Mark Alson Receives Thorwarth Award for Radiology Leadership

The American College of Radiology® named Mark D. Alson, MD, FACR, RCC, as the 2026 recipient of the William T. Thorwarth Jr., MD, FACR Award. Dr. Alson was recognized during ACR 2026, the College’s annual meeting.

The Thorwarth Award honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to radiology health policy and economics, demonstrating leadership, integrity and a lasting impact on the profession.

“Dr. Alson is being recognized for his extensive service and leadership across numerous ACR economics committees and advisory roles,” said ACR® CEO Dana H. Smetherman, MD, MPH, MBA, FACR. “He is a steady, trusted leader in advancing CPT® and coding policy, notably through his longstanding involvement in the Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC) Network and as part of ACR’s CPT team. His deep expertise and sound judgment have strengthened the College’s ability to advocate effectively for radiologists, their patients, and the radiology profession.”

Alson is a respected leader in women’s imaging and a founding member and president of Sierra Imaging Associates Medical Group in Fresno, Calif. His clinical interests include breast imaging and intervention, obstetrical ultrasound, CT, MRI and pediatric imaging.

Alson currently chairs the ACR Commission on General, Small, Emergency and/or Rural Practices and is a member of the Board of Chancellors. His many contributions to ACR span the Commission on Economics, the Breast Imaging Economics Committee (where he served as a member and past chair), the Future Trends Committee, the Reimbursement Committee and the Medicaid Network. He also represented ACR as liaison to the Radiology Coding Certification Board, advancing the coding profession through his expertise.

In addition, Alson has been an active member of the ACR Medicare CAC Network since its founding more than 20 years ago and served for many years as part of its leadership team. Since 2008, he has been a member of the ACR Economics Committee on Coding and Nomenclature, where he served as chair and vice chair and as ACR’s lead CPT advisor to the AMA CPT Advisory Committee. 

“As a longtime member and former leader of the ACR CPT team, Dr. Alson shaped national coding and reimbursement policy and navigated the complexities of the CPT and National Correct Coding Initiative systems to always ensure radiology’s interests are represented and radiologists are treated fairly,” said Gregory N. Nicola, MD, FACR, immediate past chair of the ACR Commission on Economics.

Established in 2004 by the ACR Commission on Economics, the Thorwarth Award is presented on a merit basis to members or staff who exemplify excellence in radiology economics and health policy. It is awarded only when an individual’s contributions warrant special recognition.

For more information or to schedule an interview, email pr@acr.org.