“We have emerged from the pandemic a little worse for wear, but wiser from the experience,” said RSNA President Mary C. Mahoney, MD.
“If we take the lessons we learned from the COVID-19 crisis — adaptability, empathy, patient-centeredness, diversity, equity, inclusion, civility, unity — and apply them in our everyday lives, we can redefine radiology as a value-based, service-oriented specialty that sees patients for who they are — our partners,” she said during her President’s Address in the Arie Crown Theater Sunday.
Mahoney
The trials of COVID-19, present-day lessons and discoveries, and the need to provide opportunities, improve representation and remove barriers were the focus of a lecture that included an optimistic view of radiology’s future.
Reflecting on the early days of the pandemic, Dr. Mahoney recalled that radiology departments faced staffing shortages, hiring freezes and a revenue loss resulting from a pause in noncritical imaging studies. With little time to prepare, leaders hurried to develop safety protocols while researchers deferred work, and patients put their health care on hold.
“The pandemic opened our eyes to a myriad of issues in our profession, from workflow inefficiencies and staffing vulnerabilities, to stark inequities in patient access to our care,” she said.
Radiology professionals were compelled to rethink and reimagine what they do, how they do it and what truly mattered.
According to Dr. Mahoney, some patient populations were particularly vulnerable.
“Health care inequities were laid bare when, because of location, lack of insurance or transportation, fear of losing their jobs or even mistrust of the medical establishment, people were unable to access the critical care they needed,” she said.
However, amid the crisis, Dr. Mahoney said she was inspired by the way the radiology community came together. She highlighted an array of opportunities and initiatives created by RSNA that have helped radiologists worldwide navigate the obstacles of the pandemic and set the stage for future progress in the profession.
“It is critical that we engage with our colleagues near and far to find global solutions to the challenges that face the medical imaging community,” Dr. Mahoney said.
Elevating the Role of Radiology
Dr. Mahoney acknowledged that despite radiology’s ever-present importance in every patient’s medical journey, radiologists continue to fight for recognition for the critical role they play in health care.
“It is important that we understand the importance of our role in a value-based system and leverage the tools that enhance our ability to provide subspecialized expertise to patients, the medical community and the public at large,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of imaging technology innovation and noted the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in opening new avenues for radiologists. “By using technology to improve our workflows, we are then free to focus on what really matters — our patients,” Dr. Mahoney said.
After acknowledging the negative effects of isolation during the pandemic, Dr. Mahoney outlined a future in which radiologists are more proactive, find new and better ways to engage with colleagues, communities and patients and work more nimbly, mindfully and empathically.
“We also need to ensure that our academic and society leaders reflect the diverse community we represent,” Dr. Mahoney said, adding, “We should identify and remove the barriers to underrepresented minorities and provide opportunities to advance and succeed in all radiology subspecialties.”
Access the presentation, “Redefining Radiology: The Road Ahead,” (S5-PL01) on demand at Meeting.RSNA.org.
