By Sam Marie Engle
Thanks to the Omicron surge, Carolyn Meltzer’s last days at Emory were largely remote. Zoom and Teams let her split her time between wrapping things up in her roles at Emory—William P. Timmie Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences; executive associate dean for faculty academic advancement, leadership, and inclusion and chief diversity and inclusion officer for the School of Medicine—and preparing for her new role as dean of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. As usual, she’s everywhere at once, and yet, not: COVID blunts the poignancy of these days with the same casual cruelty that’s defined the past two years of remote living.
That blunting doesn’t apply when talking via Zoom with Dr. Meltzer. Two computer screens and miles between us don’t cool her warmth, nor do they dim the light that radiates from her when she talks about what matters most to her.
Our discussion is about looking back, yes, and it’s also about what lies ahead for Emory Radiology because of what she’s accomplished and because of the deep bench of talent (her words) she’s leaving behind.
The following is minimally edited for clarity and length.
Thanks to the Omicron surge, Carolyn Meltzer’s last days at Emory were largely remote. Zoom and Teams let her split her time between wrapping things up in her roles at Emory—William P. Timmie Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences; executive associate dean for faculty academic advancement, leadership, and inclusion and chief diversity and inclusion officer for the School of Medicine—and preparing for her new role as dean of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. As usual, she’s everywhere at once, and yet, not: COVID blunts the poignancy of these days with the same casual cruelty that’s defined the past two years of remote living.
That blunting doesn’t apply when talking via Zoom with Dr. Meltzer. Two computer screens and miles between us don’t cool her warmth, nor do they dim the light that radiates from her when she talks about what matters most to her.
Our discussion is about looking back, yes, and it’s also about what lies ahead for Emory Radiology because of what she’s accomplished and because of the deep bench of talent (her words) she’s leaving behind.
The following is minimally edited for clarity and length.
You’ve accomplished so much: making Emory an imaging sciences research powerhouse by recruiting top clinical and scientific scholars; launching the Center for Systems Imaging Core to serve the entire Emory research enterprise; launching and growing the department’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative; expanding the depth and range of our clinical and research training programs; RLA, SEI, our APP program. The list is long. Thinking back on your time with Emory Radiology, what are you most proud of and why?
L-R: Amit Saindane, Deb Smith, Ursula Jean-Baptiste, Carolyn Meltzer, Greg Hill
The people. We’re all so interdependent in the best possible way. We’ve got an incredible team of people I’ve been so honored to work with from the executive leadership to our administrative support staff to our frontline clinical care providers. Everyone has brought their best to their work, and it shows. The concept of One Emory Radiology has been really important. It’s what holds us together as a department. We have great bench depth because of our people.
As we move forward, just as we have during my time here, we have to make sure we always recognize that as we grow, people have different experiences they bring, different ideas, where there isn’t a clear “best practice” we have room for input. We’ve strived to flatten the organization hierarchy so that there is greater input from all levels. The department is in a better place than when I arrived but not because of me. It’s because of all of us.
As we move forward, just as we have during my time here, we have to make sure we always recognize that as we grow, people have different experiences they bring, different ideas, where there isn’t a clear “best practice” we have room for input. We’ve strived to flatten the organization hierarchy so that there is greater input from all levels. The department is in a better place than when I arrived but not because of me. It’s because of all of us.
What mantra or “golden rules” have you used to guide your decision making?
The golden rule has to be values-based leadership. We can’t make decisions devoid of what is important to us and the values we hold as a department: supporting our people, diversity of ideas, inclusive workplace, transparency of process, equity in decision making and how we think about our resources.
I came to Emory because I got a clear sense that leadership focused on integrity of decision making; what’s best for our patients, for our learners, and for everyone who works here was a guiding light. That really came through and I’m happy to say it has held true.
I came to Emory because I got a clear sense that leadership focused on integrity of decision making; what’s best for our patients, for our learners, and for everyone who works here was a guiding light. That really came through and I’m happy to say it has held true.
What has kept you with Emory Radiology for these past 15 years?
The people have kept me at Emory. First and foremost. We have the best people here. Plus, I’ve been able to grow both professionally and personally and I’ve been supported in that growth. I’ve loved helping to grow our partnerships with the CTSA (Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance), GA Tech through Coulter BMI (Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering of Emory and Georgia Tech), and more recently, with FAALI (the School of Medicine Office of Faculty Academic Advancement, Leadership and Inclusion). DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) always has been a passion of mine. I never felt like I had reached a ceiling.
It’s never been about the level of a position for my next job, but about opportunity for impact. I was taken by surprise when the USC opportunity came along; I wasn’t looking. Yet I was drawn to consider it because the new leadership is committed to values-based leadership and integrity. The more I talked about what was most important to me as a leader, it resonated with them and the direction the leadership and faculty wanted to go. It’s a nice fit with my strengths and style of leadership.
It feels like the right time to leave. I’ve always been clear that I didn’t want to overstay and be in the way of someone coming in with fresh ideas.
It’s never been about the level of a position for my next job, but about opportunity for impact. I was taken by surprise when the USC opportunity came along; I wasn’t looking. Yet I was drawn to consider it because the new leadership is committed to values-based leadership and integrity. The more I talked about what was most important to me as a leader, it resonated with them and the direction the leadership and faculty wanted to go. It’s a nice fit with my strengths and style of leadership.
It feels like the right time to leave. I’ve always been clear that I didn’t want to overstay and be in the way of someone coming in with fresh ideas.
Many of us feel uncertain about the future. What gives you hope for us?
It’s a great time to have this transition. We’re building a new research building (Health Sciences Research Building II). We’re expanding our cancer center footprint and the new Children’s (Healthcare of Atlanta) campus is just magnificent. Radiology has been involved with all of these are opportunities. We’ve recruited a large number of faculty—30 last year and 30 for this year—and those who have committed to join Emory have not been hesitant due to my departure. This shows you just how strong the Emory Radiology brand is. Our leadership team is committed to each other and to progress and moving forward.
When I first came, there wasn’t a clear emphasis on directors serving as mentors for their faculty nor on leadership development. That has become something all of our division directors and vice chairs now take seriously. Junior faculty are being encouraged and mentored and that energizes people.
Yes, it’s been a rough couple of years with the pandemic and with what’s going on nationally and locally, but the department is in a great position. We have record commitments for development and grant funding. We have exceptional technology here or on the way, such as the first fully integrated PET-MR scanner in Georgia, a 7T human MRI, MR-focused ultrasound, photon-counting CT, and more.
Our department is known nationally for our people and our accomplishments: our people are sought-after speakers, award-winners, respected leaders and members of our professional associations’ boards, game-changing researchers and clinicians in their subfields so I am confident it will be extremely attractive for outstanding candidates to seek the chair position and take the department to the next level.
When I first came, there wasn’t a clear emphasis on directors serving as mentors for their faculty nor on leadership development. That has become something all of our division directors and vice chairs now take seriously. Junior faculty are being encouraged and mentored and that energizes people.
Yes, it’s been a rough couple of years with the pandemic and with what’s going on nationally and locally, but the department is in a great position. We have record commitments for development and grant funding. We have exceptional technology here or on the way, such as the first fully integrated PET-MR scanner in Georgia, a 7T human MRI, MR-focused ultrasound, photon-counting CT, and more.
Our department is known nationally for our people and our accomplishments: our people are sought-after speakers, award-winners, respected leaders and members of our professional associations’ boards, game-changing researchers and clinicians in their subfields so I am confident it will be extremely attractive for outstanding candidates to seek the chair position and take the department to the next level.
People always ask what you'll miss the most, so we'll be different. What will you miss the least?
Dr. Saindane has been kidding me at meetings because I’m smiling so much. It’s the feeling of a release of the responsibility for so many people – the buck stops with the chair. During the initial days of COVID, I was so frightened we would lose someone. I stayed up nights worrying: how could I keep all of our people safe? I feel responsible for every single one of our people and that’s both a privilege and a burden.
What are your parting words of wisdom for us?
This is a very dynamic field we’re in. There are a lot of opportunities moving forward, so do it: move forward. Don’t be afraid of change. Take the path that makes sense and push the field forward.
Refocus on our clinical services and subspecialty services and make them part of interdisciplinary teams. Balance innovation with safety, quality with care.
It’s hard for me to leave Emory Radiology while we are in this remote COVID-surge state. I have never worked with so many wonderful people in my life. There are so many hugs left to give. I’ll cherish every moment I’ve been here.
Refocus on our clinical services and subspecialty services and make them part of interdisciplinary teams. Balance innovation with safety, quality with care.
It’s hard for me to leave Emory Radiology while we are in this remote COVID-surge state. I have never worked with so many wonderful people in my life. There are so many hugs left to give. I’ll cherish every moment I’ve been here.
Author’s Note: In the end, we both gave up trying to brush away the tears. Each drop rolling down my face was a thank you note for the honor of working with and for Carolyn, for the privilege of writing about the department’s many accomplishments during her tenure, for the daily lessons in leadership, for the hope she inspired during even the darkest days. A whole sheet of salt spheres spoke a deeper gratitude: Carolyn made it possible for me, still a freelancer but predominantly working for the department, to have an interventional procedure that smashed the fist of pain squeezing me into a marble of misery. To call her life-changing isn’t hyperbolic; it’s simply attestation. -s.m.e.