RSNA 2017: Is it time to reinvent radiology?
As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, the time until RSNA 2017 dwindles. With Chicago anticipating yet another highly attended annual meeting, more than 54,000 of the Radiological Society of North America's members and committees located in 144 countries are preparing to travel to the Windy City for the latest and greatest in radiology and medical imaging.
From Nov. 26 to Dec. 1, Chicago's McCormick Place will be the world's radiology and health imaging hub. Health Imaging had the opportunity to talk with RSNA President and professor of radiology and Blanche R. & Richard J. Erlanger Professor of Medical Research at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., who denotes the power of RSNA's annual meetings as "radiology in full force". He explained to RB what attendees should expect at this year's annual meeting and the question he prepares to pose during his President's Address on Nov. 26, entitled "Is it Time to Reinvent Radiology?".
"I'll be reflecting on where radiological inventions came from and what is it about our science that has this result with breakthrough technologies," Ehman said. "I think they're underrecognized, so one of the things that I'd like to do is draw attention to observations of progress in our field."
Until 1972, the only means of radiological technology was a basic ultrasound. Additionally, the advantage of imaging technology compared to pharmaceuticals and other diagnostic treatments and innovations is how quickly it advances into clinical practice. Furthermore, with the contributions computed technology (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have made to medicine, clinicians and their patients can't imagine going about their clinical practice without it, Ehman explained. He believes that recognizing and celebrating these innovations is the key to reinventing radiology and progressing the field into the future.
"Our science, radiology, and our investigators are the people who brought to medicine that come from the physical sciences, mathematics and engineering," Ehman told RadiologyBusiness. "Radiology is a specialty of medicine that is based on a singular invention and discovery, which probably no other area of medicine that is based on a singular discovery," Ehman said.
For the entire RSNA 2017 program and registration information, click here to learn more.
A recent graduate from Dominican University (IL) with a bachelor’s in journalism, Melissa joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering all aspects of health imaging. She’s a fan of singing and playing guitar, elephants, a good cup of tea, and her golden retriever Cooper.