The radiology industry is mourning the loss of ex-American College of Radiology Executive Director and CEO Harvey Neiman, M.D., who died this past Friday after a long illness.
One would be hard-pressed to think of anyone who has had more of an impact on radiology than Neiman over the last two decades. The honors bestowed on him over his career indicate the regard in which he was held within the field.
He received the Béclère Medal, the highest honor awarded by the International Society of Radiology, as well as the first Radiology Leadership Institute Luminary Award. And just last year he received the Gold Medal award from both ACR and the Radiological Society of North America--their highest honors.
"It is not possible to think of any radiologist who has made a greater impact on the field of American radiology than Harvey Neiman," former RSNA president Sarah Donaldson, M.D., said when the RSNA honored him. "His visionary leadership combined with his skills at consensus building mark his truly distinguished career."
Last year, in an interview with FierceMedicalImaging, one of the things that ACR President Albert Blumberg emphasized was the importance of radiologists playing an active role in their profession. Neiman proved to be the ultimate example of a radiologist who was determined to be actively involved in all aspects of the specialty.
Neiman also was an accomplished physician--serving as chair of the department of radiology at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh. He served as chief of cardiovascular radiology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and chief of cardiac radiology at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Additionally, Neiman was an academic, publishing more than 120 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and the book 'Angiography of Vascular Disease.' He also gave more than 277 guest lectures and scientific presentations worldwide.
But it was during his tenure at ACR that Neiman truly made his mark, serving on the ACR Board of Chancellors from 1994-2002, as chairman of the board from 2000-2002, and as executive director and CEO from 2003 until his retirement this past spring.
During his time at ACR, the group launched several groundbreaking initiatives, including the ACR Education Center, the Radiology Leadership Institute, the ACR Dose Index Registry, ACR Informatics, the Journal of the American College of Radiology and the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute.
Bibb Allen, chair of ACR's board of chancellors, said in a statement that the "radiology community, and organized medicine have lost a dear friend and colleague, exceptional leader, mentor and luminary."
No doubt. - Mike (@FierceHealthIT)