American College of Radiology elects 1st Black president in its nearly 100-year history

Renowned imaging expert Beverly G. Coleman, MD, has been elected as president of the American College of Radiology. She is the first African American to be named to this position in the organization’s nearly 100-year history.

Coleman brings her experience as the first director of fetal imaging at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment. She sat on the ACR Board of Chancellors from 2014 to 2020 and is a former president of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound.

“There is no greater accomplishment in my very lengthy academic radiology career than the ascension to the position of president of the American College of Radiology,” Coleman said Tuesday. “I am proud to take this historic step and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues at ACR to make radiologic care better for those we serve.”

A handful of additional officers were elected during the ACR’s annual meeting.

James V. Rawson, MD, is set to serve as the organization’s vice president. He’s currently director of the Radiology Outcomes Research Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

The ACR elected Amy Kotsenas, MD, to its council speaker position. Kotsenas is an associate professor of radiology at the Mayo Clinic.

Dana H. Smetherman, MD, MPH, MBA, will assume the role of secretary treasurer. She is the chair of Oschner Medical Center’s Department of Radiology in New Orleans.

Timothy A. Crummy, MD, rounds out the group as the newly elected council vice speaker. He is currently an associate medical director of SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.

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Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.

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