Ryan Lee, MD, has been named the next chair of the UNMC Department of Radiology, effective Aug. 1.
Bradley Britigan, MD, dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, made the announcement to UNMC leaders and department faculty and staff earlier this week.
“I am thrilled that we have been able to attract an experienced and visionary academic and clinical physician of Dr. Lee’s caliber to lead the department of radiology,” Dr. Britigan said. “He will build on the excellent clinical care provided by the department, while furthering development of its academic programs.”
Dr. Lee, who also holds an MBA, is the chair of radiology at Jefferson Einstein, part of Jefferson Health, and professor of radiology at the Sidney Kimmel College of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. His areas of expertise include clinical deployment of AI, health care economics, and quality and safety.
Dr. Lee said he is excited to be coming to UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, pointing not only to the academic, clinical and research missions, but also to the people he’s met.
“I don’t know if it’s a Midwest thing, but everyone is so welcoming,” he said. “It’s such a great community – I’m excited to join not only UNMC and Nebraska Medicine but also the greater Nebraska community.”
He said he’s looking forward to helping shape radiology and patient care at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine: “By innovating research and education in radiology here at UNMC, we will have the opportunity to be leaders in advancing imaging patient care.”
Dr. Lee emphasized that AI will be an important part of radiology in the near future.
“AI is going to transform radiology – similar to how voice recognition dictation systems, PACS and cross-sectional imaging revolutionized how we practice, ” he said. “Given the challenges facing radiology and health care in general, this is the time to invest in this technology, so we can give radiologists and other physicians the tools they need to provide better and timelier care.”
In his research career, Dr. Lee has partnered with numerous companies to help develop AI for the radiological clinical space, and he also sees an increasing role for it in education.
“Part of our job as educators is to ensure we are continually optimizing how education is delivered, and that includes incorporating new methodologies” he said. “Education and AI have been a large part of my career, and I believe there will be a significant role for AI in the educational process itself. It’s really an exciting time for radiology and artificial intelligence overall.”
UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, applauded Dr. Lee’s appointment and his focus on innovation in the educational and clinical realms.
“Dr. Lee is an innovative leader with a deep understanding of how technology is transforming education, patient care and research,” Dr. Davies said. “I am excited to welcome him to UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, and we look forward to seeing the department of radiology grow and evolve under his visionary leadership.”
James Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine, said:
“Clinical radiology services support virtually all aspects of care at Nebraska Medicine. Dr. Lee fully embraces the culture of providing timely and high quality clinical service. Additionally, he brings to UNMC and Nebraska Medicine experience in community partnerships and assessing AI tools that increasingly are important for diagnostic radiology. I am delighted he is joining the med center.”
Dr. Lee completed his undergraduate studies at from Cornell University with a major in mathematics and earned his medical degree at Drexel University School of Medicine. He completed his diagnostic radiology residency at the University of Rochester and his neuroradiology fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He attained his MBA at the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester, with concentrations in Health Care Management and Finance.
Drs. Britigan and Linder offered thanks to the search committee and its chair, Kevin Garvin, MD, for their hours of work.
They also thanked Matt DeVries, MD, for his service as interim chair, which will continue until Dr. Lee arrives in Omaha in August.
“Dr. DeVries has been a fine collaborator and has moved the department forward during his interim leadership,” Dr. Linder said.