Med school picks radiologist as next dean, plus more leadership moves from RadNet, Rutgers and Rad AI
The University of Virginia on Tuesday named radiologist Colin Derdeyn, MD, as interim dean of the UVA School of Medicine, one of several recent leadership moves in the specialty.
Derdeyn received both his undergraduate and medical degrees from the school and returned to UVA as chair of radiology and medical imaging in January 2024. He’s taking over for vascular surgeon and current Dean Melina Kibbe, MD, who is departing Sept. 3 to become president of UT Health Houston.
“I am honored to serve as interim dean of the school of medicine. This is both a privilege and a responsibility I take deeply to heart,” Derdeyn wrote in a message shared Aug. 12. “We face real challenges in the months ahead—recruitment, funding pressures and the need to maintain momentum in a time of change—but I believe our extraordinary people and our dedication to all our missions will carry us forward,” he added later.
Before returning to the Charlottesville, Virginia, institution last year, Derdeyn held several distinguished roles at University of Iowa Healthcare and Washington University’s School of Medicine/Barnes Jewish Hospital. The UVA selected him to fill the role after “many listening and discussion sessions with hundreds of members of the school of medicine.” Interest in the selection process was high, the university said, with over 400 surveys completed.
Derdeyn also has served as president of the Society of Neurointerventional Surgery and chair of the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. During his term as interim dean, Cree Gaskin, MD, will take over as chair of radiology and medical imaging.
“We are grateful to both Dr. Derdeyn and Dr. Gaskin for answering the call and providing stability and collaborative leadership in their respective posts,” university leaders said Tuesday.
Rutgers names new radiation oncology chair
Rutgers University has selected Joseph Contessa, MD, PhD, as its new chair of radiation oncology following a national search.
He joins the New Brunswick, New Jersey-based institution from Yale University, where he had served as professor of therapeutic radiology and co-leader of the Yale Cancer Center’s radiobiology and genome integrity research program, among other titles. Contessa will lead radiation oncology initiatives across the Rutgers Cancer Institute, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
“Dr. Contessa’s expertise in radiation oncology, cancer biology and the development of novel therapeutics brings extraordinary value not only to Rutgers, but to the people of New Jersey,” Brian L. Strom, MD, chancellor of Rutgers Health, said in an Aug. 6 announcement. “His leadership will accelerate the translation of cutting-edge cancer research into more effective treatments, helping us deliver the highest level of care to patients across the state.”
Contessa also will serve as associate director for translational research at the Rutgers Cancer Institute. He is an internationally recognized physician and scientist, the school noted, with his career spanning 20 years. Contessa has acted as principal or co-investigator on over 20 grants and published 70-plus peer-reviewed manuscripts. He also is member of several major professional associations including the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Society for Glycobiology.
Contessa takes over for Bruce Haffty, MD, MS, who recently announced he was stepping down from the role after 20 years. Haffty will continue as system director of radiation oncology for RWJBarnabas Health and the Rutgers Cancer Institute and will see patients at the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center.
“I’m honored to join the exceptional team of physicians and scientists at Rutgers Cancer Institute and Rutgers University and look forward to continuing our leadership in advancing radiation therapy research and care,” Contessa said in a statement.
RadNet hires PR vet
Los Angeles-based imaging center operator RadNet Inc. has hired healthcare public relations veteran Jane Mazur as its senior VP of communications.
In the newly created position, she will report to company CEO Howard Berger, MD, and serve as a member of the leadership team, PRWeek reported Aug. 4.
Mazur previously served as VP of public relations for IonQ, a publicly traded computing hardware and software company. Before that, she was VP of global communications for breast imaging vendor Hologic. At RadNet, she will oversee the company’s internal and external communications, serving as a key spokesperson in stakeholder relations.
“As I take on this next challenge with RadNet, I’m excited to return to healthcare—an industry I’m deeply passionate about—and to help elevate the voice of a company making a meaningful impact in the lives of millions through diagnostic imaging and AI-driven innovation,” she said in a social media post.
Rapid fire
A few more leadership appointments of note, in brief:
- Maui Diagnostic Imaging in Kahului, Hawaii, has named radiologist Rosaleen Parsons, MD, as its new medical director. In the role, she will lead the strategic and clinical direction of the imaging center, overseeing quality assurance, physician engagement and technology integration.
- San Francisco-based imaging artificial intelligence vendor Rad AI recently appointed Barrett Dwyer as chief financial officer and Kevin Field as chief revenue officer. As CFO, Dwyer will oversee the company’s financial strategy, operations and planning, while Field will shape Rad AI’s overall business strategy and ensure “cross-functional alignment to achieve revenue goals.”
- And finally, Instylla Inc.—a privately held, clinical-stage company developing solutions for peripheral vascular embolization—has appointed Sean Boyle, MBA, as CEO. He joins the Bedford, Massachusetts, vendor from Becton Dickinson, where he served as VP and general manager, overseeing a global portfolio producing nearly $1 billion in revenue.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.