ACR Names Thorwarth New CEO

In April, William T. Thorwarth, Jr., M.D., FACR, will replace Harvey L. Neiman, M.D., FACR, as CEO of the American College of Radiology (ACR), the College announced. Thorwarth has big shoes to fill. Neiman, who is retiring, had held the leadership positions at the Reston, Va.-based ACR for more than 20 years and become synonymous with the College in many ways. The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute, launched in 2012, is named in his honor. To his new role, Thorwarth brings more than 30 years of private practice experience and extensive leadership background with the ACR and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Positions he has held include ACR president, chair of the ACR Economics Commission, member of the ACR Board of Chancellors and member of the RSNA Board of Directors. In addition, the ACR’s William T. Thorwarth, Jr., M.D., Award, which honors ACR members and staff who demonstrate excellence in economics and health policy, is named after him. As a radiologist with a special understanding of reimbursement issues, he has chaired the American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel and served as the ACR’s advisor to the AMA Relative Value Update Committee. “I have worked closely with Dr. Thorwarth for many years. I know he cares deeply about the ACR, about radiology, about medicine and the patients that we serve. I applaud the board's choice. I will do everything that I can to ensure a seamless transition and help him lead this great profession into the future,” stated Neiman, M.D., in the ACR’s announcement. Paul H. Ellenbogen, M.D., FACR, the ACR Board of Chancellors Chair, also expressed the Board’s view of Thorwarth as an “outstanding and well respected leader” in the press release. “As we enter a new era in health care, the College is extremely pleased to have a CEO with such a breadth of experience to help radiology navigate the shifting medical landscape,” he stated. “We look forward to his energetic leadership for many years to come.” Thorwarth began his career as an emergency room physician in New Bern, N.C., and later served as chair of the Frye Regional Medical Center Board of Directors in Hickory, N.C. In 1984, he joined Catawba Radiological Associates in Hickory, N.C., where he still serves. "I am deeply honored to be chosen to help lead radiology forward during this time of great change in our health care system, Torwarth stated in the announcement. “I look forward to carrying on the tremendous leadership tradition at ACR and to helping radiology shape the future of medicine.”