RSNA Press Release

CHICAGO–Sarah S. Donaldson, M.D., was named president of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Board of Directors today at the Society's annual meeting in Chicago.

Dr. Donaldson is the Catharine and Howard Avery Professor of Radiation Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, California. She serves as associate residency program director of radiation oncology at Stanford Hospital and Clinics and is chief of radiation oncology service at Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.

As president, Dr. Donaldson will help shape and implement RSNA's vision and strategic goals to advance the radiologic sciences and embrace the model of patient-centered care.

"I am proud to promote the RSNA mission around the world," she said. "My goal is to enhance collaborations and partnerships amongst the radiologic sciences worldwide to provide efficient, safe and cost-effective use of imaging. I will work with the Board of Directors and the many loyal RSNA member volunteers to promote our strategic plan and to emphasize patient-centered radiology."

Dr. Donaldson is committed to providing more services for international members; supporting the RSNA Research and Education Foundation; encouraging residents, fellows, and young investigators to become the thought leaders of tomorrow; fostering the development of new technologies; and facilitating informatics strategies to improve patient care.

Dr. Donaldson attended Dartmouth Medical School, followed by Harvard Medical School, where she obtained her medical degree in 1968. At the University of Washington Hospitals, she completed her internship in general medicine in 1969 and during the same year began her radiation oncology residency at Stanford University Hospital. In 1971, she had a brief pediatric oncology fellowship at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, which, after completion of residency in 1972, was followed by a pediatric oncology fellowship year abroad at the Institut Gustave-Roussy in Villejuif, France. Dr. Donaldson began her academic appointments at Stanford as an assistant professor of radiation therapy in 1973. From 2001 to 2009, Dr. Donaldson served as the residency program director and from 1997 to 2011, as associate chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Stanford. She has received both leadership and teaching awards at Stanford and most recently was awarded the Dean's Medal of the Stanford School of Medicine.

Dr. Donaldson has authored or coauthored more than 220 peer-reviewed scientific articles, 81 book chapters and review articles, and two books. She has served on the editorial boards of numerous publications, including Cogent Medicine; International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics; Journal of the American College of Radiology; Journal of Clinical Oncology and Medical and Pediatric Oncology. Dr. Donaldson has been invited to lecture at more than 200 institutions and meetings throughout North America, Japan, Europe and Australia. She is a popular visiting professor at many universities and medical schools across North America. Dr. Donaldson presented the Annual Oration in Radiation Oncology at the 1995 RSNA annual meeting.

During her career, Dr. Donaldson has been an active member of several medical organizations and societies, including the American College of Radiology (ACR), American Society of Clinical Oncology, International Society of Pediatric Oncology, American Radium Society (ARS), Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society and the National Academy of Sciences. She was the first female president of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the American Board of Radiology.

She received the Marie Curie Award of the American Association for Women Radiologists in 1998 and the Elizabeth Blackwell Award of the American Medical Women's Association in 2005. She is the recipient of gold medals from ACR, ARS and ASTRO. She has served on the advisory boards of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Donaldson is one of a select few radiologists who are members of the Institute of Medicine.

As a longtime member of RSNA, Dr. Donaldson has served on the Board of Trustees of the Research and Education Fund, the Scientific Exhibits Committee and the Public Information Advisors Network. She was elected second vice president in 2003. In 2005, she was elected to the RSNA Board of Directors and served as the liaison for publications and communications from 2007 to 2010, chairman from 2010 to 2011, and president-elect from 2011 to 2012.

Note: Copies of RSNA 2012 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press12 beginning Monday, Nov. 26.

RSNA is an association of more than 50,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists, promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. (RSNA.org)