Joana Reis, MD, PhD

Dr. Reis could have returned to her native Portugal upon completing her medical studies in Norway. Instead, she chose to permanently relocate, learn the Norwegian language and become subspecialized in breast imaging.

Dr. Reis made this decision after realizing she wanted to connect more directly with patients, offering support when diagnoses were difficult and celebrating with them when results were positive. Today, as a consultant breast radiologist with Akershus University Hospital, a major medical center in the Greater Oslo region, she helps spearhead close collaboration among departments involved in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. She undertakes these endeavors with an eye out for opportunities to strengthen patient support networks.

On top of her clinical and extra-clinical duties, Dr. Reis earned a PhD from the University of Oslo to research emerging breast-imaging techniques. Her focus has been on the use of breast MRI in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Her research has been published and presented within Norway and around the world.

Believing that AI will be instrumental in radiology’s future, Dr. Reis accepted an invitation in 2022 to join Bayer. This work has afforded her the opportunity to help integrate AI algorithms into radiologists’ daily workflows. Meanwhile she has helped pioneer Bayer’s strategy for curating imaging data specifically for radiology departments, yet she has found time to share her knowledge at major international radiology congresses such as ECR and RSNA.

“Despite her demanding professional journey,” her nominator writes, “she has never lost sight of her role as a mother, which she considers her most important responsibility. Her perseverance, determination and refusal to take the easy path have defined her career and life.”