The mission of the American Roentgen Ray Society’s (ARRS) Global Partner Society (GPS) program is to build long-standing relationships with key leaders and organizations in the worldwide imaging community—increasing awareness of our society’s services in specific nations, while raising the stature of Global Partner Societies among ARRS members.
At the request of the Singapore Radiological Society (SRS), ARRS sent two breast imaging specialists, Drs. Jay R. Parikh and Donna M. Plecha, to present during the first-ever Singapore Breast Imaging Conference (SBIC) in May.
On day one, Dr. Parikh highlighted opportunities and concerns alike for the clinical embrace of AI in breast imaging. Leading lively discussions on burnout at large, he also moderated a panel and question-and-answer session on the challenges of locoregional staging and surveillance of breast cancer in Asian practices, specifically. (Please turn back to page 12 of this issue of InPractice to read more insights from Dr. Parikh, chair of ARRS’ new Quality and Practice Subcommittee.)
During the second day of SRS’ “Breast Imaging: Today and Tomorrow, Shaping Breast Care in Asia” conference at the Centre for Healthcare Innovation, Dr. Plecha discussed best practices for personalized breast screening, including critical updates to known, biopsy-proven malignancies in the sixth category of the American College of Radiology’s Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS).
“The SRS wishes to express our sincere gratitude for ARRS’ support of our inaugural SBIC. Your support was truly invaluable,” said organizing chair Dr. Niketa Chotai.
She continued: “Both Jay and Donna were exceptionally knowledgeable, engaging, and approachable, and all attendees greatly appreciated their contributions, which significantly enhanced our collective knowledge. We truly believe their insights will positively impact breast care practices and patient outcomes in the region.”
Also presenting during SBIC was our SRS Global Ambassador Dr. Wei Yang, who received SRS’ Glass Award on behalf of ARRS. Dr. Yang presented “Updates In Axillary Node Management: What The Radiologist Should Know” during Dr. Parikh’s panel, with additional lectures on the imaging of augmented breasts and how to develop social intelligence and international leadership for radiologists to survive and thrive.
The previous month, the entire ARRS membership proudly welcomed delegates from the Philippine College of Radiology (PCR), our newest GPS member, to the 2024 ARRS Annual Meeting at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston, MA.
Founded in 1948, the PCR focuses on education and training for more than 2,500 radiologists, including some 1,000 in-training members. With chapters located throughout the country, as well as several dedicated subspecialty groups, PCR serves more than 50 accredited institutions. Each PCR chapter holds its own annual convention in their respective regions, while PCR subspecialty societies meet routinely for mid-year events and scientific meetings. While in Boston, current ARRS International Outreach Committee chair Dr. Carol Wu and Dr. Glenn Gaviola, ARRS Global Ambassador for PCR, held a global partner meeting with PCR treasurer Dr. Rodney Fernan.
Also this May, Stephen F. Keevil, PhD, president of the British Institute of Radiology (BIR)—the oldest medical imaging society in the world—was recognized with honorary membership via the ARRS Annual Meeting Global Exchange. Our Annual Meeting Global Exchange incorporates one partner society annually into the educational and social fabric of our meeting, with ARRS reciprocating at said partner society’s own meeting. Professor Keevil served on the faculty for the 2024 ARRS Annual Meeting Global Exchange, “Screening Patient Pathways Across the Pond: Highlights and Challenges for Radiology in the UK and USA.” Reviewing current practice standards for screening lung and female breast cancer in both nations, this two-hour Featured Session addressed common techniques and comparative difficulties of maintaining an effective screening program.
An international organization with members in imaging, radiation oncology, and underlying sciences, since 1897, the BIR has worked to improve medicine, health, and patient care through the science and practice of radiology.
The 2025 ARRS Annual Meeting Global Exchange will host the Mexican Society of Radiology and Imaging (SMRI) in San Diego, CA. ARRS Global Exchange course director Dr. Daniel Vargas is working with SMRI and ARRS faculty to present a comprehensive course on advances in cardiac imaging.
In April, then ARRS president-elect Dr. Angelisa M. Paladin traveled to Yokohama to represent our society at the 83rd congress of the Japan Radiological Society (JRS). During a lively session on human resources in radiology, led by JRS faculty Drs. Seun Eun Jung and Kei Yamada, the Dr. Paladin detailed current initiatives for nurturing success and happiness during radiology residency training (Read Dr. Paladin’s column regarding living and working happier on this second page of this edition of InPractice). Additional speakers for this JRS session devoted to developing the next generation of radiologists included Drs. Masashi Tamura, Yoshiyuki Watanabe, Stefan O. Schönberg, and Thomas M. Grist.
Established in 1950, the 7,500-member JRS remains Japan’s leading society in the field of radiological sciences.
Free-Access GPS Resources: Southern African Chest Lectures, Argentine Head and Neck Tips
This summer, ARRS launched a brand-new Global Education course with the Radiological Society of South Africa (RSSA). Collaboratively assembled by Dr. Abraham (Fourie) Bezuidenhout, ARRS Global Ambassador for RSSA, the four lectures of the “Southern Africa Thoracic Radiology Lecture Series: RSSA-ARRS Education Initiative” were presented live on a monthly basis all last year. The result—now free and open-access through our GPS education program—has quickly become a popular online series of important topics in thoracic radiology:
- Acute Aortic Syndrome | Diana Litmanovich, MD
- A Chest Fellowship in 45 Minutes: Useful Information for the Resident | Fourie Bezuidenhout, MD
- Cystic (and Smoking) Related Lung Disease | Brent P. Little, MD
- Lung Biopsy Complications and How to Minimize Them | Olga R. Brook, MD
Established in 1974 as the Professional Association of Radiologists in South Africa, RSSA has since expanded to include Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. With a membership base of almost 1,000 individuals and nearly 100 practices, RSSA’s South African Journal of Radiology (SAJR) publishes research articles, editorial letters, and personal opinions on radiological practice, as well as South African health-related news, obituaries, and general correspondence. Razaan Davis of Stellenbosch University is the Editor in Chief of SAJR.
Meanwhile, “Tips and Tricks on Head and Neck” was developed as an ARRS Global Education course by Dr. Carlos Previgliano, ARRS Global Ambassador, alongside the Argentina Society of Radiology or Sociedad Argentina de Radiología (SAR). This course presents five high-impact lectures reviewing fundamental neuroimaging topics:
- Suprahyoid Neck: What the Clinician Wants to Know | Christine M. Glastonbury, MD
- Infrahyoid Neck: What the Clinician Wants to Know | Justin Brucker, MD
- Do Not Miss Head & Neck Lesions | Aaron Michael Betts, MD
- Tips and Tricks for Evaluating Perineural Spread | Jennifer Gillespie, MBBS
- Rapid-Fire Case Review: Head and Neck | Xin (Cynthia) Wu, MD
SAR has maintained prolific activity since its founding in 1917. Convening annually in September for the premier event in the country for the specialty, SAR congresses have hosted distinguished radiologists and physicians from across Argentina and around the globe. Having developed instructional resources of differing scope and complexities, SAR’s course on diagnostic imaging has been offered for over a quarter-century—presently through the University of Buenos Aires. A council of the society also designed and maintains a nationwide professional certification and recertification program. Additionally, SAR helps promote the research pursuits of young and emerging professionals, permanently instituting scholarships and prizes for exceptional scientific work.