The archi-tech: nabile safdar, md
By Sam Marie Engle

You wouldn't expect the tech guy to say, "Tech is great, process is important, but the people are what makes this work exciting," but then Dr. Nabile Safdar isn't your average techie.
First, he’s a pediatric radiologist and children inspire his relentless pursuit of the best technological solutions. “A lot of children, including my own, will grow up to become patients of Emory Healthcare. I want to know that when our children grow up, they will have a better system than we have today. That’s what motivates me,” he says.
As vice chair of imaging informatics, Dr. Safdar is in the position to realize that vision. In the past few years, he’s overseen the department’s transition to the Sectra picture and archiving communication system (PACS), something that took five years of planning and preparation. He also oversaw the team preparing for the department’s transition to Epic and continues to advocate for the department in securing resources and support to resolve the remaining Epic issues.
“One of the frameworks I’ve tried to use is to make sure we have the best tools for our doctors and providers, the best insights for our leaders to make decisions with, and the best care experience for patients who come to us,” he says.
First, he’s a pediatric radiologist and children inspire his relentless pursuit of the best technological solutions. “A lot of children, including my own, will grow up to become patients of Emory Healthcare. I want to know that when our children grow up, they will have a better system than we have today. That’s what motivates me,” he says.
As vice chair of imaging informatics, Dr. Safdar is in the position to realize that vision. In the past few years, he’s overseen the department’s transition to the Sectra picture and archiving communication system (PACS), something that took five years of planning and preparation. He also oversaw the team preparing for the department’s transition to Epic and continues to advocate for the department in securing resources and support to resolve the remaining Epic issues.
“One of the frameworks I’ve tried to use is to make sure we have the best tools for our doctors and providers, the best insights for our leaders to make decisions with, and the best care experience for patients who come to us,” he says.
The I Team
Dr. Safdar loves the work and all that goes into it, especially building Emory Radiology’s informatics team.
“The consistent source of excitement has been meeting, identifying, and developing young talent. The people coming into the department, their excitement, the level of their skills, it’s been gratifying creating an atmosphere here at Emory in which they are thriving.”
He immediately notes Peter Harri, MD, assistant professor and medical director of imaging informatics; Judy Gichoya, MD, assistant professor and the award-winning leader of the Healthcare Innovations and Translational Informatics (HITI) Lab; Hari Trivedi, MD, assistant professor also with the HITI Lab; Patricia Balthazar, MD, architect of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency program’s Integrated Imaging Informatics Track (I3T), which she co-directs with Dr. Harri; and Neil Lall, MD, assistant professor and director of imaging informatics at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
“And I’m constantly impressed by the residents in the I3T,” he says, noting that the 2021 Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Shark Tank winner was Valeria Makeeva, MD, PhD, who graduated from diagnostic radiology residency last year and was an I3T star.
Pursuit of the Best
Dr. Safdar has an ambitious wish list for what should come next in informatics for the department, he confides. “I’d love for us to get clinical AI tools that would be useful for identifying emergency conditions. If we do this well, our Emergency and Trauma Imaging, Community, and Cardiothoracic Imaging divisions will really enhance their work.”
He’s also leaning heavily into analytics. In fact, he co-leads the Analytics Advisory Council for Emory Healthcare and is building the department’s analytics capacity.
“Linda has been doing a great job with analytics and taking them to the next level,” he says of Linda Roesche, MPH, the department’s manager of data analytics. He explains that she is collaborating with Colin Segovis, MD, PhD, MRMD(MRSCTM), assistant professor and medical director of revenue cycle operations as well as director of MRI quality and safety, and Laura Benson, interim vice president of Emory Healthcare Imaging Services. “The goal is to create a culture of being guided by analytics.”
He also thinks there’s epic opportunity for improving the patient experience. “Our transition to Epic has given us a lot of opportunity, but we’re not all the way there yet. We want a cleaner and nicer experience checking in and image exchange still needs work.” He sees Epic as going to the next level when it comes to patient empowerment. “Patient empowerment makes a real and tangible difference to wellness. For us, that means patients being able to log into Epic and self-schedule exams, and patients being able to see their actual images. Even if they don’t fully understand what they’re seeing at first, it would go a long way for them to see the images when meeting with their doctor, and seeing what’s driving care decisions.”
Dr. Safdar says all of this will take time, and the need to go slowly is important to get it right. Fortunately, he’s a master at patience. It’s how he got into academic medicine in the first place.
“I didn’t plan on a career in academic medicine,” he says. “Initially my wife was going to do her training where we were in Baltimore, and I would wait. My chair knew I was stuck there for four years, so he suggested I come up with some academic goals and if it worked out great. I thought what a deal, I’ll give it a try. I got a grant and then another, started publishing, and it hooked me. The impact you can have is on a much broader scale, whether for trainees or patients; you can’t beat it. Plus, I’m always learning new things. There’s always something new.”
Leadership Lessons
Dr. Safdar is as much of a leader outside of radiology. He’s active in medical relief work and in faith-based work. Last year the Islamic Speakers Bureau (ISB) of Atlanta named him one of 100 Influential Georgia Muslims for his community leadership. He currently chairs the ISB Board of Directors and is completing an intense program year as a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2023.
“Leadership means being a student. It’s important to learn from others. Being in Leadership Atlanta, I’ve gotten to meet with people I otherwise never would meet. You can learn from it and bring those lessons back into this work (in radiology). Doing medical relief missions, you realize how incredibly fortunate we are. We are dealing with first world problems. It’s taught me that our problems are not always the major problems we think they are.”
For the Children
When asked how he recharges his batteries, he smiles, “I think it’s more important to keep your battery in good condition rather than recharging after draining it.” A good run or hike or bike ride as well as prayer and meditation keep his battery conditioned. Community service work is essential, too. “It gives me a sense of mission and purpose.”
Family also is a source of strength and inspiration. When asked where his heart is, he pauses. “The easiest answer is when I open up the Find My app and I see where my family (members are) spread out, that’s my first level: my family. My oldest is an undergrad at Emory now,” he says proudly.
And then we return to the topic of children. “The other answer I would say is building the health-care system that young people and children deserve.”
What a beautiful legacy of leadership.
Dr. Safdar loves the work and all that goes into it, especially building Emory Radiology’s informatics team.
“The consistent source of excitement has been meeting, identifying, and developing young talent. The people coming into the department, their excitement, the level of their skills, it’s been gratifying creating an atmosphere here at Emory in which they are thriving.”
He immediately notes Peter Harri, MD, assistant professor and medical director of imaging informatics; Judy Gichoya, MD, assistant professor and the award-winning leader of the Healthcare Innovations and Translational Informatics (HITI) Lab; Hari Trivedi, MD, assistant professor also with the HITI Lab; Patricia Balthazar, MD, architect of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency program’s Integrated Imaging Informatics Track (I3T), which she co-directs with Dr. Harri; and Neil Lall, MD, assistant professor and director of imaging informatics at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
“And I’m constantly impressed by the residents in the I3T,” he says, noting that the 2021 Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Shark Tank winner was Valeria Makeeva, MD, PhD, who graduated from diagnostic radiology residency last year and was an I3T star.
Pursuit of the Best
Dr. Safdar has an ambitious wish list for what should come next in informatics for the department, he confides. “I’d love for us to get clinical AI tools that would be useful for identifying emergency conditions. If we do this well, our Emergency and Trauma Imaging, Community, and Cardiothoracic Imaging divisions will really enhance their work.”
He’s also leaning heavily into analytics. In fact, he co-leads the Analytics Advisory Council for Emory Healthcare and is building the department’s analytics capacity.
“Linda has been doing a great job with analytics and taking them to the next level,” he says of Linda Roesche, MPH, the department’s manager of data analytics. He explains that she is collaborating with Colin Segovis, MD, PhD, MRMD(MRSCTM), assistant professor and medical director of revenue cycle operations as well as director of MRI quality and safety, and Laura Benson, interim vice president of Emory Healthcare Imaging Services. “The goal is to create a culture of being guided by analytics.”
He also thinks there’s epic opportunity for improving the patient experience. “Our transition to Epic has given us a lot of opportunity, but we’re not all the way there yet. We want a cleaner and nicer experience checking in and image exchange still needs work.” He sees Epic as going to the next level when it comes to patient empowerment. “Patient empowerment makes a real and tangible difference to wellness. For us, that means patients being able to log into Epic and self-schedule exams, and patients being able to see their actual images. Even if they don’t fully understand what they’re seeing at first, it would go a long way for them to see the images when meeting with their doctor, and seeing what’s driving care decisions.”
Dr. Safdar says all of this will take time, and the need to go slowly is important to get it right. Fortunately, he’s a master at patience. It’s how he got into academic medicine in the first place.
“I didn’t plan on a career in academic medicine,” he says. “Initially my wife was going to do her training where we were in Baltimore, and I would wait. My chair knew I was stuck there for four years, so he suggested I come up with some academic goals and if it worked out great. I thought what a deal, I’ll give it a try. I got a grant and then another, started publishing, and it hooked me. The impact you can have is on a much broader scale, whether for trainees or patients; you can’t beat it. Plus, I’m always learning new things. There’s always something new.”
Leadership Lessons
Dr. Safdar is as much of a leader outside of radiology. He’s active in medical relief work and in faith-based work. Last year the Islamic Speakers Bureau (ISB) of Atlanta named him one of 100 Influential Georgia Muslims for his community leadership. He currently chairs the ISB Board of Directors and is completing an intense program year as a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2023.
“Leadership means being a student. It’s important to learn from others. Being in Leadership Atlanta, I’ve gotten to meet with people I otherwise never would meet. You can learn from it and bring those lessons back into this work (in radiology). Doing medical relief missions, you realize how incredibly fortunate we are. We are dealing with first world problems. It’s taught me that our problems are not always the major problems we think they are.”
For the Children
When asked how he recharges his batteries, he smiles, “I think it’s more important to keep your battery in good condition rather than recharging after draining it.” A good run or hike or bike ride as well as prayer and meditation keep his battery conditioned. Community service work is essential, too. “It gives me a sense of mission and purpose.”
Family also is a source of strength and inspiration. When asked where his heart is, he pauses. “The easiest answer is when I open up the Find My app and I see where my family (members are) spread out, that’s my first level: my family. My oldest is an undergrad at Emory now,” he says proudly.
And then we return to the topic of children. “The other answer I would say is building the health-care system that young people and children deserve.”
What a beautiful legacy of leadership.