Susan Palasis, MD
Acting Professor of Radiology and Pediatrics
Emory University School of Medicine
Director of Pediatric Neuroradiology, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

1. What inspired you to become a Pediatric Neuroradiologist? 

I took a long and winding road to my destination as a pediatric neuroradiologist. From early on in my training I knew I wanted to learn more about what goes on above the shoulders. My first encounter with neuroradiology was with the temporal bone. As I learned more about the head and neck, I was naturally drawn from the extracranial space to the intracranial space. To me, the brain is the most mysterious and fascinating organ of the body. Being able to look at the brain and its function with all the new imaging tools that technology kept offering was an exciting prospect, and this led me to the decision to become a neuroradiologist. During my fellowship I came to understand how complex the imaging interpretation of the pediatric brain is.  Children have challenging pediatric specific neurological diseases. It’s necessary to know how to recognize normal maturational processes, understand how these affect disease states, and ultimately what the manifestations are on our imaging studies. Listening to the giants in the field of pediatric neuroradiology, Dr. Jim Barkovich, Dr. Bill Ball, Dr. Tom Naidich, and Dr. Bob Zimmerman, teach the nuances of pediatric neuroimaging was inspirational to me. My decision to pursue a dedicated fellowship in pediatric neuroradiology was effortless and it has been one of the best decisions I have made.

2. Can you tell us about your work with ASPNR?

The day I was nominated to join the executive committee of the ASPNR was one of the highlights of my career. I remember receiving the phone call from Dr. Dennis Shaw, the then ASPNR president, and I even remember the PACS station I was sitting at! This was a great honor and offered me an opportunity to contribute to pediatric neuroradiology in a different way that could be very impactful. I was always puzzled why a field as challenging, rapidly developing, and broad as pediatric neuroradiology did not have its own scientific meeting. That was one thing that I was determined to change. When I assumed the ASPNR presidency, I was able to do just that with the support of the society’s executive committee and the enthusiasm of all the society’s members. It has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career to see the pediatric neuroradiology community come together each year at the now established annual ASPNR scientific meetings to learn together, share expertise, provide mentorship, and have a great time! The 5th Annual ASPNR Meeting will be held January 13-15, 2023 in New Orleans!

3. What excites you most about your work? 

Being able to provide an accurate diagnosis for the child, their family, and the clinician taking care of them is probably what is the most satisfying part of my work. Knowing how to utilize all the neuroimaging tools available to the end of making a correct and accurate diagnosis is what keeps it all interesting and challenging. What makes it exciting is when I’m able to teach the diagnostic process to a trainee and see the enthusiasm and understanding on their face.

4. What advice do you have for early career radiologists aspiring to go into a sub-specialized field like pediatric neuroradiology? 

When the field of radiology was limited by the technology at the time and the breadth and depth of disease processes was not yet revealed by the advances in genetics, our scope of practice was naturally limited. That is not the case today. It is impossible to be an expert at everything with all the new advances and discoveries, and this is where the need to sub-specialize in radiology is something to consider. Sub-specialization in pediatric neuroradiology means there will be extra time and effort past initial fellowship training in pediatric radiology or neuroradiology. There is no substitute for spending dedicated time as a trainee gaining in depth knowledge in a particular area. Working under the oversight of trained experts and receiving daily instruction and constructive reviews are valuable in developing expertise. My advice is to invest the time into what gives you the most satisfaction in your work, and this in turn will give a better balance to you and your life down the road.

5. How do you see the field changing over the next decade? 

AI and virtual work will be very impactful to our field. The traditional practice model of the radiologist is quickly changing. The increasing trend of incorporating AI into daily practice will improve our efficiency and accuracy. Radiologists will be able to soon peer closer and closer to the microstructural and molecular levels of the brain non-invasively. I can foresee a new specialty arising - radiological pathology!