Northwestern Faculty Serve as Radiology Leaders
Drs. Michael Markl, Frank Miller, Robert Lewandowski, and Helena Gabriel
It is an honor for any department to have a faculty member elected to a leadership position in a professional society, but in 2024-25 our department will have four. Having four such leaders in one department speaks not only to the quality of faculty within the Department of Radiology, but also to each person's own engagement with the scientific community, their expertise in the field, and their true commitment to service. Our department is proud to support such leadership in the field of radiology.
Helena Gabriel, Incoming President of The Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU)
Dr. Gabriel recalls her early experience in residency, describing ultrasound as the most challenging part of her training. "It was an area I wanted to tackle and master,” she says. She credits her inspiration to Dr. Albert Nemcek, current faculty and the Director of Ultrasound at Northwestern at the time, who played a pivotal role in fostering her passion for ultrasound and interventional ultrasound. Following this, Dr. Gabriel pursued fellowships in breast imaging and body imaging at the University of Michigan, where she was fortunate to have mentors who supported her interest in ultrasound, breast imaging, and MRI.
"When I was a young attending at Northwestern, doing both breast and body imaging, I was asked to direct ultrasound," Dr. Gabriel explains. This opportunity solidified her path and deepened her commitment to the field of ultrasound. Since Dr. Gabriel started in the field, she says it has changed in every way possible: technology, volume, workflow: “There are so many exciting areas of research in ultrasound these days such as elastography, quantitative ultrasound, and contrast enhanced ultrasound.”
Dr. Gabriel began to engage more deeply with the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU) by giving talks and being involved in committees. The vision statement of the SRU is to be the premier society for the practice and growth of high-quality ultrasound in radiology. This society is passionate about the quality, practice, education and research involving ultrasound. It has a strong mentorship component and has had great influence in her career.
Dr. Gabriel also became involved in some of the SRU consensus statements. "The SRU consensus statements have real impact in clinical practice by suggesting protocols, methodology and management of various pathologies and their ultrasound diagnoses. Significant SRU consensus statements include carotid artery stenosis, thyroid nodules, adnexal cysts, diagnostic criteria for first trimester nonviability, elastography, deep venous thrombosis, soft tissue masses, gallbladder polyps, endometriosis, and most recently, first trimester pregnancy lexicon.”
Dr. Gabriel has also been very active in the American College of Radiology (ACR) Ultrasound Practice Parameter and Technical Standards Committee, which works closely with the SRU, serving as Vice Chair last year and Chair of the committee this year. Commenting on the committee’s integral role in the practice of ultrasound, Dr. Gabriel stated, “The committee’s efforts have had real impact in guiding people as to how the field of ultrasound should be performed and practiced. This committee assures a level of quality in ultrasound practice nationally.”
She has also been a fellow of the SRU for twelve years, a significant honor that provides the opportunity to become a more integral member of the society and to present her research in special fellows' meetings. In her experience, some of the best educators, mentors and lecturers in radiology are fellows of the SRU. "People give collegial critique in order to improve their research," Dr. Gabriel noted, highlighting the supportive mentorship aspect of the society.
Dr. Gabriel was subsequently invited to join the SRU board, where she is currently serving as treasurer. "It’s a five-year commitment," she says, "and I’m currently treasurer. Next year I’ll be vice-president, and the following year president."
Dr. Gabriel highlights a significant change that was made to the SRU last year. "We made a change to make membership available to sonographers and physicists," she explains. "Until then, membership had only been open to radiologists in ultrasound. This makes the organization more inclusive and vibrant, and it adds different perspectives to the practice and research of ultrasound." She is committed to expanding this initiative further.
She also offers one piece of advice to new attendings and trainees: “Get involved in radiology service, i.e. organizations. Yes, you are very busy. This will take extra time. You won’t get paid for it. But the benefits are significant. I recall learning this lesson from Dr. Reed Dunnick, the Radiology Chair at the University of Michigan, who was passionate about service, urging and helping his trainees to get involved. He and Dr. James Ellis also had an incredible impact on my career. Getting involved leads to connections, helps in research, allows one to see other perspectives from other institutions, and leads to life-long friendships that will enrich your career immeasurably. That is what the SRU and ACR did for me!”
Dr. Robert L. Lewandowski, President of The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR)
During Dr. Lewandowski's surgical internship, he observed interventional radiologists (IRs) collaborating with vascular surgeons to develop endovascular treatments for patients with arterial diseases. Reflecting on this experience, he says, "I was drawn in by the elegant, image-guided, minimally-invasive alternatives to traditional surgical treatments."
He quickly developed a passion for the benefits these procedures offered to patients, recognizing their potential to revolutionize care. "My decision was cemented by the innovative and collegial nature of those practicing IR," Dr. Lewandowski notes, citing the field's creativity and teamwork that ultimately influenced his career choice.
Dr. Lewandowski reflects on the significant advancements in Interventional Radiology (IR) over the past 30 years, noting how the field has continually evolved. He highlights the advancements in equipment, imaging, and procedures that have transformed IR into a key player in treatment. "IR no longer just supports treatments but can even be a replacement for other disciplines," Dr. Lewandowski explains. IR specialists now perform procedures such as placing stents, balloons, and embolization materials, which involve blocking an artery to stop blood flow or deliver medication. IR is increasingly used in treatments for conditions throughout the body.
Dr. Lewandowski has always felt inspired to volunteer his efforts to strengthen his specialty. He has been involved with the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) throughout much of his career, but his commitment deepened in 2014 when he was invited to join the Scientific Annual Meeting Committee (AMC). That was a four-year commitment, developing the structure and agenda of that annual event.
Chairing the 2017 AMC allowed Dr. Lewandowski to collaborate with colleagues, SIR staff, industry partners, and other physician volunteers. About this pivotal moment, he says, "I was struck by the talent and passion that exists within our specialty and society. When my time on the AMC ended, I sought other volunteer opportunities within the SIR, which has led me to my current position."
Dr. Lewandowski's top priority as SIR President is to continue the ongoing efforts to advance the specialty in a unified and responsible manner. "This involves a consistent collaborative approach with my colleagues in leadership," he explains, "as we pursue the evolution of our specialty from a procedural discipline to a clinical specialty providing image-guided therapies for patients within a longitudinal clinical practice."
Dr. Michael Markl, President of The Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR)
Dr. Markl says his journey into medical imaging began during his PhD in physics. An opportunity in this field sparked his interest, despite initially knowing little about it. Dr. Markl was particularly captivated by the heart's physiology, noting, "The heart as an organ is such a well-synchronized system from an engineering perspective." He emphasizes the importance of understanding how the heart can fail and how early detection can aid in managing cardiovascular disease.
The multi-modal nature of cardiovascular imaging, which includes a range of technologies such as echocardiography, computed tomography (CT), and MRI, has always been clear to Dr. Markl. Reflecting on his early career, he notes, "When I started, very few were using MRI for imaging of the heart. But now MRI has developed as a mainstream imaging technique that’s available worldwide." Over time, MRI has evolved from a niche, experimental method to become a standard component of clinical care. Dr. Markl has observed the expansion of MRI's capabilities, with its portfolio of techniques continuously growing and advancing.
Having attending the SMCR conference for decades, Dr. Markl now values the educational offerings as well as the opportunities to network with colleagues, reconnect with friends, and find new collaborators. He advises about this long-standing participation, "Taking on a leadership position in a society is a great honor and a way of giving back. As a participant, you come to the conference to learn and network while someone else organizes the event. But becoming active in a society is a way of contributing to that community and giving back."
Serving on the Executive Committee involves a five-year commitment where various roles prepare individuals for the Presidency. For Dr. Markl, this leadership journey has been a rewarding way to contribute to the organization and its mission.
As President, Markl says the focus of the Executive Board will be guided by a new strategic plan prioritizing clinical excellence, education and professional development, advocacy, research and innovation, as well as reaching the global CMR community. The SCMR Board's commitment is to enhancing the efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility of CMR protocols, technologies, and practices, ensuring that the society's efforts are impactful both locally and globally. Toward this vision, Dr. Markl says, "This year, we continue to build our SCMR expansion program, which aims to reach new regions and communities as well as foster global collaboration and knowledge exchange."
Dr. Frank Miller, President of the Society of Abdominal Radiology (SAR)
Dr. Miller’s father and two of his uncles were radiologists, so he received an early introduction to the field. He had great role models in abdominal imaging who influenced his decision.
Dr. Miller has been involved with the Society of Abdominal Radiology (SAR) since the beginning of his radiology career, and many of his closest friends and mentors are members of the society. Reflecting on the annual meeting, he says, "The meeting is an opportunity to see friends and colleagues and discuss opportunities for collaboration." As a section head, Dr. Miller has found it invaluable to seek the opinions of other SAR members on various issues. These relationships have played a key role in recruiting residents, fellows, and faculty for his department.
"Many of the more senior members helped me significantly early in my career, and I am trying to reciprocate by helping other members," Dr. Miller notes. He has enjoyed the camaraderie among the officers in recent years while planning meetings and other activities. Honored to serve as this year’s president, Dr. Miller is grateful for the opportunity to lead the society. With over 1,000 members attending the meetings and highly active committees, he encourages everyone to participate in this year's gathering.
The leadership of Northwestern Radiology faculty in multiple prestigious societies speaks to the department's excellence, dedication, and forward-thinking approach. Drs. Gabriel, Lewandowski, Markl, and Miller exemplify the drive to advance their respective fields both through groundbreaking research and influential society leadership.