Creating Partners in Leadership for the Next Generation

Changes are on the horizon, and radiology needs strong leaders more than ever. “We’re at a most interesting crossroads right now,” says Richard Duszak, MD, FACR, professor and chair of the department of radiology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and chair of the ACR Commission on Leadership and Practice Development. “A lot of changes are underway — workforce changes, artificial intelligence, consolidation in the marketplace — and if radiologists don’t lead these initiatives, someone else will, and we might not like the results.” But leadership skills aren’t always innate; they need to be learned, and physicians tend to step into leadership roles without getting the chance to learn them, says Duszak.

Equipping radiologists with leadership and business skills is a core goal of the Radiology Leadership Institute^® (RLI). Through its programs, the RLI supports radiologists at every career stage, from residents to seasoned physicians in practice. Focusing on leadership skills early in training is important, says Duszak. “It gives residents a foundation on which to learn while their careers are just beginning, and it can open their eyes to different career paths they can take,” he says. One initiative aimed specifically at trainees is the Emerging Leaders RLI Scholarship, which each year introduces 10 residents and fellows to the many different opportunities the RLI offers, including the RLI Summit. This year, however, the program has gotten a major update.

Leveling Up

Now known as the Philips Emerging Leader RLI Scholarship, the program is an exciting collaboration between the College and a new strategic partner, Philips. In addition to providing 10 radiology residents and fellows with a full scholarship to attend the RLI Summit in September, the program will now also offer a year-long mentorship experience with Philips global leaders. Awardees will get the chance to attend monthly presentations given by these leaders, and they will also be paired with their own personal mentors based on career interests and goals. Each participant will ultimately produce a capstone project based on work with their mentors.

“With Philips as a partner, we’re really taking this to the next level,” says Duszak. “Instead of a one-time meeting for residents, we’re creating a longitudinal pipeline where they engage with leaders to coach them over an entire year. The participants coming out of this program will be more engaged, more experienced and ready to hit the ground running.”

“At Philips, we saw an opportunity to invest in young professionals who are shaping the field and not just practicing,” says Martijn van Steennis, global chief medical officer for diagnostic imaging at Philips. “We understand that technology alone doesn’t transform healthcare — people do. The future of radiology depends not only on clinical excellence but also on leadership, innovation and system-level thinking.”

Philips staff are excited about the program, says van Steennis: “There’s something really powerful about watching early-career radiologists engage directly with global leaders from Philips and start to imagine what kind of impact they want to make, both in clinical work and the future of healthcare as a whole.”

Creating Opportunities for Growth

Matthew Agritelley, MD, resident at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and one of the youngest recipients of the scholarship, is particularly excited to get this kind of training early in his career. “Too often, physicians aren’t exposed to any kind of leadership education until much later in their careers. Not only that, but it’s hard to understand the business landscape in radiology and how industry plays a part in that,” he says. “By then, we’ve already been in many situations in which we could have used those skills. Right now, physicians who step into leadership roles are often expected to pursue additional training or advanced degrees, on top of their already heavy caseloads. I’m glad to be getting that knowledge now,” he says.

Agritelley is also excited about learning more about Philips itself. “Radiology relies heavily on technology to provide services, as much as if not more so than other specialties. But we don’t often understand what’s going on ‘under the hood’ of our devices or the companies that provide them,” he says. “Gaining these insights will not only make us more well-rounded radiologists but also position us at the forefront of our practices. We’ll have a much more holistic understanding of the field than our peers.”

Building Relationships

Mentorship is the cornerstone of this program, and for Philips, it was a must, says van Steennis. “Mentorship provides exposure to new ways of thinking, career paths you may not have considered and tools to lead effectively in complex healthcare environments. It’s also how leadership is passed on. It’s not about telling people what to do but helping the next generation ask better questions, define their values and expand their influence.”

Philips executives add a whole new level of knowledge, says Duszak. “This kind of mentorship does something none of our physician mentors can provide. Not only are these residents getting exposed to industry at the earliest stages of their career and learning about the development of technology, but they’re also interacting with leaders who have a broad international marketplace exposure,” he says. “Many of these individuals have been to business schools outside of the United States, so it really expands the network of education and opportunities for the trainees.”

Finding Shared Value

It’s not just radiologists who benefit from this kind of partnership: Everyone does. “This is a fantastic opportunity,” says Duszak. “Operating in silos helps no one. This partnership is an investment in driving innovation and quality of care, which helps everyone — and most importantly our patients.”

And Philips gains a great deal as a partner too. “At Philips, we think we’re entering a new partnership between industry and physician leaders, one that’s more collective, transparent and value-driven than ever before. This program will allow us to understand the perspectives, priorities and challenges of emerging radiologists, the future of our field. And by forming partnerships early, we build trust, share purpose and help ensure our innovations remain grounded in real-world clinical impact,” van Steennis says. “We hope this program helps model a new kind of industry–academic collaboration, one that’s value-based, mutually beneficial and focused on making a meaningful difference.”

Van Steennis also notes that the mentors are just as excited to get started as the trainees, and that they’ve already been inspired by the residents’ drive and new ideas. “For Philips and our mentors, it’s equally valuable. It’s already energizing our teams internally,” he says.

Looking Forward to Success

Although the program is in the beginning stages, Philips is already looking toward a bright future. “Long term, we hope this program helps redefine what leadership looks like in radiology. Ideally, that impact is going to extend far beyond 10 residents each year. We hope they go on to mentor others, influence policy and continue pushing for patient-centered progress in healthcare,” says van Steennis. “This is about building a community of future-focused, mission driven leaders in radiology and healthcare. We’re proud to play a role in that, and we’re just getting started.”

By Meghan Edwards, freelance writer, ACR Press