Imaging alliance names new chairman; UC Davis welcomes radiology leader, and more executive news
The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance on Monday announced that Michael Wendt will serve as the organization’s board chairman beginning Jan. 1.
Wendt is currently senior vice president of customer services at Siemens Healthineers and will replace Dennis Durmis, senior vice president of Bayer Radiology, Americas Region, who will continue serving on MITA’s board.
“It’s an honor to be elected MITA board chairman,” Wendt said in an announcement. “The role of medical imaging technology in informing patient care, supporting treatment decisions and driving innovation will only continue to grow, and I’m proud to help lead MITA’s advocacy and other efforts as the voice of this vital sector.”
MITA also elected Todd McNitt, senior vice president of health systems sales for Philips North America, to its board of directors. McNitt brings more than 25 years of sales and strategy experience to the alliance, including a senior leadership role with General Electric.
Pediatric society delivers top honors
The Society for Pediatric Radiology recognized Steven Don, MD, for his innovative work in digital radiography and imaging with its 2020 Pioneer Award, the organization announced on Monday.
Don, an associate professor of radiology and pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, worked to create digital imaging for pediatric applications while minimizing harms through reduced radiation exposure.
Early in his career, he developed an x-ray quality assurance tool simulating a newborn’s chest to gauge minimum radiation dose requirements without sacrificing image quality. Now commercially available, the tool is considered the industry standard. He also holds two patents related to his work in digital imaging.
UC Davis Radiology welcomes new chair
Elizabeth Morris, MD, has been selected as chair of the Department of Radiology at the University of California, Davis.
Morris, who recently announced the move on Twitter, comes over from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she was chief of breast imaging services.
She also served as president of the Society of Breast Imaging from 2015 to 2017 and still operates as the Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine’s first equity officer.
American Society of Clinical Oncology fill out leadership roles
ASCO on Monday announced a number of new physicians joining its organization, including Eric P. Winer, MD, who will serve as its president for the term beginning in June 2022. He will take office as president-elect during ASCO’s annual meeting this upcoming June.
“I am deeply honored to be named president-elect of ASCO and serve our members who are committed to improving patient care around the world,” Winer said in a statement.
The oncology group also elected three new board members who will begin their four-year terms in June. They include Gladys I. Rodriguez, MD, vice president of clinical research at South Texas Oncology and Hematology; Taofeek K. Owonikoko, MD, PhD, director of thoracic oncology at Emory University’s Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology; and Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, MD, MSc, associate professor in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Here are more radiology leadership announcements in short order:
- The Oregon Board of Medical Imaging hired Monica Breedlove as its vice chair beginning in January.
- Ryan Boggs, MD, has been tapped by St. Joseph Children’s Hospital in Tampa Bay, Florida, to enhance pediatric cardiac MRI care at the institution.
- The American Society for Radiation Oncology named Sue S. Yom, MD, PhD, as the new editor-in-chief of its Red Journal, known formally as the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics.
- Envision Healthcare, one of the nation’s top medical groups, announced that Henry Howe will be taking over for Wes Booysen as interim CFO of the organization. Sean Tussey also joined Envision this month as chief accounting officer after Kenneth Zongor announced he would be stepping down.
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.