Radiologist’s congressional bid sprints forward

The odds that Stephen Ferrara, MD, will become the first radiologist elected to the United States Congress have improved. On Friday, the interventionalist reported his campaign raised more than $250,000 in its first eight weeks—possibly a record for a first-time candidate in his state, Arizona.

In a press release sent by RADPAC, the American College of Radiology Association’s bipartisan political action committee, Geraldine McGinty, MD, chair of RADPAC and vice chair of ACR’s board of chancellors, applauds Ferrara’s successful launch.

“The radiology community enthusiastically supports Dr. Ferrara as a physician, a health policy expert and someone whose life-long commitment to service means that he will be an effective advocate for our patients in Washington,” McGinty says. “We’re delighted to see his campaign off to such a strong start.”

Ferrara, a war veteran who presently works at the Phoenix VA and earlier served as chief medical officer of the Navy, recently spoke with RadiologyBusiness.com about his reasons for running and his hopes for bringing a rad’s perspective to Washington. Click here to read the interview and here for Ferrara’s campaign website.

 

Dave Pearson

Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.

Around the web

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.