Letter from the Chair
James Carr, MD, Department Chair
2023 has been a year with much to celebrate here in the Department of Radiology at Northwestern University. We are proud to be part of a cutting edge clinical, educational and research institution that prioritizes care and inclusivity. Our community was thrilled to see that Feinberg School of Medicine is again one of the top medical schools in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. Northwestern Radiology’s program, ranked 16th, also received recognition among specialty programs. The Research section has had an outstanding year so far. Our department continues to climb the The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research rankings list, coming in at 18th this year. This is the highest our department has been ranked and I want to acknowledge the work that has gone into this latest milestone. Research proposals and awarded projects have steadily increased over the past several years which would not be possible without Vice Chair of Research Dr. Michael Markl’s team of faculty, trainees, and personnel. We look forward to purchasing and upgrading some of our advanced imaging research equipment with funds from a newly-awarded NIH S10 instrumentation grant. Equipment purchased will enhance pre-clinical research conducted within our imaging core. RICO has also been operational for a full year and is already highly successful at providing a solid infrastructure for performing clinical trials at Northwestern Medicine. This summer, our researchers will begin expanding the availability of clinical trials throughout the NM enterprise, making imaging services for clinical trials more accessible to patients. On the clinical side, our department continues to align Radiology services throughout Northwestern Medicine’s enterprise. Initiatives to provide enhanced Emergency Radiology services and to standardize imaging protocols throughout the system are well under way. This year we will also see some artificial intelligence tools becoming more closely integrated into the clinical workplace. These efforts, led by Dr. Alex Korutz and team, are highly collaborative with many internal and external partners involved. Our own research group has developed several AI tools designed to improve clinical accuracy and workflow efficiency. Dr Ulas Bagci continues to push the boundaries of AI, performing ground breaking research in the virtual reality space.
I am pleased to report that our educational programs have had a banner year. Our Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology residencies are welcoming cohorts of outstanding candidates. Applications for all of our programs increased significantly this year. More women radiologists matched to our programs than in previous years – something I am very proud to see. Gender equity in Radiology is a strategic priority for the department and we continue to make positive strides in this area. Northwestern Radiology has one of the best training environments in the country and will continue to operate at the highest level when educating students, residents and fellows to be future leaders in our speciality. The 2024 scholastic year will without doubt be a rewarding one. Thank you to Dr Senta Berggruen and all of the educational team for making Northwestern Radiology one of the top go to destinations for radiology training. Our department continues to advance concerted efforts around sustainability. Dr. Tarek Hijaz has formed a work group mapping out areas where we can lessen our environmental impact in healthcare and Radiology. There is no future without environmental action now, and we intend to lead the way when it comes to sustainability efforts in Radiology. Dr. Hijaz’s sustainability report is part of this issue and I invite you to read what his group has been able to accomplish both on the clinical and research sides. Radiology has increased its focus on wellness and life balance within the workplace. We have introduced a flexible work environment for faculty, trainees, and staff. Dr. Jeanne Horowitz’s work on wellness, mentorship and life balance in our department continues to be of immeasurable service as we continue to strive to be a top destination for Radiologists, trainees and staff to pursue their careers. We have much to do before the end of 2023 but I am enthusiastic about our ability to provide top-class services and meaningful change for all of our trainees, employees, and patients. Please enjoy this next issue of The Read from the Department of Radiology. Sincerely,
Cover image by Northwestern Radiology Cardiovascular MRI Group The Read | Volume 6 | Page 2
Department of Radiology
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