VUMC Radiology has named Associate Professor Rifat Wahab, DO, as the Director of Breast Imaging for our Community Radiology section.
In this new role, Dr. Wahab will lead our department’s efforts in providing breast imaging services to our three regional hospitals, as well as establishing our remote breast imaging practice.
“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead our community breast imaging team,” says Dr. Wahab. “Remote diagnostics is a new horizon in breast imaging, and I am excited to bring Vanderbilt Radiology to the forefront.”
Dr. Wahab is a former VUMC fellow who graduated from our Women’s Imaging fellowship in 2015. She returned to our department in July 2024 as faculty, providing remote mammography coverage at Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital (VTHH), which she will continue to oversee.
“Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital is pleased to support the improvement of community health through the addition of Dr. Wahab to our team of radiologists,” says Jesse Mock, Associate Operating Officer for Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital. “She has embraced meeting and consulting with patients using telehealth services in our private consult room. Throughout Dr. Wahab’s onboarding and orientation to VTHH, she has been engaging and excited to help us grow our breast imaging program for our patients' benefit."
As VUMC continues to expand across Middle Tennessee, so will the services it offers. Establishing new programs like the remote breast imaging practice will help Vanderbilt meet patients where they are and provide them with the care they need.
“Having Dr. Wahab return to build remote diagnostic mammography and lead the community breast imaging group has been a great addition for the department,” says Dan Brown, MD, FSIR, Carol D. and Henry P. Pendergrass Professor and Chair, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences. “VUMC Radiology now has fellowship-trained breast imagers performing diagnostic studies at all three of our regional hospitals.”
Through this new service, patients across the area will now have access to dedicated breast imagers and mammographers, a new distinction offering more specialized care.
“Dr. Wahab has been so innovative in helping to offer clarity to our patients and give them the ability to have direct communication with a breast radiologist,” says Sarah Allen, MBA, CNMT, RT(CT), Senior Vice President for Radiology Services at VUMC. “Her compassion and exemplary care have brought service to patients in a region where this level of subspecialty focus has historically not been available. Our team is thrilled she has returned to Vanderbilt, and we feel so fortunate to partner with her!”
