November 23, 2016 — Ambra Health announced it will launch RAD Women (#RADxx), an initiative focused on fostering networking and mentorship opportunities for women in digital health and informatics, at the upcoming Radiology Society of North America (RSNA) annual conference, Nov. 27-Dec. 1 in Chicago.
RADxx was conceived by Geraldine McGinty, M.D., a practicing radiologist and thought leader in the imaging and informatics space, and Mini Peiris, CMO at Ambra Health. The initiative will launch at a reception held on Nov. 29 at the RSNA conference in Chicago. All women involved in radiology, informatics and IT management of radiology systems are invited to join the group via LinkedIn.
In the American College of Radiology's most recent annual Commission on Human Resources Workforce Survey, women were found to be less likely to pursue a career in radiology than men, with just 21 percent of practicing radiologists being women. The low percentage of women is not just an issue in radiology and radiology informatics, but maps to a broader trend across the technology and healthcare industries as a whole where women are underrepresented. According to the National Center for Information & Technology, women make-up just 25 percent of the computing workforce. When these numbers are divided across women within minority groups, the percentages become even smaller.
McGinty believes that to best address the needs of women and minority groups within healthcare, diverse leadership teams are critical. McGinty said, "We will be more effective at meeting the needs of our patients if we reflect their diversity. It's critically important that we develop women leaders in informatics and digital health. It is up to women within radiology to mentor and sponsor younger women and continue to inspire and drive them towards realizing their potential."
Tessa Cook, M.D., a practicing radiologist and informatics innovator, is looking forward to the launch of RADxx and is eager to help grow the initiative. "Women are strongly underrepresented in radiology and imaging informatics. While we cannot pinpoint one single factor, studies have shown that choosing a specialty is often linked to having strong role models in that field. Initiatives like RADxx will help to mentor young women interested in radiology as they plan their careers," said Cook.
Technology industry veteran Mini Peiris will draw on her experience launching and running successful mentor programs at previous organizations for the development of the RADxx Initiative. She was a founding member of WIN (Women in NetSuite) during her tenure at NetSuite Inc., the tech industry's leading provider of cloud ERP software suites. The charter of WIN was to inspire and grow women leaders and Peiris served as the chair for its mentor program.
For more information: www.ambrahealth.com
August 06, 2024 
