Andrea Birch, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Radiology, and Edwin Donnelly, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Radiology, were recently named Fellows of the American College of Radiology (ACR).
An honor bestowed upon only 10 percent of ACR members by the organization’s Board of Chancellors, the Fellow of the American College of Radiology (FACR) designation recognizes individuals who have exhibited a strong commitment to the field of radiology through research, education and service to the ACR.
“I am humbled and honored by this recognition,” said Dr. Birch. “I am grateful for the platform that the ACR has provided me to increase awareness of our specialty for our patients, our medical community, and the pipeline of talented and diverse students eager to carry on our tradition of service and excellence.”
Committed to advocacy, education, quality and safety, and research, the ACR is among the industry’s largest professional organizations leading the advancement of radiology.
“Fellowship in the ACR is an opportunity to further align myself with the organization that is out on the front lines supporting our patients and our profession,” said Dr. Donnelly.
Throughout their careers, both Drs. Birch and Donnelly have demonstrated their individual commitments to radiology through participation in various leadership positions at Vanderbilt, as well as with the ACR.
In addition to being faculty in the breast imaging section, Dr. Birch currently serves as Director of the Department of Radiology’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and as Chair of the ACR’s Tennessee Radiological Society Committee for Women and Diversity. In addition, she is a member of the ACR’s Commission for Women and Diversity, and serves on the task force for the ACR’s Pipeline Initiative for the Enrichment of Radiology (PIER) internship program. In the past, she has served as a preceptor for the PIER program, and has facilitated hands-on ACR workshops for students with expressed interest in the radiology profession.
Dr. Donnelly is a practicing cardiothoracic radiologist who previously served five years as the department’s Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program Director. Currently, he is Chair of the ACR’s Appropriateness Criteria Thoracic 2 Panel and a reviewer for the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Beginning in June, he will also assume the role of Thoracic Subspecialty Chair for the ACR’s Appropriateness Criteria Committee. He has also served on the ACR’s Continuous Professional Improvement Committee for chest imaging.
Together, Drs. Birch and Donnelly join a number of Department of Radiology colleagues who have formerly received FACR designation, including Drs. Rochelle Andreotti, Lori Deitte, Arthur Fleischer, Marta Hernanz-Schulman, John Huff, Reed Omary and Daniel Starnes.
Traditionally, new Fellows are recognized at a formal ceremony in front of colleagues and guests during the ACR’s Annual Meeting. However, given the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Fellows were honored during the ACR’s first-ever virtual Convocation Ceremony.
“While it was disappointing not to get to spend time in person with my fellow Fellows, the virtual ceremony was incredibly well done and a pleasure to be a part of,” said Dr. Donnelly.
“Although I missed the opportunity to meet and congratulate the other newly elected Fellows, I was excited to see how the College would conduct a virtual Convocation Ceremony, and was in awe of the effort made to make it as special as it traditionally has been,” added Dr. Birch.
The Convocation Ceremony is available to view on YouTube here.
Andrea Birch, MD
Edwin Donnelly, MD, PhD
