Dispatches February 2024

This wrap-up features articles and links on several topics, including:

• Dana Smetherman to Take the Reins as ACR’s New CEO
• Celebrating the Life of Bruce J. Hillman, MD, FACR
• It’s Time to Nominate Your Colleagues for ACR Awards
• 2023 MIPS Submission Window Now Open
• Hillman Fellowship Application Window is Now Open
• Sign Up for the Virtual Meetings for Practice Parameters & Technical Standards
• Former ACR President Proposes Potential Solution to Workforce Shortage 
• Radiology Representation to the RUC Changes Will Take Place March 1st

Dana H. Smetherman,
MD, MPH, MBA, FACR

Bruce J. Hillman, MD, FACR

Bruce J. Hillman, MD, FACR, passed away in December 2023 at age 75. Hillman was born and raised in Miami Beach and graduated from Princeton University in 1965 and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1973. He received his radiology training at Harvard Medical School’s Peter Bent Brigham Hospital.

Hillman spent his 45-year career in academic medicine serving patients, institutions and colleagues to the best of his abilities. He was a former ACR and RSNA Gold Medal recipient, the founding editor-in-chief of the JACR from 2003 to 2018, and the chief medical officer of the ACR Image Metrix. 

Hillman was beloved by his colleagues and will be dearly missed. Look for more on his life and legacy in the April online issue of the ACR Bulletin.

It’s Time to Nominate Your Colleagues for ACR Awards

The nomination period for the following ACR awards and fellowships is open:

• The ACR Gold Medal is awarded by the BOC to an individual for extraordinary service to the ACR or to the discipline of radiology in teaching, basic research, clinical investigation or radiologic leadership.
• ACR Honorary Fellows are elected by the BOC in recognition of outstanding contributions to the science or practice of radiology by individuals who — by virtue of residence, education, profession or lack of board certification — are ineligible for admission as members in any category other than international.
• The Distinguished Achievement Award is granted by the BOC in recognition of highly notable service to the College and the profession, or in recognition of other action or achievement that reflects in a uniquely favorable manner on the College and the profession at the national level.

Learn more about eligibility criteria and submit your nominations today. The nomination deadline is July 1 for the 2025 awards. 

2023 MIPS Submission Window Is Now Open

The 2023 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) submission window is now open. Users of the ACR Qualified Clinical Data Registry must finalize payment for the National Radiology Data Registry and MIPS reporting fees before submitting to the CMS. The deadline for submissions is March 31. Contact Zach Smith, ACR Senior Quality Programs Specialist, with any questions about 2023 or 2024 MIPS participation.

Hillman Fellowship Application Window Is Now Open

Applications for the Bruce J. Hillman, MD, Fellowship in Scholarly Publishing are now open. This fellowship focuses on medical editing, journalism and publishing, supporting talented physicians who are pursuing an aspect of medical journalism to make a part of their careers. This fellowship allows an up-close look at how the JACR works behind the scenes, with the fellow working with the editor-in-chief and completing a journal-focused project. The fellowship also includes a one-year appointment to the editorial board in addition to an invitation to the editorial retreat. 

This is a hands-on experience for the selected fellow to work closely with the JACR editor-in-chief and staff. Additionally, the fellow will travel to New York City to meet the JACR’s publisher, Elsevier.

Apply now.

Sign Up for the Virtual Meetings for Practice Parameters & Technical Standards

Virtual meetings focused on the ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards (PP&TS) will be held March 12 and 14. These meeting allows all members to participate in open hearings on documents that will be considered during ACR 2024 in Washington, DC. 

These meetings are the result of a new process approved by ACR Council in 2022. Daniel A. Rodgers, MD, a member of the PP&TS workgroup and a member of the ACR Council Steering Committee explains why this is significant: “Making the open hearings virtual is going to allow more members to participate — including people who may not be able to go to Washington, D.C., for the annual meeting and members who are not councilors but still want to comment on the PP&TS documents. These changes will open the process to more members and more direct participation, which I think is always great.”

Registration is open through Feb. 29. Learn more.

Register for the ACR 2024 Annual Meeting, which takes place April 13-17. 

Former ACR President Proposes Potential Solution to Workforce Shortage 

The radiologist work shortage was a big topic at December’s RSNA 2023 conference in Chicago. With medical facilities struggling to fill these positions, Howard B. Fleishon, MD, former ACR president, discusses a potential solution in an opinion piece published in the JACR. Titled “Radiology Workforce Shortage: The ‘Silver Squad’ Option,” the article urges older radiologists to come out of retirement and return to the workforce. 

Fleishon points out that radiology doesn’t have a mandatory retirement age and asserts that many older radiologists can still add value to a care team. He encourages ACR members and others in the specialty to promote the solution by citing examples of successful integration of retired radiologists into practices. He also says organizations should provide resources in career centers to help these doctors find their role, even if it is part-time. 

Read the whole piece here. 

Changes in Radiology Representation to the RUC Take Effect March 1

The AMA/Relative Value Scale Update committee (AMA/RUC) is a multispecialty committee focused on making relative value recommendations to CMS for new and revised codes. RUC Advisors representing their specialties bring forth time and value recommendations to a panel of roughly 30 medical professionals.

On March 1, 2024, the following changes to the representation of radiology at the RUC will take place:

• Gregory N. Nicola, MD, FACR, will replace William Donovan, MD, MPH, FACR, as the Radiology RUC Member on the RUC Panel.
• Lauren Parks Nicola, MD, FACR, will replace Kurt Schoppe, MD, as the Alternate Radiology Member on the RUC Panel.
• Andrew K. Moriarity, MD, will replace Lauren Nicola as the ACR Radiology RUC Advisor.
• Michael T. Booker, MD, MBA, will replace Moriarity as the ACR Alternate RUC Advisor.

For more information, visit the ACR website.