ACR Medical Student Section: Annual Chair Update

Joshua H. Baker, MS, PhD, M4, Chair of ACR® Medical Student Section Steering Committee, contributed this article. Dr. Baker is also a fourth-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

In May, medical students with aspirations in radiology gathered from across the country for the ACR Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. Few fields offer such early and intentional inclusion of students, and the ACR MSS remains one of the only standalone student bodies with programming organized by and for medical students. It is an honor we carry with quiet pride.

What sets this gathering apart is not just its size, but its spirit. Radiology luminaries — seasoned physicians who spend their days interpreting images and improving patient care with their expertise — take time out of their demanding schedules to mentor, inspire and advance our field.

We listened to visionaries such as Geraldine McGinty, MD, MBA, FACR, and watched in admiration as leaders received accolades such as the ACR Gold Medal. "Of the numerous accomplishments in my career, I consider this the crown jewel of my medical practice," one Gold Medal recipient remarked.

This memorable quote echoes the spirit of our work as radiologists: “What is success? To laugh often and much … to earn the respect of intelligent people … to know even one life breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

Over the past year, the ACR MSS has made tangible strides:

• Launched a national database of Radiology Interest Group (RIG) contacts.
• Developed and published RIG toolkits covering social media, professional identity, advocacy and more.
• Grew our outreach efforts with a storytelling campaign to inspire future medical students looking for radiologists who look like them, a Journal Club on race-based medicine and a parenting resource series.
• Continued many of our engaging educational initiatives, including the Virtual Medical Student Research Fair, the ACR Medical Student Symposium (with nearly 500 registrants), collaborative AI webinars (now available on demand) and 3D printing videos.
• Created pathways to creative expression through the Arts in ACR initiative hosted by the Humanities and Bioethics Subcommittee.

Looking ahead, we aim to deepen engagement. This fall, the ACR MSS Steering Committee received more than 150 applications for fewer than 50 volunteer positions. We are piloting regional caucuses in the Pre-Radiology Advocacy Network and expanding ways for MSS members to get involved, such as opportunities to write for the ACR Bulletin and ACR Member Update.

Everyone on the ACR MSS Steering Committee remains grateful for your support and collaboration. If you have kudos, suggestions or ideas, please reach out to us at MSS@acr.org.

Until we meet again at ACR 2026, I wish you luck on your journey to the reading room — armed with humility, passion and purpose.