I am proud, deeply honored, and flattered to have served as the 123^rd president of the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS). As you know, ARRS is the oldest radiology society, and we are widely regarded as the education society.

Health care and radiology are in the midst of unprecedented change, in part, due to the after effects of the COVID pandemic and the resultant Great Resignation, including what will probably be permanent alterations in the workforce. There is unprecedented “consumerism” in medicine with a mandate to improve patient access and to have transparent pricing. There has been a shortage of radiologists fueled, in part, by a desire to be part-time, a trend toward exclusive subspecialization, ever-increasing expectation for service to our hospitals and health care systems, and decreasing reimbursement. There is a concern about what role artificial intelligence and machine learning might play.  

Despite all the changes in our professional environments, ARRS has and will double down on its commitment to provide a professional home and outstanding, trusted educational resources for all our members—ranging from those in-training seeking preparation for the new oral boards examination, to those in practice desiring trusted continuing education, and to those in academic departments educating the next generation and contributing to cutting-edge clinical research. The ARRS strives to connect with radiologists at our Annual Meeting and through the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), online symposia, live webinars, as well as other books and publications. 

In my view, the future for radiology and for ARRS is bright and exciting. During my career, there has been explosive growth in advanced imaging technology with concomitant development of new diagnostic approaches and image-guided interventions and therapies. Radiology expertise is more critical than ever before in working with our clinical colleagues to screen, diagnose, treat, and care for our patients.  At the same time, there is an opportunity to respond to the unprecedented pressure to be more efficient, while ensuring appropriateness, safety, and positive outcomes.

Radiology continues to attract the brightest medical students, reflected in the reality that there are more students interested in radiology than currently available training slots. Our residency and fellowship training programs continue to evolve and improve. The job market is robust for radiologists, and there are plenty of excellent opportunities for radiologists in our various communities.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your ARRS president this last year. I would also like to thank the members of the ARRS Executive Council, particularly Executive Committee members: President-elect Angelisa Paladin, Vice President Deb Baumgarten, and Secretary/Treasurer Christine Glastonbury. Special thanks to Susan Cappitelli, ARRS Executive Director, too.

I look forward to connecting with many of you during our upcoming Annual Meeting in Boston, MA, May 5–9, 2024.