RLI Leadership Awardee: Success Follows Experience and Maturation

This year’s Radiology Leadership Institute® (RLI) Luminary Award recipient is Cheri L. Canon, MD, FACR, FSAR, FAAWR. “Throughout her career, Dr. Canon has demonstrated the highest level of leadership excellence, bringing great distinction and honor to ACR, the RLI and herself,” says Frank J. Lexa, MD, MBA, chief medical officer of the RLI and chair of the RLI board.

The RLI Luminary Award honors the lifetime achievements of individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing radiology or radiation oncology. The recognition celebrates exceptional leadership, innovation and a lasting impact on the field. The Bulletin had a chance to speak with Dr. Canon about the award, the RLI’s value and what it takes to develop skills that will help radiologists succeed in a leadership role.

How did you learn you were receiving the Luminary Award?

It was funny the way I found out. Frank [Lexa] had called me, and we missed each other, so he left a voicemail. We played phone tag for a few days and I’m thinking, “Why doesn’t he just email me if he has a question or whatever? Why is he being so cagey?” When we finally connected, my response probably wasn’t the greatest [laughs] — it just wasn’t in the realm of what I thought he’d be calling about. I was completely shocked.

How did you first get involved with the RLI?

When I first joined the ACR Board of Chancellors, ACR was without a formal education program after a relationship with another organization had dissolved. During my first board meeting, there was an onboarding meeting to discuss the newly founded RLI, and I was invited to be a part of that inaugural board. I very clearly remember that conversation and the vision that was laid out — and I thought it was remarkable. I thought RLI would fill an important gap in our field, and there was great excitement among the entire group to bring this to fruition.

What’s an example of RLI’s value and how it differentiates itself from other leadership programs?

I remember one of the first RLI Summits. It was clear that this was a leadership program — business school-focused — while pulling in some things from radiology. But it was really like a graduate business class, which I loved because it was a rare opportunity to immerse myself in business content. That was energizing. During those early summits, evaluations of the event were somewhat polarized, with one camp saying it wasn’t for them because it wasn’t directly related to radiology, and the other saying it was great because it had content they would never get elsewhere. Over the years, the RLI has achieved a nice balance between those camps, and now I think everyone walks away with something valuable.

 

How would you define a leader?

As a physician, as a radiologist, I think by definition we are all leaders in some capacity. You may not be a department chair or a practice leader, but at some point, you have a leadership role. You may be a leader in your community, a committee chair or even a leader within your own household. And if you look at the process of leadership development, it not only makes you a stronger leader, but it makes you a better human being. You need to develop your leadership skills — and that can be done with practical, tactical work — and learn to be a leader on the job. That’s a big piece, as is having good mentors to support you. You must be patient with your career advancement and the leadership role you seek. It’s important to allow time for that maturation. Without experience, you won’t have a repository of solutions to problems as they arise.

What are some potential pitfalls on the road to a leadership role?

Something I see as problematic is when earlier-career radiologists sometimes want to move into a leadership role at a faster pace than what may be appropriate. If they don’t get that leadership position soon enough based on those expectations, they are discouraged and throw their hands up. My message to them is to be patient. Part of that journey is just like life, and you should enjoy it. Plus, it is the journey that informs how you will perform as a leader.

The other challenge I see — which is potentially an even larger problem — is the emotional part of the job. Earlier-career radiologists can get very emotionally drawn into problems they’ve never encountered. When they can’t solve them, everything, in their minds, becomes a huge problem — it can wear them out. Leaders in general tend to burn out if they are thrown into a position too early.

Do you have any advice for aspiring radiology leaders?

For those of us already in leadership positions, it is important to develop our earlier-career radiologists sooner rather than later. I have found through trial and error that there is a happy medium to attaining a leadership position. I can think of several instances when I moved individuals into a role too soon. While they had great potential, they didn’t have that experiential dataset to be a good leader. Even with proper mentoring, some may still struggle.

My biggest advice for someone looking to rise to a leadership role: Embrace your role as a physician first (which makes you a leader), then develop yourself, working on strengths and weaknesses to make yourself a better physician. There are plenty of opportunities for leadership development, particularly in a virtual environment. And I think many of our institutions and even residency programs are incorporating more leadership training into their curriculum, which is very helpful.

Interview by Chad Hudnall, senior writer, ACR Press

Cheri L. Canon, MD, FACR, FSAR, FAAWR, is president of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, chief physician executive of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health System and professor emerita in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine department of radiology. Dr. Canon has served in multiple roles within ACR, including vice president, member of the Board of Chancellors and chair of the ACR Commission on Education. As an inaugural ACR RLI board member, she helped found the comprehensive leadership development program in partnership with multiple highly recognized business schools. She received the ACR Gold Medal in 2021.