About

RESEARCH STATEMENT听

In order for medical care to advance, there needs to be research. This is one of the many rewards of working at an academic institution. In such a setting, there is access to numerous resources and the exchange of ideas. I have the pleasure of helping develop and implement 鈥済round-breaking鈥� women鈥檚 imaging and breast cancer detection methods.听

A mammogram is an x-ray study of the breasts. The goal of mammography is to screen/detect breast cancer while it is still small and treatable. Thus, this improves the prognosis and overall survival of the patient. Since the 1970鈥檚, mammographic images of the breasts were captured using film. Due to numerous limitations of film mammography, including the low sensitivity (ability) of detecting a cancer in a breast with more breast tissue than fat (dense breast), another mammography technology was developed.听

The new technology is full-field digital (FFDM) mammography. Last Updated: 8/6/2024听

Other imaging modalities that I evaluate or have evaluated in clinical trials are in breast ultrasound, breast magnetic resonance imaging. The reason for the continued development of supplemental imaging with other technologies is because of the limitations of mammography (low sensitivity) in patients with dense breast tissue and radiation dose. Approximately 50% of women in the United States have heterogeneous or extremely dense breast tissue. Having dense breasts is more common among younger women and those with a lower body mass index. Not only does having dense breast tissue put women at higher risk for breast cancer, but it also makes it more difficult for radiologists to detect cancer on mammograms. In addition, having dense breast tissue is so significant that the FDA has mandated that patients be informed if they have dense breasts after mammograms.听

Ultrasound is an imaging device that is not limited by breast density and does not use radiation. I have and continue to be involved in using ultrasound to detect breast cancer. I also implemented breast MRI scans for a large area of Northwest of Quebec.听

No cure for breast cancer has been discovered. Until then, I find that there is an overwhelming need to continue to develop imaging tests to detect cancers in their earliest possible stage to improve patient outcomes. As we move forward, I believe personalized medicine with specific imaging tests for patients will be our future.听

TEACHING STATEMENT听

When I decided on a career in medicine, diagnostic radiology was my field of choice. I further specialized in breast imaging since I enjoy daily patient interaction and the intricacy and detailed nature of the work in detecting breast cancer. Breast cancer unfortunately remains the second most common cause of death in women worldwide. Last Updated: 8/6/2024听

Being an educator is one of my main responsibilities as a physician. I appreciate the time and effort my teachers/attending physicians took to teach me. I believe in paying that forward. Teaching should be a conversation with case examples to make the learning more meaningful. The learning environment also should be made safe and free of judgement. Not everyone knows the answer to all questions on day-1 of service. Some medical topics and diseases are very complex and can take many years to learn. I interact with many trainees (medical students, residents, fellows), technologists, nurses, and other physicians every day. My daily teaching with the trainees is in small groups or one-on-one at the 鈥渧iew box鈥� and with patient. I enjoy teaching the subjects of breast diseases and breast cancer genomics with multimodality imaging (mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging) since these are very difficult. I try to make learning a meaningful and less intimidating process. I also engage and encourage the learners to participate in our weekly Radiology-Pathology Interdepartmental conference and Multidisciplinary Breast Conference.听

Besides teaching the fundamentals of breast diseases, imaging, percutaneous biopsy, and breast cancer management, I also teach the trainees about image quality and mammography quality standards act (MQSA) federal rules and regulations. The latter two topics are extremely important in-patient imaging and overall daily operation of a breast clinic. Not only do I teach how to interpret images, problem solve, and perform breast biopsies, but also how to communicate, interact and care for patients (patient-centered care). In addition, I have mentored many medical students, residents, and faculty both clinically and on research projects.听

I have presented invited lectures on breast cancer, cutting-edge breast imaging modalities and advanced technologies with the attendees ranging from radiologists, surgeons, oncologists, primary care physicians, nurses, radiology technologists, and trainees. I have been providing new Last Updated: 8/6/2024听

information on breast cancer genomics and a developing field called radiomics. Radiomics is a field of study in which data is extracted by computers from standard of care breast imaging that allows for advanced quantitative imaging of cancers. Radiomics seeks to correlate imaging findings of breast cancer with their genomic (genetic) information. It combines imaging as a biomarker to breast cancer鈥檚 genetic information. This novel approach may accelerate personalized medicine and predict patient outcomes.听

In addition to educating trainees and other healthcare providers, I also educate my patients. Unlike other radiologists, breast imaging radiologists interact with patients on a daily basis. We do more than just read films in a dark room. We are not the physician that no one ever sees. We are the 鈥淔ace of Radiology鈥�. I am on clinical service 4-5 days/week for the entire academic year.听

Patients who present to the breast imaging clinic with a palpable mass, abnormal findings on a mammogram, follow-up cancer care, or the need for a biopsy with a needle under imaging guidance undergo special diagnostic evaluation. When the patient presents for this diagnostic mammogram, a technologist will acquire the patient鈥檚 mammogram. Either a technologist or I will perform the breast ultrasound if one is needed. While the patient is waiting, I review the patient鈥檚 imaging studies. Then, I will discuss the results and recommendations, including a biopsy if needed, with the patient face-to-face. By directly interacting with the patient, I can listen to her/his/they concern and provide better patient-centered care. All these moments are 鈥渢eachable moments,鈥� whether the patient is feeling a ridge of normal breast tissue or has a suspicious mass that needs a biopsy. It is my duty to educate my patients. Last Updated: 8/6/2024听

SERVICE STATEMENT听

I am a Canadian board-certified radiologist with fellowship training in breast imaging. I have been interested in implementing cutting-edge breast imaging for our patients with the use of full-field digital mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), and other vital breast biopsy technology (DBT-guided and MRI-guided). During this time, I worked with the surgical team to bring a wireless localization device (Savi Scout Reflector) to our surgical lesion localization toolbox. The wireless Scout localization device decouples the process of the localization and the day of surgery. Thus, the patient does not have to come to radiology/breast imaging the morning of his/her/they procedure to have it placed, as with a wire localization. The patient can have the Savi reflector placed any time before surgery. This device is FDA-approved for long term use in the body. Thus, this helps facilitate patient throughput for the operating room schedule (scheduled at 7a.m. 1st case) and lessens the long surgical day for the patient. More than 90% of our breast lesion localization for surgery use this device.听

My clinical efforts are to detect, diagnosis, biopsy, and educate my patients with compassionate care about breast diseases. I take my clinical, teaching and research duties very seriously. Besides the service that I provide to my patients, I try to provide the听

best working atmosphere between my clinic and the referring physicians. It is a team effort in diagnosing and treating our patients.听