Thomas A. Sos, MD, FSIR
March 6, 2023 — The Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation today presented the Leaders in Innovation Award to Thomas A. Sos, MD, FSIR, during the Society of Interventional Radiology’s (SIR) Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix.
A former SIR president and a 2009 recipient of the SIR Gold Medal, Sos is widely regarded as one of the world’s top authorities in renal angioplasty and stenting and a pioneer of minimally invasive peripheral artery disease therapies. He holds more than 14 patents for interventional radiology devices and his most famous devices include the first microcatheter (the “Sos Open-ended Guidewire”), the first shaped embolization coil (the “Tornado”), the “Viper” small vessel PTA catheter, and the “Omni” series of selective and flush catheters. He also developed 10 non-patented devices. The author of more than 140 peer-reviewed papers, Sos’ “first descriptions” include coarctation angioplasty, caudo-cranial coronary angiography projections, myocardial scintigraphy animal feasibility studies, the intra-aortic balloon pump animal feasibility studies, intermittency of massive GI bleeding, and below knee and renal artery angioplasty and stenting.
“Dr. Sos is a natural-born innovator who exemplifies the spirit of the Leaders in Innovation Award,” said SIR Foundation Chair Theresa M. Caridi, MD, FSIR. “He set a precedent for visionary inventions in our field, affording millions of patients around the world with minimally invasive treatment options.”
The Dr. Gary J. Becker Young Investigator Award recognizes promising young practitioners to support the pursuit of academic careers. This year’s recipient is Resmi Ann Charalel, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of interventional radiology and population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine. Her clinical practice focuses on interventional oncology and liver directed therapies and her scholarly focus is on health services research, interventional oncology trials, patient reported outcomes, and quality improvement. As co-chair of the SIR Quality Data Analytics Committee and a member of the SIR Foundation’s Comparative Effectiveness Committee, she contributes to national research and clinical endeavors, including most recently assisting with the design and implementation of the SIR VIRTEX registry.
“Through her research and her volunteer work with SIR and SIR Foundation, Dr. Charalel has shown her dedication to optimizing patient care and demonstrating the value of interventional radiology,” said Caridi. “We are pleased to bestow the Young Investigator Award on her and look forward to her continued research to advance IR.”
Charalel will be recognized during an award ceremony on March 6, which will also honor the recipients of SIR Foundation’s Excellence in Innovation, Dr. Constantin Cope Medical Student Research Award, Resident Research Award and Research Training Award. A full list of award recipients is available on sirfoundation.org.
Support for Research also Recognized
During the SIR Foundation Gala tonight, Erik N.K. Cressman, MD, PhD, FSIR, will receive the Frederick S. Keller, MD, Philanthropy Award, which honors an individual who, through exceptional generosity and through inspiring others to give, demonstrates outstanding commitment to SIR Foundation.
Cressman is an associate professor of interventional radiology at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where he serves as a research advisor for MD Anderson’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences PhD Advisory Committee and runs the Image Guided Chemistry Lab. An active volunteer with SIR and SIR Foundation, he served on SIR Foundation’s Research Policy Committee from 2006–2014, on the SIR Policy Research and Payment (PReP) Task Force from 2016–2018, and on SIR Foundation’s Board of Directors as the Grants and Education Division Chair from 2013–2020. Cressman currently serves on SIR’s Annual Scientific Meeting Committee as the workshop chair for SIR 2023. In addition to his volunteer work, Cressman is an IR researcher, focusing on tumor heterogeneity and metabolism, thermochemistry, cell stress, cancer immunology, thermal imaging, and mass spectrometry imaging.
“Dr. Cressman is a valued volunteer, mentor and supporter, who has given generously of his time, talent and treasure to move IR research forward,” Caridi said. “This honor is well deserved and a tribute to his efforts and to deliver better treatments through innovation and evidence-based medicine.”
For more information: www.sirfoundation.org
September 21, 2023 
