Ewa Kuligowska-Noble, MD, FACR – 2004 President of AAWR

Teacher, Researcher in the field of Minimally Invasive Radiological Procedures, International advocate for the AAWR

I arrived in the United States at the age of 34, following my ex-husband, with no knowledge of English, no money and without my two children who were being held hostage in communist Poland. It took five years to become Board certified again, this time in the U.S.A., to smuggle my children to this country and start my second academic career in Radiology. Over the years, I was promoted to Chief of Ultrasound, Body Imaging and Professor of Radiology. With my present husband and best friend of the last 28 years, John Noble, M.D., I have had the joy of raising our five boys.

Throughout my career, I have focused my efforts on the younger generation as a teacher and tried to be a role model. I have encouraged women in medical school to choose Radiology as a career and women in residency to pursue academic careers. As a result, I was awarded Teacher of the Year in Warsaw and twice at Boston University School of Medicine.

Recognizing the deficiency of up to date training of medical students and residents in Poland and other countries emerging from communism, I started a Polish American Foundation and have trained 57 young radiologists who are now becoming leaders of Radiology in Poland and Eastern Europe. I was awarded the “Polonia Semper Fidelis Award” by the Polish Academy of Science for this work in 1996.

I have introduced AAWR and its mission to the European Congress of Radiology over the past five years by sponsoring an AAWR booth, giving papers and Chairing sessions at the ECR meetings.

What would be your most important advice to your junior colleague?

At this stage of my career, looking retrospectively on my life, I would like to send a message to young female radiologists.

“Build your careers around the aspects of Radiology that most interest you”.

“Be a mentor for the younger generation of radiologists, guide them through their labyrinth of career decisions”.

“Most importantly, achieve a balance between career success and a fulfilling, happy personal life”.

Dr. Kuligowska with international fellows

Family vacation in 1990

Ewa Kuligowska-Noble, MD, FACR is Professor of Radiology at Boston University School of Medicine