Courtney Tomblinson, MD, Assistant Professor in the Vanderbilt Department of Radiology has been named the new Director of Women in Radiology (WiR). Her appointment is effective March 8, 2022.
Tomblinson will lead the WiR initiative as part of the department’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s vision, which is to create a culturally diverse, inclusive and welcoming environment. She has served as an integral leader as Associate Director of WiR for the past 3 years and as Associate Program Director for the Diagnostic Radiology residency program. Tomblinson succeeds Lucy Spalluto, MD MPH, who will maintain her roles as Vice Chair of Health Equity and Associate Director for Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Radiology.
Vanderbilt WiR was co-founded in 2015 by Spalluto and Stephanie Spottswood, MD MSPH, with a mission to cultivate knowledgeable, successful, confident women prepared to achieve career success and assume leadership positions. Spalluto and Spottswood developed an intentional, measured approach for Vanderbilt WiR that has allowed the program to serve as a model for other departments across the nation and beyond.
“As a field nationally, Radiology has struggled to recruit, retain and advance women,” said Tomblinson. “The foundation for Vanderbilt WiR was built by the vision of Dr. Spalluto, who has brought radiology workplace gender equity to the national conversation. Alongside our department chair, the WiR leadership team and others, I look forward to supporting the career development and advancement of women in radiology.”
A detailed description of Vanderbilt WiR and program outcomes are described by Tomblinson in Five Years Later: Impact of a Focused Women in Radiology Program, which concludes that “a structured, intentional WiR program can contribute to improved workplace gender equity, career satisfaction for women and a positive departmental culture shift to support the needs of women in radiology.”
“Vanderbilt Radiology recognizes the continued imperative to address the underrepresentation of women in radiology and in leadership positions,” said Spalluto. “We established Vanderbilt Women in Radiology in 2015 to begin to address the major unmet need of supporting the professional development of women in radiology. Dr. Tomblinson’s outstanding leadership will be critical in advancing this mission.”
Today, approximately 54 percent of Vanderbilt’s Diagnostic Radiology residents are women, compared to the national average of 29 percent (2021-2022). Furthermore, approximately 39 percent of the clinical faculty in the department are women, compared to the national average of 25 percent (2021-2022).
Vanderbilt Radiology thanks Spalluto for her contributions in helping women in radiology achieve career success and assume leadership positions.
“We are grateful for Dr. Spalluto’s leadership as the Director of Women in Radiology for the past seven years,” said Reed Omary, MD, MS, Carol D. and Henry P. Pendergrass Professor and Chair of Radiology. “Our Women in Radiology initiative has been influential in the development of countless similar programs in radiology departments across the nation. Vanderbilt Radiology is thrilled to announce Dr. Tomblinson as the new Director of Women in Radiology, a role that will shape the future of radiology. Our vision is to expand the identity of radiologists and the influence of our field. By 2030, we fully expect that our faculty will be comprised of over 50% women.”
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About Vanderbilt Department of Radiology
The Vanderbilt Department of Radiology combines today’s leaders in radiological sciences, cutting edge research and the most advanced technology within an environment of innovation, curiosity, diversity and collaboration. We are focused on making imaging advancements for the betterment of our patients, our trainees, and the future of radiological sciences. Learn more at www.vumc.org/radiology.
Contact: Liann Cates, liann.cates@vumc.org
