Dr. Martin Sandler
Sandler named vice chair of Radiology's Clinical Services
Dr. Martin P. Sandler, professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, has been appointed to the newly created position of vice chairman for Clinical Services of the department and director of Radiological Clinical Service.
In this expanded role Sandler is responsible for all radiological clinical services at VUMC, including Vanderbilt University Hospital, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, The Vanderbilt Clinic and the institution's evolving clinical imaging network.
"This new position is intended to extend and improve the access to, and quality of, diagnostic medical imaging available to patients," said Dr. C. Leon Partain, chair of Radiology and Radiological Sciences.
The move was spurred by the continuing growth in demand for both inpatient and outpatient radiological clinical services, Sandler said.
"This department does approximately 250,000 examinations per year, and that number is rising," he said. "It has reached the point where the administration and organization of clinical services demands more focused attention.
"It's a move we felt was necessary to continue in the ongoing quest to be as responsive to our patients as possible. Our goal is to make this the best imaging service in the area."
It's also a move that compliments the department's research mission, which is growing right alongside its clinical sibling. The department's goal is to move into the ranks of the top 10 Radiological departments in the nation in terms of research funding.
Later this fall, VUMC will debut a new diagnostic imaging facility devoted solely to outpatient service. The new facility, located in Hillsboro Village, will provide comprehensive imaging services, including MRI, and is a partnership between Vanderbilt Imaging Services and Landman LLC under the umbrella of Vanderbilt Health Services.
"This new facility will enhance access and capacity for diagnostic services to patients," Sandler said.
Sandler will continue as the director of VUMC's Nuclear Medicine program, where he is responsible for several academic and clinical programs in nuclear medicine, including positron emission tomography. Sandler also currently holds the position as chair of the VUMC Medical Board and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.