Dr. Martin Sandler
Dr. Martin P. Sandler has been named chair of Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences.
He succeeds C. Dr. Leon Partain, who after eight years of leadership transitioned earlier this year from the chairmanship to become the director of the Center for Imaging Research.
Sandler has been a member of the faculty since 1983 and most recently was interim chair of the department as well as vice chair for Clinical Services and director of the Radiological Clinical Service.
His appointment as chair ensures that the department will remain on course in its quest to expand patient services as well as research, education and technology transfer opportunities, said Dr. Harry R. Jacobson, vice chancellor for Health Affairs.
"Martin Sandler has continually demonstrated his capability and talent in clinical practice, teaching, research and administration and is the ideal chairman for the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences — both for where the department is today and where we are confident he will lead it in the future," Jacobson said.
Dr. John E. Chapman, dean of the School of Medicine, agrees that Sandler is the proper choice to lead such an important department.
"The basic building block of the medical school is the department, and the chair of the department is program leader. Dr. Sandler is well qualified to provide leadership during the current period of operation and development.
"Dr. Partain leaves the role of chairman with the department strong and ready for further progress," Chapman said.
Sandler looks forward to the challenges of leading the department.
"The department has never been in a better position to achieve its goals, and that is due to the efforts of the people here and the past chairman," Sandler said. "The reorganization and restructuring of the department to enhance its research efforts as well as its clinical support service will allow us to take advantage of new opportunities, and could not have been accomplished without the tremendous support of Lee Limbird (associate vice chancellor for Research) and other departments of the medical center."
Sandler said his primary goals for the department are to maintain and enhance its clinical excellence, increase research programs into the top 10 of Radiology programs nationwide, and to continue as a leading training program for residents, fellows and faculty.
Several recent developments are important in the realization of those goals, including the establishment last fall of Hillsboro Imaging, a free-standing outpatient diagnostic radiology imaging center located in Hillsboro Village. Built to handle the growing demand for outpatient imaging, the new center augments the services provided by the radiology programs already in place in Vanderbilt University Hospital, The Vanderbilt Clinic, and the Breast Center.
The new facility is a partnership between Vanderbilt Imaging Services and Landman LLC under the umbrella of Vanderbilt Health Services. So far, the volume of patients being seen at the new facility is exceeding expectations.
Also last fall, the department entered into a partnership with GE Medical Systems, a unit of industrial giant General Electric Co. that makes medical diagnostic equipment and services, to develop functional atomic mapping technology. Through a partnership structure, VUMC serves as the primary research and training site for GE worldwide in nuclear medicine.
"It's very gratifying to have the ability to work with industry, which will allow us to become a leading department in technology transfer," Sandler said.