June 1, 2017 — RAD Women (#RADxx), a networking group for the advancement of women in imaging informatics, recently announced a new online resource center for current and prospective members.
RADxx is an initiative sponsored by Ambra Health and led by industry leaders Geraldine McGinty, M.D., and Ambra Health Chief Marketing Officer Mini Peiris to foster networking and mentorship opportunities for women leaders in radiology, informatics and information technology (IT) management of radiology systems.
The new RADxx resources hub will be curated by Kristina Hoque, M.D., and Judy Wawira Gichoya, M.D., to bring together assets that will help advance learning, networking and career opportunities for women in informatics. A live stream of current dialogue on the RADxx Twitter hashtag will also be displayed along with upcoming events, including a reception in support of RADxx at the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine’s (SIIM) 2017 annual meeting, June 1-3 in Pittsburgh.
Since its founding at the 2016 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference, RADxx has grown to include more than 100 women and men interested in increasing diversity within the various disciplines related to medical imaging. The core founding team has been joined by leading practitioners Amy Kotsenas, M.D., and Tessa Cook, M.D., Ph.D., and is advised by Bernadette Keefe, M.D. RADxx was developed in response to the underrepresentation of women in radiology, and particularly imaging informatics.
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.
McGinty believes that diverse representation in radiology is critical to effectively addressing the needs of women and minority groups in healthcare. "It's up to all of us to mentor and sponsor emerging leaders in radiology to close the gender gap within the field," she said.
McGinty recently highlighted the need for sponsorship and mentorship among women radiologists in a blog post, saying, "While mentors and sponsors serve different purposes, their end goal is the same: to help you achieve your goals. We wanted to create an environment that sparked more of these sponsorship opportunities for emerging women leaders in informatics and digital health."
For more information: radxx.ambrahealth.com
May 03, 2024 
