From Your President
Lynn Fordham, MD

Dear AAWR Members:

Autumn is upon us. Soon it will be Thanksgiving and then of course, the RSNA meeting arrives. The AAWR presents the majority of our onsite programming and conducts much of its business during the meeting. The Executive Committee and committee chairs will meet Sunday afternoon to review the work of the many AAWR committees and formulate a plan for the coming year. The directors of the AAWR Research and Education Foundation, also meeting on Sunday, will consider strategies to increase interest in research and award applications. Luncheon seminars are scheduled for the Association Monday through Thursday. I hope you will set aside time to attend. You should have received email invitations to the seminars. If not, contact AAWR directly. Please sign up, in advance and consider bringing a guest. There will be limited onsite registration available at the AAWR booth.

The luncheon seminars offer a wide range of programming focusing on successful women in all stages of their careers including those from other countries. Monday is the business meeting and awards ceremony for the AAWR and the AAWR Research and Education Foundation. We will vote on any changes to the bylaws, elect the officers for the coming year and take time to celebrate the achievements of some of our members with the Marie Curie-Sklodowska, Alice Ettinger and Member-in-Training awards. It is always an inspiring session as we hear the stories of our awardees.

Tuesday is the Member-in-Training lunch seminar. Our speaker is Dr. Marilyn Goske who will be discussing the some of the generational issues and stereotypes in today’s workplace. This is designed for Generation Y, X, Boomers and all the others. I am sure I will be going home with a long to do list based on her talk. New this year, we will have informal round table discussions immediately following Tuesday’s member-in-training lunch. Each table will have 1-2 moderators. Suggested topics for discussion will be present at each table. Look for more information on this new facilitated discussion group to follow. Please consider participating in or volunteering to moderate a table discussion. Consider it a live, in person chat room if you will. I look forward to your feedback on this new format.

Wednesday is the President's lunch. Dr. Elizabeth Travis will be speaking on Women in Academic Medicine Organizations: Passé’ or au courant? This is an important issue for all men and women as medical organizations complete for our time and money. Thursday is the international lunch. Dr. Majda M. Thurnher will be speaking on Changing Demographics in Europe: Sneak Preview of the Future. All members and members-in -training are invited and encouraged to attend any and all sessions. Please feel free to invite friends, residents in your programs and members of your practice.

AAWR is very pleased to again be offering a refresher course at the RSNA. This year’s course in entitled “Imaging and Role of Radiation Therapy in Gynecologic Malignancies,” to be presented at 8:30 am on Thursday. Further information and registration for this session can be obtained a the RSNA website. The speakers will be Dr. Patricia Eifel from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Julia Fielding of the University of North Carolina, and Dr. Katarzyna Macura of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. The session was organized and will be moderated by our President-elect Dr. Zhongxing Liao of MD Anderson Cancer Center. I hope to see you there.

My thanks to the editors and to all who have contributed to the AAWR Focus and helped to keep us all informed and inspired. It has been a great year. Please see inside for more details.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!