by Krystyna Barnard
Reed Omary, MD, MS, Carol D. and Henry P. Pendergrass Professor and chair of Radiology, was inducted into the Association of University Radiologists (AUR) College of Fellows during the 2021 AUR Meeting.
Dedicated to promoting collaboration and innovation in academic radiology, the AUR founded its College of Fellows in 2020 to recognize members who have made outstanding contributions to education, research and leadership. Omary is among more than 20 academic radiologists from institutions across the United States to receive Fellow of the AUR (FAUR) designation this year.
“I am honored to have had the opportunity to be inducted into the newest class of Fellows of the AUR,” said Omary. “The AUR has had a profound impact on my career that dates back to my very first oral scientific presentation at the 1994 AUR Annual Meeting. That experience, coupled with the connections I made, ultimately sparked my career in academic radiology.”
In his more than 20 years as a board-certified radiologist, Omary has demonstrated a strong commitment to the advancement of academic radiology through his various leadership positions. In addition to his leadership in the Department of Radiology, he holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, co-leads the Medical Center Strategic Directions initiative, and is director of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s (VUSM) Medical Innovators Development Program – a four-year PhD to MD training program. As a result, Omary was elected to VUSM’s Academy for Excellence in Education (AEE) in 2017, and subsequently awarded AEE’s Geoffrey David Chazen Award for innovation in medical education in 2019.
Outside of Vanderbilt, he is actively involved in a number of professional organizations dedicated to the advancement of clinical care and medical student education, including the AUR, the American College of Radiology and the Society of Interventional Radiology. Since joining the AUR in 2013, Omary has served as secretary, treasurer, and vice president, and is currently president-elect of the AUR. Additionally, he has presented his work at several AUR annual meetings, which have resulted in the AUR Memorial Award and, most recently, a Certificate of Merit. At this year’s meeting alone, Omary delivered three presentations and co-led an interactive session during the AUR’s Radiology Management Program with Radiology colleague Lori Deitte, MD, who was elected to the inaugural class of AUR fellows last year.
“Dr. Omary is a nationally-recognized leader who has made substantial contributions to education, faculty development, research and administration through his invited presentations, publications, innovative programs and daily interactions,” said Deitte. “He is an inspiration to all of us and greatly deserving of this honor.”