USC med school Dean Carolyn Meltzer, MD, named RSNA board chair
CHICAGO — Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD, a noted neuroradiologist and dean of the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, has been named the next RSNA board chair.
The Radiological Society of North America made the announcement Sunday during the opening day of its 2025 annual meeting in Chicago. Her priorities as chair will include advocating for professional development, academic advancement and inclusivity, RSNA said in an announcement.
“I am honored to chair the RSNA Board of Directors as we empower the radiology community to thrive as stewards of disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention, and pioneers of medical imaging technology,” Meltzer said in a statement Nov. 30. “Together, we will help ensure that the society leads in driving transformative advancements for our field and the communities we serve.”
Meltzer has served as dean of the Keck School of Medicine since 2022. There, she leads a team of over 2,300 faculty across a “research-intensive institution dedicated to the health of one of the country’s most diverse populations,” RSNA noted. Prior to that, she was a professor and radiology department chair, among other titles, with the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Meltzer has mentored more than 75 trainees and junior faculty and helped launch the Emory Radiology Leadership Academy during her tenure as chair. She is a past president of both the American Society of Neuroradiology and the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research and has held numerous national leadership roles. Those included serving as inaugural chair of the ACR Commission on Research. She is a prolific researcher, having authored more than 200 scientific papers and maintaining 20 years of National Institutes of Health funding.
You can read much more about her storied career in the RSNA announcement.
Meanwhile, the society also announced Jennifer L. Kemp, MD, and Birgit B. Ertl-Wagner, MD, PhD, are joining its board. Kemp is chair of quality at Diversified Radiology of Colorado, Denver, and specializes in body imaging. She will serve as RSNA board liaison for government relations.
“Radiology is at a crossroads, facing a global shortage of radiologists and rising volumes that place greater pressure on timely and accurate patient care,” Kemp said in a statement. “While these challenges may seem daunting, I believe RSNA has both the influence and responsibility to lead our profession forward with vision and integrity.”
And finally, Ertl-Wagner is radiologist-in-chief at the Hospital for Sick Children and professor with the University of Toronto. She will serve as RSNA board liaison for science and previously received the society’s Honored Educator Award in 2023.
“I will strive to help make a positive, lasting impact on RSNA and the radiology community and help radiology professionals deliver the highest quality care and drive improvements that benefit patients and the medical community as a whole,” she said in a statement.
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.