Hedvig Hricak, MD

As Chair of the Department of Radiology, I both oversee and take part in radiological practice and research. My primary area of interest is cross-sectional anatomic and molecular imaging of genitourinary cancers. My research involves interdisciplinary collaboration and aims to discover minimally invasive methods for improving cancer detection, treatment planning, and follow-up. I helped develop the use of MRI and CT for gynecological cancers and the application of MRI and MR spectroscopy to prostate cancer. Currently, I am the principal investigator of an NIH-funded study on the use of MRI and MR spectroscopy for risk assessment in prostate cancer patients. I also co-direct an NIH-funded program that trains young scientists and physicians in oncologic molecular imaging. I am a member of the Institute of Medicine. I have received the Marie Curie Award from the Society of Women in Radiology, the gold medals of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and the Association of University Radiologists, the Beclere medal of the International Society of Radiology, and a Morocco Medal of Merit. I am an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists and an honorary member of the British Institute of Radiology, the German Radiological Society, the Austrian Roentgen Society, the Croatian Society of Radiology, the Journ'es Fran'aises de Radiologie, and the Swedish Society of Medical Radiology. I am also a member of the Croatian Academy of Science and Art and hold an honorary doctorate in medicine from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany. For the year 2009, I am President-Elect of the Radiological Society of North America. Promoting international scientific collaboration and training is very important to me. With funding from the NCI and private foundations, I have established ongoing breast imaging and ultrasound training programs for the countries of southeastern Europe and other regions in need.