Partners in Progress:
Improvement and Innovations in Advanced Imaging

September 16 – 17 2023

The ultimate goal of the Partners in Progress meetings is to advance MR imaging and quality through physician, technologist, administration, and industry collaboration. The specific goal of the 2023 Partners in Progress meeting will be to expose and educate all members of the MR team (with a focus on the MR technologists) on improving the patient experience in MR. This is a national meeting with a hybrid platform offering in-person engagement and networking with national and regional MR experts while also offering an opportunity for remote participation.

• Ashley McCoy Thomas, MSHA, CHQS, R.T.(R)(CT), LSSGB – UAB Medicine Senior Quality Management Analyst/Educator- Radiology
• Hope King RT(R)(CT) – CT Compliance Specialist at UAB Medicine
• Andrew (AJ) John Gunn, MD – Associate Professor, Tenure-earning Vice-Chair of Interventional Affairs (interim) Director, Interventional Oncology Program Director, Interventional Radiology Residencies Department of Radiology Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Desiree E. Morgan, M.D. – Vice Chair, Education, Professor, Abdominal Imaging Section
• Andrew D. Smith, MD, PhD – Professor, VC of Innovation, Co-Director AI, Chief of CT – Radiology Clinical Director of AI – Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation Director of the Human Imaging Core Lab – UAB
• David M. Gauntt, Ph.D., DABR, FAAPM – Associate Professor, Division of Physics and Engineering
• Ceren Yalniz, M.D. – Assistant Professor, Breast Imaging Section, UAB Medical Center, Birmingham, AL
• Sam Galgano, MD – Associate Professor, Vice Chair of Quality and Patient Experience Section Chief, Abdominal Imaging University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Radiology
• Ryan Willoughby, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Radiology – UAB Medical Center
• Dustin Johnson – Ambulatory Imaging Manager – UAB
• Jian-xiong Wang, Ph.D., CCPM-MRI – Associate Professor, Division of Physics and Engineering
• Maddie (Madhuri) Patel R.T. (R)(CT) – The Kirklin Clinic at UAB
• Jeff Madison BSRT R(MR) MRSO – MRI Manager Main Campus, UAB Medicine
• Verlon Salley – Vice President of Community Health Equity – UAB
• Kecia Thompson, MSHA, MRSO – Director of Radiology, UAB Highlands- UAB Medicine
• Perry J Pickhardt, MD Chief, Gastrointestinal Imaging Medical Director of Oncological Imaging, UW Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin
• Brenda Witherspoon – CT/MRI Technologist at Children’s of Alabama
• Daniel Goldberg-Zimring, PhD, MBA, DABMP Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology – Division of Physics and Engineering Heersink School of Medicine UAB
• Kathryn W. Zamora, MD, MPH Associate Professor Director UAB Radiology Breast Imaging Fellowship, Co-Director UAB Women’s Imaging Fellowship

1. Review current and future AI algorithms used in medical imaging including tools for image reconstruction,
   patient triage, radiology reporting, tumor measurements, and opportunistic screening.
2.  Discuss importance of prostate and rectal MRI in clinical care and what sequences influence interpretation the most.
3. What is a CT compliance specialist?
4. Importance of Standardizing protocols across a large health system.

Program Description / Statement of Need:
In an effort to provide physicians, technologists and other healthcare professionals involved in medical imaging with the most up-to-date information, this 1.5-day program will communicate updates and trends in MR, PET & CT imaging with an emphasis on overall patient care. Imaging exams play a crucial role in the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases and injuries. The comparison of multiple modalities will allow for all healthcare professionals to gain will a better understanding of the considerations needed for patient monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment. This educational program will cover multiple objectives within each modality to allow for learners to expand their knowledge and understanding.

Target Audience:
The content of this CME/CE Symposium is intended for healthcare professionals including Radiologists and other Physicians, Technologists, Radiologic and Imaging Nurses, Facility Managers, Researchers, and other healthcare professionals.

CME/CE Accreditation:
This CME activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Northwest Imaging Forums is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. NWIF designates this live activity for a maximum of 11.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This MRI program has also been submitted for approval of up to 11.5 hours of category A CE technologist credit as designated by The Society for MR Radiographers & Technologists (SMRT) RCEEM. ARRT regulations state that an individual may not repeat a live activity for credit if it was reported in the same or any subsequent biennium. To receive the maximum amount of credit hours, you must attend all sessions. Verification of attendance policies will be in place for each lecture.

Faculty and Planner Disclosures:
As an accredited provider of continuing medical education, it is the policy of Northwest Imaging Forums (NWIF) to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its activities. In accordance with this policy, faculty and planners must disclose any financial relationships with commercial interests germane to program content. Additionally, in the event a conflict of interest (COI) does exist, it is the policy of NWIF to ensure that the COI is resolved in order to ensure the integrity of the CME activity. The planner has nothing to disclose.