Women in Radiology, School of Medicine
The mission of the Women in Radiology group is to provide solidarity, camaraderie, and mentorship to female residents, fellows, and faculty within the Department of Radiology through a series of events that enhance professional collaboration, personal support, and broaden knowledge on how to achieve success and overcome barriers. Additionally, this group provides outreach to medical students in order to promote and increase consideration of radiology as a prospective specialty choice by women, as well as outreach to females within the general community.
Background and identifying the problem
Gender disparity has been and continues to be an issue in numerous specialties in medicine, but particularly within radiology. At present, less than 25% of all diagnostic radiologists in the United States are women. Additionally, less than 30% of current radiology trainees are women despite the fact that nearly half of matriculating medical students are female. Consequently, it is clear that the problem of gender disparity will not imminently or spontaneously resolve.
Within the Departments of Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Radiology at OHSU, our goal is to eliminate gender disparities such that females at any level have opportunities equal to that of their male colleagues, have the voice and ability to speak up about inequalities, and the ability to advance their careers and assume leadership positions without bias.
OHSU Radiology regards the matter of inequality seriously. Within the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, as of 2022, 46% of the faculty are women, which spans all ranks from assistant professor to full professor. Five of the seven imaging section chiefs are women (71%). Fourteen of thirty-three (43%) of the diagnostic and interventional radiology residents are women, with representation throughout all post-graduate levels.
Members and leadership
The Women in Radiology group is comprised of residents, fellows, and faculty within the Departments of Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Radiology at Oregon Health & Science University and was formally established in 2020. In the spirit of inclusivity, this group is open to everyone regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or any other personal identifying factor. Radiologists throughout the Portland metropolitan region are welcome to join larger events, such as those with national speakers.
-
- Anu Brixey, M.D.
- Cardiothoracic Radiologist
Chair and Co-Founder, Women in Radiology
Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Radiology
-
- Alice Fung, M.D., FSAR
- Body Imaging Radiologist
Co-Founder and Diversity and Inclusion Liaison, Women in Radiology
Chair, Radiology Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Associate Professor of Diagnostic Radiology
-
- Lindsay DeWeese, Ph.D., DABR
- Imaging Physicist, Diagnostic Imaging Services
Member-at-Large, Women in Radiology
Assistant Professor of Imaging Physics
Program Director, Diagnostic Imaging Physics Residency
-
- Chara Rydzak, M.D., Ph.D.
- Cardiothoracic Radiologist
Book Club Coordinator, Women in Radiology
Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Radiology
-
- Elena K. Korngold, M.D.
- Body Imaging Radiologist
Speaker Event Coordinator, Women in Radiology
Associate Professor of Diagnostic Radiology
Section Chief of Body Imaging
-
- Roya Sohaey, M.D.
- Women's Imaging Radiologist
Charity Event Coordinator, Women in Radiology
Vice Chair, Diagnostic Radiology Faculty Development
Professor of Diagnostic Radiology
Our vision and upcoming events
The Women in Radiology group hosts an event every other month (minimum of 6 events per year) typically during the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December. Each event has a different purpose while maintaining the same underlying goals of our mission.
Examples of annual events include:
- An invited speaker on a topic relevant to Women in Radiology
- A charity event in a social setting, benefitting a program for women in the community
- Medical student outreach event to rectify the gender disparity in radiology
- Informal social event (e.g. hiking, beach, bowling) for development of camaraderie
- Formal social event (e.g. dinner) to celebrate our accomplishments
- Holiday event
Examples of more frequent events:
- Book club
- Community outreach (including talks and events at local schools on the topics of radiology, medicine, and STEM)
Radiologists throughout the Portland metropolitan region will be invited to some of the formal and educational events.
Past events
More resources
The American Association for Women in Radiology (AAWR) is an organization founded in 1981 to provide a forum for discussion on a national level. The mission of the AAWR is to sponsor programs that promote opportunities for women, facilitate networking amongst members and other professionals, and provides mentorship opportunities for the next generation of women radiologists. Many articles have been published adressing the ineqauities of women in radiology. We recommend these two articles "A Mentorship and Networking Group for Women in Radiology" published by JACR in 2017 and "Women in Radiology Leadership" published by Applied Radiology in January 2020.
The OHSU’s Women’s Imaging Section and the OHSU Breast Center actively participate in community outreach, particularly in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This involves community lectures, booths to disseminate information, and participation in the Susan G. Komen run.
Woman in Spotlight
The Woman in Spotlight is a quarterly publication featuring one woman faculty member and one woman trainee (resident/fellow) in the Department of Radiology. This series is meant to highlight our accomplished women as well as to allow the department to get to know some details about our fabulous women on both a personal and professional level. Our current Women in Spotlight are featured below. Please click the link to access prior Woman in Spotlight articles.
Summer 2021: Roya Sohaey, MD and Molly Downey, MD
Fall 2021: Sandra Schmahmann, MD and Segolene Weller, MD
Winter 2022: Alice Fung, MD and Molly Wingfield, MD
