RLA Graduation: In Person and Personal
By Sam Marie Engle
Photos by Becky Stein
The nerves returned, as did the friendly competition, frosty air conditioning, and feelings of relief and accomplishment. On June 10, the members of the 13th class of the Radiology Leadership Academy showcased what they learned and how they applied it for three timely and valuable team projects. Department administrators, most of whom are RLA graduates themselves, family members, and other faculty and staff who served as mentors or otherwise supported the RLA program cheered them from tables scattered around the Jones Room of the Woodruff Library.
"It's so nice to be back together again in person," said Willie Arnold, MBA, department administrator for clinic operations and co-lead of the RLA program, as well as a member of the RLA Class of 2011. The crowd responded with affirmative cheers. Not wasting time, the team presentations began.
Photos by Becky Stein
The nerves returned, as did the friendly competition, frosty air conditioning, and feelings of relief and accomplishment. On June 10, the members of the 13th class of the Radiology Leadership Academy showcased what they learned and how they applied it for three timely and valuable team projects. Department administrators, most of whom are RLA graduates themselves, family members, and other faculty and staff who served as mentors or otherwise supported the RLA program cheered them from tables scattered around the Jones Room of the Woodruff Library.
"It's so nice to be back together again in person," said Willie Arnold, MBA, department administrator for clinic operations and co-lead of the RLA program, as well as a member of the RLA Class of 2011. The crowd responded with affirmative cheers. Not wasting time, the team presentations began.

Team Elevate Your Management
Optimizing Systemness at the Managerial Level
April Carter, Shelby Tilley, Bill Majdalany, Charnaye Bosley
Radiology managers typically supervise a single location within the Emory Healthcare system, with training and orientation activities for these managers usually handled by and specific to that location. This limits managers, both in terms of their ability to leverage the full range of Emory resources available to problem-solve and achieve excellence, but also in terms of their own professional growth. This project aims to develop and provide all radiology managers with a standardized toolkit of knowledge, skills, and resources to help them actualize the full potential of their teams and themselves. A standard process for knowledge transfer across all locations creates opportunities for sharing best practices among peers and for aligning the values and goals of managers with those of Emory Radiology.
Optimizing Systemness at the Managerial Level
April Carter, Shelby Tilley, Bill Majdalany, Charnaye Bosley
Radiology managers typically supervise a single location within the Emory Healthcare system, with training and orientation activities for these managers usually handled by and specific to that location. This limits managers, both in terms of their ability to leverage the full range of Emory resources available to problem-solve and achieve excellence, but also in terms of their own professional growth. This project aims to develop and provide all radiology managers with a standardized toolkit of knowledge, skills, and resources to help them actualize the full potential of their teams and themselves. A standard process for knowledge transfer across all locations creates opportunities for sharing best practices among peers and for aligning the values and goals of managers with those of Emory Radiology.

Wellness Warriors
Radiology Wellness Days
Lea Gilliland, Dani Njeri, Kelda Kemp, Frank Minja
Emory Radiology has a high turnover rate. Physicians and staff leaving is costly. Creating a supportive work environment where employees feel valued will decrease turnover and increase the number of experienced physicians and staff who stay and flourish. The project investigates the feasibility and potential impact of implementing wellness days for physicians.
Radiology Wellness Days
Lea Gilliland, Dani Njeri, Kelda Kemp, Frank Minja
Emory Radiology has a high turnover rate. Physicians and staff leaving is costly. Creating a supportive work environment where employees feel valued will decrease turnover and increase the number of experienced physicians and staff who stay and flourish. The project investigates the feasibility and potential impact of implementing wellness days for physicians.

RLA KAMV
How Can We Get the Best and Keep Them: Recruitment and Retention of Junior Faculty
Krystal Archer-Arroyo, Tracy Vaughn, Kendra Moore, Geetika Khanna
The Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences is experiencing an increase in the volume of imaging due to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing addition of hospitals to the Emory Healthcare system. Adding to staffing pressure are the number of faculty approaching retirement and an incredibly tight labor market. This project aims to produce a bold plan for recruiting and retaining the junior clinical faculty Emory Radiology needs to continue delivering excellence in clinical care with appropriate coverage for all locations. The plan includes the most cost-effective ways to successfully recruit and retain junior faculty starting with the next hiring cycle.
How Can We Get the Best and Keep Them: Recruitment and Retention of Junior Faculty
Krystal Archer-Arroyo, Tracy Vaughn, Kendra Moore, Geetika Khanna
The Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences is experiencing an increase in the volume of imaging due to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing addition of hospitals to the Emory Healthcare system. Adding to staffing pressure are the number of faculty approaching retirement and an incredibly tight labor market. This project aims to produce a bold plan for recruiting and retaining the junior clinical faculty Emory Radiology needs to continue delivering excellence in clinical care with appropriate coverage for all locations. The plan includes the most cost-effective ways to successfully recruit and retain junior faculty starting with the next hiring cycle.
When the teams finished their presentations, an emotional Amit Saindane, MD, MBA, interim chair, thanked and congratulated them for their hard work. A 2013 graduate of RLA, Dr. Saindane recalled the power of the program's lessons for him and paid tribute to former department chair Dr. Carolyn Meltzer, who brought RLA to life. He noted the timeliness of the projects aimed at retaining and supporting faculty and staff in the face of a seismic shift in the American workforce. He and the other department leaders present expressed enthusiasm for taking projects to the next level.
Deb Smith, department administrator and RLA Class of 2013 alumna, then called each Class of 2022 member forward to receive their graduation plaque from Dr. Saindane. Congratulations to the Class of 2022!
As is customary, Deb then announced the Class of 2023.
Deb Smith, department administrator and RLA Class of 2013 alumna, then called each Class of 2022 member forward to receive their graduation plaque from Dr. Saindane. Congratulations to the Class of 2022!
As is customary, Deb then announced the Class of 2023.
Shane Arrington, Director of Imaging Services, Emory University Hospital Midtown
Shalmali Dharmadhikari, CT Medical Physicist
Dawn Hillock, MRI Department Supervisor
Carrie Hoff, Assistant Professor, Division of Emergency and Trauma Imaging, and Emergency Radiology Site Director, Emory St. Joseph's Hospital
Christopher Krebbs, Assistant Professor, Division of Community Radiology Specialists
Erin Owoade, Human Resources Administrator
Eric Peterson, Lead Advanced Practice Provider
Susan Palasis, Professor, Division of Pediatric Imaging, and Medical Director, Pediatric Neuroradiology
Sagar Amin, Assistant Professor and Clinical Site Director of Cardiothoracic Imaging, Grady Health System
Colin Segovis, Assistant Professor, Division of Community Radiology Specialists, and Director of MRI Quality and Safety
Ila Sethi, Assistant Professor, Division of Nuclear Medicine, and Co-Director, Grand Rounds and Visiting Professors Program
Cadiesha Wilford, Manager, Clinic Operations, Emory Decatur Hospital and Emory Hillandale Hospital
Good luck and enjoy your RLA experience, Class of 2023!
And finally, the new alums and members of the previous 12 classes gathered for a group photo of the best classes ever!
Shalmali Dharmadhikari, CT Medical Physicist
Dawn Hillock, MRI Department Supervisor
Carrie Hoff, Assistant Professor, Division of Emergency and Trauma Imaging, and Emergency Radiology Site Director, Emory St. Joseph's Hospital
Christopher Krebbs, Assistant Professor, Division of Community Radiology Specialists
Erin Owoade, Human Resources Administrator
Eric Peterson, Lead Advanced Practice Provider
Susan Palasis, Professor, Division of Pediatric Imaging, and Medical Director, Pediatric Neuroradiology
Sagar Amin, Assistant Professor and Clinical Site Director of Cardiothoracic Imaging, Grady Health System
Colin Segovis, Assistant Professor, Division of Community Radiology Specialists, and Director of MRI Quality and Safety
Ila Sethi, Assistant Professor, Division of Nuclear Medicine, and Co-Director, Grand Rounds and Visiting Professors Program
Cadiesha Wilford, Manager, Clinic Operations, Emory Decatur Hospital and Emory Hillandale Hospital
Good luck and enjoy your RLA experience, Class of 2023!
And finally, the new alums and members of the previous 12 classes gathered for a group photo of the best classes ever!