20Th Anniversary Edition Winter/Spring 2003
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AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN RADIOLOGISTS WINTER/SPRING 2003 VOL. 23 NO. 1 focus FROM YOUR PRESIDENT Kimberly E. Applegate, MD, MS Dear fellow AAWR members, personal goals? I believe that the AAWR can provide such information through literature, I am honored to serve you as President in lectures, friendships, and committee work to 2003. In 2002, we celebrated our 20th an- help women achieve their goals. We all have niversary by acknowledging the success of ideas and experiences to share, and I invite our organization and the many accomplished you to do so through the AAWR. women in radiology today. This special edi- Let me share with you another example of tion of the Focus celebrates our accomplish- how a group of women changed their work ments and documents our past history. As environment for the better. In 1999, the you read it you will see that we have every Boston Globe published The MIT Report on reason to look ahead to a bright future! Women, spurred by Nancy Hopkins, a Special Serendipity introduced me to the AAWR tenured professor of science. Marginalization in 1990. As I walked past the AAWR booth at of women as they advanced in their careers 20th the RSNA annual meeting, I saw a black and was the most important descriptor of how white photograph of Marie Curie; I stopped gender bias occurred at this institution. Anniversary to learn more. That is when the President of Interestingly, the junior women believed that AAWR, Kay Shaffer, struck up a conversa- they were being treated fairly, while the se- Edition tion with me. I have been involved in the nior women believed otherwise. They identi- 1982–2002 AAWR ever since. The collegiality, chal- fied subtle, sometimes unconscious barriers. lenges, advice, support, and friendship the MIT suffered from a progressive decrease in AAWR provided has enriched me. The the numbers of women from the undergradu- women I have met through AAWR are extra- ate levels through graduate, post-doctoral and ordinary, and I thank them for sharing their faculty positions in the science departments, a experiences. situation described as a ‘leaky pipeline.’ With Perhaps only to ourselves, we ask ques- the support of the Dean and the President, the in tions that are likely to be echoed in the minds women worked through a non-confronta- of many other women in radiology today. tional committee to address these issues. As focus How much longer can I keep up this pace? Is she lectured on this subject throughout the this job the best I can do? Should I work less? country, Dr. Hopkins learned that many uni- From Your President ...........................1 Should we move for a better job? Should we versities had similar gender issues. She em- From the Editor.....................................2 postpone starting a family until after our phasized the need to work with the adminis- AAWR: The Past, Present and Future by Carol Rumack, MD, FACR training? How can we find the best ‘fit’ and tration to improve the status of women The Early Years....................................3 the right balance between professional and faculty. MIT established equity committees The Present— President Continued on page 2 Where Are We Now? .....................9 The Future...........................................12 1 AAWR focus President Continued from page 1 for each depa rt m e n t , cha i r ed by senior women who had decreased teaching responsibilities and funding for their adminis- tr ati ve roles. The MIT model serves to remind us that we can cha n g e the wor king envi r onment to suit our needs and those of our families. As rad i o l o gis t s , we are fort u n a te to have economic and job stabi l i t y , a var iety of career opportunities and the ability to cha n g e our wor k envi r onment to ref lect our values. Most of today’ s women continue to carry the larger share of chi l d - r aising and home responsibilities. These are some reasons why women (and men) consider part-time employment or a dep a rt u r e from the traditional linear rad i o l o gy caree r . Let us widen the box for women in rad i o l o gy today. I look for wa r d to the collabo r ati o n s , cre at iv i t y , and successes we will share. I leave you with Max De Pree’s philosophy of leadership: Leadership is a condition of indebtedness. Inclusive leaders perceive: The space to be and become The opportunity to serve The gift of challenge The gift of meaning Kimberly Applegate, MD, MS 2003 President * * * * * From the Editor: Melissa L. Rosado de Christenson, MD, FACR Co-Chair, Public Relations Committee Editor, Focus Throughout 2002 the Executive Committee and the members of the American Association for Women Radiologists (AAWR) celebrated the 20th anniversary of our organization. AAWR Past Presidents reflected on our history. Their remarks were captured in the pages of Focus and the AAWR website. The celebration culminated in a series of activities that took place during the 2002 annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago, IL. Carol M. Rumack, MD, the inaugural A AWR President was the featured speaker at the 2002 AAW R President’s Luncheon. Dr. Rumack presented a retrospective journey through the twenty-year history of our organization. Her remarks pro- vided the framework for this Special Twentieth Anniversary Edition of the Focus and will hopefully inspire future AAWR leaders and new members as we begin the next twenty years of our organization. 2 Winter/Spring 2003 AAWR focus AAWR:AAWR: TTHEHE PPASTAST,, PPRESENTRESENT ANDAND FFUTUREUTURE Based on the 2002 AAWR President’s Luncheon Presentation By Carol M. Rumack, MD, FACR 1982 AAWR President AAWR: The Early Years The American Association for Women Radiologists was organizational medicine. To this end, a steering committee created to address significant concerns unique to women composed of 25 women radiologists was assembled with the radiologists. It began as a series of informal meetings led purpose of creating an independent organization to address by Dr. Ann Lewicki and the late Dr. Helen Redman. These our unique concerns. meetings took place during the annual meetings of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the Steering Committee 1980, 1981 American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS). Elizabeth Alexander, MD Anne G. Osborn, MD Barbara L. Carter, MD Helen C. Redman, MD Sherrie Chatzkel, MD Shelley Rosenbloom, MD Patricia C. Davis, MD Carol M. Rumack, MD Wilma C. Diner, MD Katherine A. Shaffer, MD Joan Eliasoph, MD Janice R. L. Smith, MD Linda M. Fahr, MD Marian Sonnenfeld, MD Sandra K. Fernbach, MD Rosalind H. Troupin, MD L. Anne Hayman, MD Kay H. Vydareny, MD Cheryl S. Hicks, MD Susan Weinberg, MD Sandra Kirchner, MD Nancy O. Whitley, MD Ann M. Lewicki, MD Ayn Woodruff, MD Sally E. Mitchell, MD 1982—The AAWR's First Officers. Pictured from left to right: Carol M. Rumack, President; Linda M. Fahr, Vice President; Katherine A. Who helped the AAWR to begin Shaffer, Secretary. its operations? Adele Swenson, Executive Director of the RSNA from 1971 to 1985, provided Early AAWR Concerns The inaugural AAWR advice and support to the early leader- • Issues related to maternity leaders recognized that ship of the AAWR. Ms. Swenson was and radiation exposure women radiologists con- uniquely qualified to help. Prior to work- • Balancing our duties both sistently encountered bar- ing on behalf of the success of the at home and at work riers to their personal and AAWR, she had served as Executive • Getting a job professional success. Wo- Director of the River Trails Girl Scout • Getting promoted • Becoming a partner men in our specialty Council of southeastern Minnesota, worked with First Lady • Attaining professional skills lacked visibility at the an- Eleanor Roosevelt, and worked towards enhancing the acad- such as negotiation, nual meetings and scien- emic qualifications of women in government. Ms. Swenson publication, presentation tific assemblies of our pro- together with the members of the RSNA Board assisted the • Achieving visibility and national recognition fessional organizations. AAWR leaders in the process of writing the society’s by- They faced significant laws, enacting the incorporation of the organization, and challenges both at work and at home. The founding members defining its structure. The RSNA Board was briefed on the of the AAWR chose to find solutions for change instead of need for this new organization and provided (and continues complaining about perceived injustices. They worked to- to provide) invaluable assistance and support. wards providing women radiologists, radiation oncologists Additional information about Ms. Swenson can be found and women in the related sciences with “their own voice” in at www.rsna.org Winter/Spring 2003 3 AAWR focus Theodore A. Tristan, MD, FACR, 1982 Maternity and Radiation Exposure President of the Radiological Society of AAWR members authored a series of articles addressing North America (RSNA) published an ed- this concern. itorial in Radiology entitled: Women in Radiology. Dr. Tristan welcomed the Sandra K. Fernbach, MD, FACR AAWR as a new organization and agreed 1988 AAWR President that there were real barriers to fully in- corporating a professional identity for Adler YT, Fernbach SK, Hayman LA, women. He further acknowledged that women were not ac- Redman HC, Rumack CM. The impact of cepted or recognized as full peers in the radiological com- maternity on radiologists: The AAWR po- munity and that they experienced difficulties in attaining sition and its acceptance by women. AJR academic leadership and membership in professional orga- 1986;146:415-417.