New association for interventional radiology chiefs in the USA formed at SIR

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In a follow-up to a successful meeting of interventional radiology division chiefs in 2013, the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) promoted a session exclusively for the chiefs at SIR’s 39th Annual Scientific Meeting 22–27 March 2014, in San Diego, USA, in which a new professional society, the Association of Chiefs of Interventional Radiology (ACIR) was formed.

At the session, a steering committee had helped develop a set of bylaws and a vote was called for establishing the Association of Chiefs of Interventional Radiology (ACIR). This was carried by unanimous voice. Bayne Selby, director of Interventional Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina was named the inaugural president and Michael Darcy, chief, Interventional Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, USA, the first vice-president.

At the session, results were announced from a survey that had been recently distributed to 75 chiefs across the country covering issues critical to their duties. The response to the survey pointed to the need and desire for shared communication among those who are trying to run their local interventional radiology operations, the organisers maintained.

The programme included Bob Vogelzang, chief of interventional radiology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, USA, sharing his perspective in a presentation titled, “If I knew then what I know now”, Krysia Waldron, Emory University Goizueta Business School, Atlanta, USA, speaking to the chiefs about the differences between “Management and Leadership” and Jeff Geschwind, director of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA, offering the audience a glimpse into the future, specifically addressing “What division chiefs should focus on in the area of research” among others.

In the last several months, a great deal of conversation has resulted from the announcement in late 2013 that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) approved the formation of a new residency training programme in interventional radiology allowing for graduates to sit for the American Board of Radiology Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology (IR/DR) certificate exams upon successful completion of this training programme.

Jeanne LaBerge, chief of Interventional Radiology at University of California, San Francisco’s Mount Zion Campus, San Francico, USA, and John Kaufman, director of the Dotter Interventional Institute at the Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA, provided the latest and most valuable information available on the IR/DR dual certificate residency. From the feedback received this section generated the most questions, if not the most answers at the session.

During the session’s penultimate presentation, Dan Brown, chief of Interventional Oncology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA, provided guidance on developing new services, from the perspective of what works and what does not, as related to “Operations and Management”.

The final presentation featured Alan Matsumoto, chairman of the Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA, who described how the view from a department chair position taught him about how to be a more effective division chief.