology, the first woman to hold this position.

  5. Dr. Anne G. Osborn: Dr. Osborn is a neuroradiologist and researcher who has made significant contributions to the field of brain imaging. She is a professor of Radiology at the University of Utah and has written several textbooks on neuroradiology that are widely used by radiologists around the world. Dr. Osborn has also received numerous awards for her contributions to the field of radiology, including the Gold Medal from the RSNA and the Gold Medal from the American Society of Neuroradiology. Diagnostic Imaging: Brain Osborn wrote with Karen L. Salzman, is one of 7 books listed under the heading "fundamentals" that the American Association of Neurological Surgeons says that medical students and residents interested in a career in neurosurgery should review.

  6. Dr. Maryellen L. Giger: Dr. Giger is a researcher and educator who has made significant contributions to the field of computer-aided diagnosis in radiology. She currently holds the title of A.N. Pritzker Distinguished Service Professor of Radiology and is a member of the Committee on Medical Physics at the University of Chicago. She has co-founded Quantitative Insights, Inc., whose product, QuantX, is the first FDA-cleared, machine-learning-driven system to aid in cancer diagnosis. In 2019, QuantX was named one of TIME magazine's inventions of the year. She is well renowned for being an expert in digital signal processing, digital image processing, and computer-aided diagnostics. Dr. Giger holds membership in the National Academy of Engineering as well as being a recipient of various awards and fellow recognitions.

  7. Dr. Ruth Carlos is a radiologist and professor at the University of Michigan who specializes in abdominal and pelvic imaging. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and has received numerous awards for her contributions to the field of radiology. Dr. Carlos is also a champion of diversity and inclusion in medicine and has worked to promote the advancement of women and underrepresented minorities in radiology.

    Dr. Carlos's research has focused on improving the accuracy of imaging techniques for diagnosing and monitoring abdominal and pelvic diseases, such as liver cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. She has also been involved in the development of new imaging technologies, such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound, which can improve the detection of liver cancer.

  8. Dr. Bonnie Joe, MD, PhD, is a Professor in Residence and Chief of Breast Imaging in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco. Developing a breat imaging program was a natural progression of Dr. Joe’s research interest in breast MRI, female pelvic MRI, and fetal MRI. 

    Dr. Joe is a member of the UCSF Executive Research Council. She is a leader in advancing imaging-based approaches to breast cancer diagnosis, earlier detection, and reduction of disease recurrence and improved survival. For several years, Dr. Joe has led a multi-disciplinary research team in the search of MR detectable biomarkers of fetal lung maturity.

  9. Dr. Judy Wawira Gichoya, MD, MS, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Gichoya is a multidisciplinary researcher, trained as both an informatician and an Interventional radiologist.

    Dr. Gichoya is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute. She holds professional memberships with Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine and American Medical Informatics Association. Dr. Gichoya was recognized as the 2021 Most Influential Radiology Researcher by the radiology community website AuntMinnie.com.

  10. Dr. Linda Moy is a radiologist and the Director of the Radiology Breast Imaging and Intervention Service at NYU Langone Health. She is also a professor of Radiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Moy has been recognized for her work in developing AI-based tools for breast cancer screening and diagnosis. She has received awards such as the Outstanding Investigator Award from the National Cancer Institute.

About the author - Andra Bria

Andra Bria is a marketing manager at Medicai. She is interested in health equity, patient experience and value-driven care pathways. She believes in interoperability and collaboration for a more connected healthcare industry.