News
Discover inspiring stories from our volunteers, candidates, and community, and stay up to date with important news and announcements on exams, policies, and more.
His ABR Work Is All About Helping Trainees
Brian Covello, MD, has been a member of the ABR’s Interventional Radiology Initial Certification Advisory Committee since early in his residency. His committee experience over the past several years has given him insight into how the organization plans exams and sets certification goals. “The ABR makes changes that help trainees,” said Dr. Covello, who earned his board certification this past April. “Being able to serve on the committee has been important for me to…
Lone Radiologist Duties Enriched His Career
Fresh off his diagnostic radiology residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Jason Wagner, MD, had a military commitment to satisfy before moving on to his planned fellowship. His assignment? Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City needed a radiologist who could fly solo. “They didn’t need a hospital; there are multiple ones within miles of the base,” said Dr. Wagner, who worked at Tinker from 2005…
Two ABR Representatives Join ABMS Committees
By Mimi Newell, MD ABR Associate Executive Director, Diagnostic Radiology Each year, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Governance Committee seeks nominations for open positions from among its Member Boards, of which the ABR is one. We are proud to announce that this cycle, two of our diplomates have been chosen for impactful positions. Robert M. Barr, MD, FACR, has been selected to serve on the ABMS Governance Committee. The committee is responsible for overseeing all…
Hospice Duties Changed His Career Course
Three years into earning a chemical engineering degree at the University of Kansas, Ronald Chen, MD, MPH, took a sharp turn. He paused his studies to spend a year volunteering at a hospice in North Carolina. The inspiration came when he attended a conference session hosted by a volunteer group from the facility. “It made me realize that I was missing something and not doing exactly what I wanted,” Dr. Chen said. Shortly after the conference, he packed…
ABR Trustee to Become Radiology Chair at University of Utah
ABR Trustee David B. Larson, MD, MBA, has been named chair of the department of radiology and imaging sciences for the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, effective September 14. A pediatric radiologist by training, Dr. Larson joins University of Utah Health from Stanford University, where he served in numerous leadership roles over the past decade, including executive vice chair and acting chair…
When the Cancer Communicator Becomes the Cancer Patient
By Jeff White I don’t like surprises. In May 2023, I felt a lump on the right side of my neck, so I made an appointment with a primary care physician. I wasn’t concerned, but the doctor asked about weight loss, night sweats, and other possible issues. I had none of those symptoms. I asked…
He Still Enjoys Teaching a ‘Super Cool’ Subject
In his former career, medical physicist and ABR volunteer Matt Vanderhoek, PhD, taught high-school physics in Brooklyn. Getting students interested in the subject took effort. To overcome the challenge, Dr. Vanderhoek would spend the opening day of class doing demonstrations that captured his pupils’ attention. Knowing they were going through a boring day of reviewing…
She’s Found the Right Career and Workplace to Feel Fulfilled
Chelsea Pinnix, MD, PhD, has a litmus test for what qualifies as a good job. “I tell my kids that you want to look for a job that, if you hit the lottery, you would still want to get up and go to work the next day,” she said. Dr. Pinnix has found that fit…
ACR Membership Elects ABR Trustee as Vice President
ABR Trustee David Larson, MD, MBA, was elected vice president of the American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors at the organization’s annual meeting this week. Former ABR volunteer Alan H. Matsumoto, MD, MA, was voted in as president. Dr. Larson, who has been an ABR Trustee since 2018, is a professor of radiology at…
He’s Not Kidding: Second Board Certification Is Within Reach
Already board certified in diagnostic medical physics, Adrian Sanchez, MD, PhD, is on his way to earning diagnostic radiology certification. Dr. Sanchez is accustomed to change and chaos. He and his wife have seven kids who range in age from two months to 11 years. “It’s funny because (having children has) aligned with my professional…
ABR Trustee Earns Inaugural SIR Award
ABR Trustee John Fritz Angle, MD, was presented with the inaugural Dr. Barry T. Katzen Master Clinician Award during the Society of Interventional Radiology annual meeting in Toronto on Tuesday. The award honors an interventional radiologist who exemplifies dedication to clinical practice, patient care, diligence in their work, and continuous improvement within the field and…
It’s Safe to Say That She’s Now Ready to Be a Trustee
When asked if she had an interest in becoming a member of the ABR’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Phuong-Anh T. Duong, MD was a little surprised. Despite an endorsement from Trustee David Larson, MD, MBA, Dr. Duong had to think about the opportunity. “I always feel a little imposter syndrome when I’m asked to lead,”…
He’s Having a Ball in His Second Career
ABR volunteer Mark Hamilton, MD, occupies a thin sliver on the Venn diagram of unique careers. A former professional baseball player, Dr. Hamilton is now an abdominal imaging fellow at NYU Langone Health in Manhattan. With a grandfather who played professional basketball and a father who is a physician, he was interested in both tracks…
Every Match Season is an Opportunity to Learn
By Timothy Waxweiler, MD As a program director, I have come to appreciate that successful resident recruitment is not simply an annual cycle, but a long-term investment in our students, our residents, and our department. For our students, successful recruitment begins long before interview season. It starts with introducing them to the unique and meaningful…
Remembering Former ABR President, BOT Chair Bill Hendee, PhD
Former ABR President and Board of Trustees Chair William (Bill) Hendee, PhD, died on March 14. He was 88. Dr. Hendee grew up in rural Mississippi and attended Tulane University on a football scholarship. A U.S. Marine Corps Reservist, he pursued graduate studies in physics at Vanderbilt University on an Atomic Energy Commission scholarship and…