RAD Women (#RADxx), a networking group for the advancement of women in imaging informatics, announced the winners of the 2nd annual RADxx Awards. Winners and honorable mentions of the RADxx Trailblazer, Advocate, Champion, and Rising Star Awards were unveiled at a cocktail reception sponsored by Ambra Health during the annual RSNA conference. The outstanding individuals who have helped to lead the way for women in medical imaging informatics are as follows.
RADxx Trailblazer: Dr. Nina Kottler
Dr. Nina Kottler is a practicing radiologist and Vice President of Clinical Operations at Radiology Partners (RP). As the first radiologist in this practice, she helped create a deconstructed PACS platform that is being used and expanded upon as their practice grows. She also runs RP’s internal teleradiology service, serves on RP’s Clinical Value Team, AI Committee, and much more.
RADxx Advocate: Dr. Nabile Safdar
Dr. Nabile M. Safdar is the Vice Chair for Imaging Informatics and an Associate Professor at Emory University. He has been a speaker at major professional and scientific conferences and serves on numerous committees at the national level, including the American College of Radiology IT and Informatics Committee, American Board of Radiology IT Advisory Committee, and the American Roentgen Ray Society Research Committee. Dr. Safdar has mentored numerous trainees and faculty and, through his leadership of the National Imaging Informatics Curriculum alongside last year’s #RADxx award winner Dr. Tessa Cook, is enabling residents across the country and across the world to develop the informatics skills they will need to succeed.
RADxx Champion: Laura Coombs
Laura Coombs is the Senior Director of Informatics and Data Science Institute at the American College of Radiology (ACR). She has a Ph.D. in Statistics from Oklahoma State University and has been a key expert in the development of the ACR’s registries. Her work in the establishment of the Data Science Institute has been foundational in enabling safe appropriate data science solutions for patients.
Rising Star: Dr. Lindsey Shea
Dr. Lindsey Shea is a Radiology Resident at Indiana University who has already distinguished herself as an emerging leader in Imaging Informatics. She has presented multiple scientific presentations at SIIM and is part of the leadership team of the Resident/Fellow Committee. In addition to her work at SIIM, Dr. Shea is part of the ACR Data Science Institute serving on the Non-interpretive Panel and the Reading Room Facing subpanel. Dr. Shea’s growing influence in informatics is evidenced by her being asked to give a plenary talk at this years RSNA on social media and helping to lead an RSNA journal club on machine learning/artificial intelligence. Through her work, Dr. Shea has been an advocate for change and improvement through informatics.
The RADxx Awards recognize the achievements of women in the field of medical imaging informatics, as well as anyone— both men and women— who have supported the career advancement of women in medical imaging informatics. Informatics is a fast-growing discipline within healthcare as new technology and increased amounts of patient data converge. Applying that practice to medical imaging requires additional expertise that bridges the gap between patient care, physician workflow, imaging operations, and technology solutions. Award winners were selected by the RADxx executive committee from eligible submissions.
