Taking the Lead 69: Mary H. Scanlon, MD, FACR: Persistence, Purpose, and Preparing the Next Generation

Join host Geoffrey Rubin, MD, MBA, FACR, for an engaging conversation with Mary H. Scanlon, MD, FACR, Professor of Clinical Radiology, Vice Chair of Education, and Director of Emergency Radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. A long-time residency program director and past president of the Association of Program Directors in Radiology (APDR), Dr. Scanlon reflects on her inspiring journey—from growing up around horses and a veterinary clinics on the Philadelphia Main Line to becoming a fierce advocate for resident well-being and educational innovation.

In this episode, Dr. Scanlon opens up about managing dyslexia, overcoming challenges as one of the few women in her residency class, pioneering MRI interpretation at Albert Einstein Medical Center, and her eventual transition to leadership roles at the VA and Penn.

A candid and compelling storyteller, she shares how she supports residents through life’s most difficult moments, how she's preparing the next generation for the era of AI, and how even something as simple as asking about dentist appointments has become part of her whole-person approach to residency leadership

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation with a leader who’s as fiercely committed to patient care and education as she is to authenticity and resilience.

Behind the mic: When choosing her career path, Dr. Scanlon was considering either a chief or doctor, and she chose doctor because she thought the hours would be better. She’s not sure that panned out well!

Outside of work, Dr. Scanlon loves Este a Greek restaurant, which serves her favorite grill fish and langoustines. She has a fabulous disabled dog, Auggie the Doggie, who has congenital cerebellar ataxia. He doesn’t walk, he rolls from place to place and needs to be carried! She loves his great spirit—he falls down and gets right back up!

Dr. Scanlon loves to boat on the Chesapeake or Penns Landing when the weather is nice. On rainy days, she likes to make a fire and binge watch Oscar movies. Still to do on her bucket list is to sail around the Greek Islands.