Department of Radiology Recognizes New Residents at 6th Annual Lead Ceremony

The Department of Radiology last week recognized 11 new diagnostic (DR) and interventional radiology (IR) residents at its 6th Annual Thomas A. Powers Lead Ceremony. A department tradition since 2013, the Lead Ceremony – much like a medical school’s White Coat Ceremony – serves as the trainees’ formal induction into their training program, the Vanderbilt Radiology Society (VRS) and a global community of radiologists. 

Residency program directors Drs. Cari Motuzas (DR) and Ryan Muller (IR) presented their respective trainees with custom-fitted and designed lead to be worn throughout their training. The residents recognized were:

  • Oladapo Adeniran, M.D., PGY 2 (IR)
  • Erica Emmons, M.D., PGY  2
  • Shelby Frantz, M.D., PGY2 (IR)
  • Danielle Gallegos, M.D., PGY 5 (IR)
  • Cameron Henry, M.D., PGY 2
  • Jennifer Huang, M.D., M.Ed., PGY 2
  • Emily Lippincott, M.D., PGY 3
  • Jessica Miller, M.D., Ph.D., PGY 2
  • Matthew Smith, M.D., Ph.D., PGY 2
  • Kai Wang, M.D., PGY 2
  • Thomas Wong, M.D., PGY 2 (IR)

“The lead apron is a visible symbol of who we are,” said Reed Omary, M.D., M.S., Carol D. and Henry P. Pendergrass Professor and Chair, Radiology and Radiological Sciences. “When we care for our patients who are receiving ionizing radiation, we wear lead to protect ourselves. It speaks to the ethos of who we are as radiologists.”

Families and friends of the new residents, as well as faculty, staff, trainees and the ceremony’s namesake, Dr. Powers, were in attendance at this year’s event. 

The Lead Ceremony was the culmination of the 2019 Radiology Residents’ Day, which welcomed families of new residents for an afternoon introduction to Vanderbilt, the department and the field of radiology. Presentations on these topics were delivered by faculty and trainee Drs. Lori Deitte, Collin Howser, Courtney Raybon and LeAnn Shannon. Second-year resident Dr. Shuai Yuan also guided families on a tour of the Vanderbilt University and Medical Center campuses where they got a behind-the-scenes look at the reading and procedure rooms. 

“I hope families had an enlightening afternoon, enjoying the opportunity to gain insight into our department and to meet some of the wonderful colleagues our residents will work with throughout their training,” added Dr. Omary. 

Following the Lead Ceremony, current and former faculty, trainees and their guests attended the department’s annual Alumni Night networking event cohosted by the VRS and the Vanderbilt Medical Alumni Association at the Aertson Midtown. 

The VRS will host another networking opportunity during the Radiological Society of North America’s Annual Meeting in December. For more details, visit vumc.org/radiology/alumni

Eleven diagnostic and interventional radiology residents receive lead at the 6th Annual Thomas A. Powers Lead Ceremony (Photo by Yu Luo, M.D.)