RSNA 2013: Gain Power from Partnership, Says RSNA President Sarah Donaldson

RSNA President Sarah Donaldson opened the 99th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting with an address on the power of partnership. As a radiation oncologist, she knows well the power of partnership in treating cancers, especially paediatric cancers, her own specialty. 

Said Donaldson, the theme "The Power of Partnership" reminds us of the incredible power gained from acting together and working together as partners to change the way we practise medicine. These partnerships are within radiology, outside of radiology and with patients. Internal partnerships can include those between radiation oncologists, interventional oncology and oncologic imaging. She suggested it is time to revisit collaborative training programmes, such as an interventional oncology and radiation oncology pathway. Multidisciplinary teams already have radiologists at their centre. Radiologists must find creative ways to increase visibility, for example by  actively participating in tumour boards. To be seen as equal partners, radiologists must be at the table, and accept responsibility for patient care. There is a difference between being the assigned physician and being the requested physician and avoid being replaced by a computer algorithm.

While at the start of her career, radiology was at the nexus of patient care, but this changed over the years. Radiology is now less cohesive and less unified, with therapy split from diagnosis. Donaldson quoted Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the UK in World War 2: "If we are together, nothing is impossible. If we are divided, all will fail."

Donaldson concluded by quoting another Churchill saying, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." As partners, radiologists have so much to give. 

Claire Pillar

Managing Editor, HealthManagement