Message from Department Chair
Faculty News
Dr. Neeraj Lalwani, Associate Editor of Abdominal Radiology.
Neeraj Lalwani, M.D., Professor of Radiology, Abdominal Imaging Section, has been appointed Associate Editor for the Hollow Organ GI section of the Abdominal Radiology journal. Lalwani is nothing short of outstanding as a clinician and a teacher. He joins an exceptional team of editors and Ann Fulcher, M.D., who sits on the journal's Editorial Board.
Dr. Neeraj Lalwani Publishes New MRI Book.
Neeraj Lalwani, M.D., publishes new book, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Pelvis: A Practical Approach. The book is essential for every radiology department and practice, and it's excellent as a quick reference for complex pelvic MRI cases. VCU Radiology professor Lalwani is an expert in gastrointestinal imaging and body MRI with a specific interest in hepatopancreaticobiliary and pelvic imaging.
Dr. Ann Fulcher's vision is 'all about what's possible'
Ann Fulcher, M.D., focuses her gaze on two very different worlds. Through one lens, she captures luminous flowers, midflight birds, vibrant streetscapes and still-wild territories, in her work as an award-winning photographer. Through another lens she surveys the no less remarkable landscape of the human body, as an award-winning radiologist and chair of the VCU School of Medicine's Department of Radiology.
(Photo of Ann Fulcher, M.D. by Kevin Schindler)
Lung Cancer Screening Program on WTVR CBS 6 News
The VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Lung Cancer Screening Program makes local news for its role in National Lung Cancer Screening Day
The VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center's Lung Cancer Screening team's participation in the November 12th National Lung Cancer Screening Day was a feature on WTVR CBS 6 News. Also included in the reporting, Michelle Futrell, Senior Nurse Program Coordinator for the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Lung Cancer Screening Program.
The VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Lung Cancer Screening Program was one of 320 programs participating across the country, according to Dr. Mark Parker, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center's Lung Cancer Screening Program Director. The goal of National Lung Cancer Screening Day was to raise awareness about lung cancer and improve access to life-saving lung cancer screening.
Kelley K. Whitmer, M.D., VCU Musculoskeletal Imaging Fellowship Alumnus
Dr. Whitmer honoring the intention of his rural primary care education
Dr. Kelley K. Whitmer earned his medical degree in 2003 and his internship in Internal Medicine in 2004 at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). He went on to complete his Diagnostic Radiology residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN in 2008. Dr. Whitmer then came to VCU as a Musculoskeletal Imaging (MSK) fellow from July 2008 until June 2009. Since 2009, he has served on the faculty of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke, VA.
Currently, Dr. Whitmer is an Assistant Professor and the MSK Imaging Elective Director for fourth year medical students, and the Medical Director of Imaging Services at the Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital. He says, “I'm honoring the intention of my "Rural Primary Care Track" education at ETSU by serving as the Medical Director for the Radiology Department of a 25 bed hospital in Franklin County, Virginia…” Dr. Whitmer also champions for the new Health Systems Science and Inter-professional Practice education for the Department of Radiology. Dr. Whitmer remarks, “I work with faculty from all our clinical departments to develop Health Systems Science curriculum for third and fourth year medical students. I’m also a small group facilitator for first and second year students in the Health Systems Science curriculum.”
(Photo features Dr. Kelley K. Whitmer, on right, with his wife Michelle. Photo courtesy Dr. Whitmer.)
Q&A with Alumnus Dr. Kelley K. Whitmer
We asked Dr. Kelley K. Whitmer a couple of questions about his experience at VCU and this is what he had to say:
“What I liked most about the MSK fellowship at VCU was the preparation for a high volume practice in procedural and diagnostic musculoskeletal radiology.”
“My advice for future residents and fellows is to never stop learning and always look for ways to improve efficiency. No one will ever ask you to do less work next year than you did this year.”
“Yes, one "rule" that I apply to radiology every day, which I learned from retired VCU Professor Curtis Hayes, M.D. is, ‘Old films are better than brains.’ Meaning, always look at prior studies to determine if something is truly a new finding.”
Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Alumna Stephanie Spottswood, MD, MSPH
Dr. Stephanie Spottswood a diversity, equity and inclusion champion
Stephanie Spottswood, MD, MSPH, completed her pediatric radiology fellowship training at VCU in 1992 and remained at VCU for several years as a faculty member. She later went on to practice pediatric radiology at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee. Here, she served as the Department of Radiology’s first Associate Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Spottswood retired from clinical practice in 2018, but remains as an Emerita Professor of Radiology where she continues serving the Vanderbilt community as a mentor, teacher, and unconscious bias trainer.
Dr. Spottswood was recently honored by the Vanderbilt Department of Radiology with the naming of a new medical education center after her. She often advises mentees, “Your time is limited so stay focused on your goal. Try to obtain a good mentor or sponsor to help you achieve your goals."
Dr. Spottswood and her exceptional career will be featured in the next edition of our Alumni Insights newsletter.
(Photo of Dr. Stephanie Spottswood courtesy Stephanie Spottswood, MD, MSPH)