RLI Taking the Lead Podcast

Taking the Lead 36: Reed A. Omary, MD, MS, FACR: A Leader Who Really Cares

July 29, 2021
In this episode, Reed A. Omary, MD, MS, FACR, the Carol D. and Henry P. Pendergrass Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville, Tennessee, shares his journey from immigrating to the United States from Damascus, Syria at the age of one, to growing up in northern Virginia and deciding to follow his brother’s lead and pursue his BA and MD degrees from Northwestern University’s six-year Honors Program in Medical Education.

You will learn what led Dr. Omary to Vanderbilt after 12 years at Northwestern and how he has approached his role as Chair of the Board for the Vanderbilt Medical Group, and co-lead of the Medical Center’s strategic planning efforts. As president elect of the Association of University Radiologists (AUR), he shares his vision for the 2022 Annual Meeting’s theme of sustainability, climate change and radiology and his belief that we all have the opportunity to make a difference with the choices we make. 

Dr. Omary is passionate about viewing challenges through a variety of lenses and soliciting input from both inside and outside of radiology and in 2018 launched a podcast called Innovation Activists that addresses some of health care’s biggest challenges. 

In this episode he recounts how at the age of seven, a Cracker Jacks prize ignited his passion to understand the world through science, how “being fluent in the language of connecting with others” from a young age has guided his approach to leadership and the important role that mentorship has played in his career (listen in to learn what he gives all of his mentees!)

Finally, he shares why acting and improv have been as important to his development and personal fulfillment as anything he’s ever done.  Don’t miss this special episode with Dr. Reed Omary who is a passionate proponent of healthcare, innovation, and fostering the next generation of radiologists and healthcare leaders through inspirational and supportive leadership.

Taking the Lead Episode 35: Brent Wagner, MD, MBA: Leaving Things Better

In this episode, Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, shares his leadership journey from the Philadelphia suburbs to his current role as Executive Director of the American Board of Radiology (ABR) in Tucson, AZ.

Taking the Lead Episode 34: Amy K. Patel, MD: Leading for Access

What does the WWE, the Kansas City Chiefs and voice lessons have to do with being a radiology leader? Join host Geoffrey Rubin, MD, MBA, FACR, and guest Amy K. Patel, MD, medical director for women's imaging at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri and assistant professor of radiology at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, to find out!

Taking the Lead Episode 33: Lawrence R. Muroff, MD, FACR: Leading for a Bright Future

April 23, 2021
Join host Geoffrey Rubin, MD, MBA, FACR, and guest Lawrence R. Muroff, MD, FACR, immediate past CEO & President of Imaging Consultants, Inc., Adjunct Clinical Professor of Radiology at both the University of Florida and the University of South Florida Colleges of Medicine, and President Emeritus of Educational Symposia, Inc., as they trace Dr. Muroff’s remarkable leadership journey from 6th grade safety patrol to one of the most highly sought after professional practice consultants for radiologists, hospitals, and corporations today.

Taking the Lead Episode 32: Ruth C. Carlos, MD, MS, FACR: Leading from Her Happy Place

March 19, 2021
In this episode, host Geoffrey Rubin, MD, MBA, FACR, and guest Ruth Carlos, MD, MS, FACR, professor of radiology and the assistant chair for clinical research at the University of Michigan, discuss Dr. Carlos’ serendipitous journey from the Philippines as a pre-teen to the United States where she received both her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Chicago. She shares how that journey to the US shaped how she approaches opportunities, why she almost quit medical school and what excites her so much about the future of radiology.

Taking the Lead 31: James P. Borgstede, MD, FACR: Leading with Impact

February 18, 2021
Join us for an inspirational conversation with James P. Borgstede, MD, FACR, professor and vice chairman of radiology at the University of Colorado, as he shares his remarkable journey from paper boy in Edwardsville, IL (which financed the purchase of an engagement ring!) to his impressive distinction as being the only person to have served as past president of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), the International Society of Radiology (ISR), the American College of Radiology (ACR), the American Board of Radiology (ABR), the Colorado Physician Health Program and the Colorado State Board of Medical Examiners.

Taking the Lead 30: Giles W. Boland, MD, FACR: Leading Innovation

January 21, 2021
In this episode, host Geoffrey Rubin, MD, MBA, FACR, and guest Giles W. Boland MD, FACR, discuss Dr. Boland’s fascinating, multi-continental, non-traditional journey from his early days in Scotland and South Africa, to completing medical school and residency in London, to his current role as President of the Brigham and Women’s Physician Organization.

Taking the Lead 29: Cheri L. Canon, MD, FACR, FAAWR, FSAR: Leading with Passion

December 17, 2020
In this episode, host Geoffrey Rubin, MD, MBA, FACR, talks with Cheri L. Canon, MD, FACR, FAAWR, Professor and Witten-Stanley Endowed Chair of Radiology at the UAB School of Medicine, member of the UAB Medicine Joint Operating Leadership Council, current President of the Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments (SCARD) and MOMENTUM, a Birmingham women’s leadership organization and co-creator of LEAD, a women’s leadership development program jointly developed by SCARD and GE Healthcare, about overcoming the strong forces of traditional gender roles to become a champion of women's leadership within radiology.

Taking the Lead 28: Ezequiel “Zeke” Silva III, MD, FACR, FSIR, FRBMA, RCC: Leading by Example

November 19, 2020
In this episode, Ezequiel “Zeke” Silva III, MD, FACR, member of the board of directors and interventional radiologist at South Texas Radiology Group in San Antonio, TX, shares his journey from medical school and residency at Baylor College of Medicine to his recent appointment as Chair of the AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee (RUC), Chair of the ACR Commission on Economics and Co-Chair of the AMA Digital Medicine Payment Advisory Group (DMPAG). He recounts how his passion for science led him to pursue a career in medicine and how his desire to contribute to the specialty has shaped his focus on payment policy and quality initiatives in radiology.

Taking the Lead 27: Johnson B. Lightfoote, MD, MBA, FACR: Representative Leadership

October 22, 2020
In this inspiring episode, Johnson Lightfoote, MD, MBA, FACR, Medical Director of the Department of Radiology at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, and current Chair of the ACR’s Commission for Women and Diversity, talks about how his parents’ emphasis on education shaped his early years and how this focus led him to attend high school at Andover Phillips Academy and eventually Harvard University for both college and medical school.

He recalls the transformative nature of these educational experiences in light of the civil rights movement, student activism around the Vietnam War and conversations that are still being held today around social equity and healthcare inequality.

The importance of representative leadership is the foundation of Dr. Lightfoote’s leadership philosophy and has guided his many leadership roles in both organized medicine and his practice.

During his conversation with Taking the Lead guest host, Geraldine McGinty, MD, MBA, FACR, Dr. Lightfoote shares some experiences from his time in the National Health Service Corps in Tuskegee, what led him to radiology and makes him most hopeful about the specialty, and even the story around how the “e” was added to his last name.