RSNA Press Release

Chicago, November 29, 2010 — Today the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) awarded honorary membership to three individuals who have distinguished themselves as outstanding contributors to the field of radiology and its allied sciences. The recipients were Claude Manelfe, M.D., from Auch, France; Iain McCall, M.D., D.M.R.D., F.R.C.R., from Shrewsbury, U.K.; and Kazuro Sugimura, M.D., from Kobe, Japan.

Claude Manelfe, M.D.

Claude Manelfe, M.D., has spent his career at the forefront of developments in interventional neuroradiology while also leaving his mark in the global radiology movement.

"Professor Manelfe has had an extraordinary career marked by scientific creativity and service," said 2010 RSNA President Hedvig Hricak, M.D., Ph.D., Dr. h.c. "His contributions helped bring about the present high standards of the neuroradiology field."

"For radiologists around the world, RSNA represents the quintessence of professionalism in a scientific society, providing education, inciting to do research and offering innovative technologies," Dr. Manelfe said. "The RSNA model exercised a major influence over my career, and to receive honorary membership is a great honor and privilege."

Dr. Manelfe is a professor emeritus at the Université Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France, where he served as professor and chair of diagnostic radiology from 1974 to 2004. He also headed the Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Neuroradiology at Toulouse's Purpan University Hospital from 1975 to 2003.

In 1970, Dr. Manelfe received the first scientific prize of the European Society of Neuroradiology and helped found the French Society of Neuroradiology. He would go on to lead both organizations almost 30 years later.

As president of the International Society of Radiology (ISR) from 2006 to 2008, Dr. Manelfe oversaw the launch of ISR's first virtual congress in 2007 and the 25th International Congress of Radiology in 2008 in Marrakech, Morocco.

Dr. Manelfe has received numerous honors for his work, including the Schinz medal of the Swiss Society of Radiology, Béclère medal of the International Society of Radiology, and honorary memberships in the American Society of Neuroradiology and the Argentinean Society of Neuroradiology. His hundreds of publications include the 1992 textbook, Imaging of the Spine and Spinal Cord.

Iain McCall, M.D., D.M.R.D., F.R.C.R.

Iain McCall, M.D., D.M.R.D., F.R.C.R., is the quintessential radiology educator.

Dr. McCall has spent much of his musculoskeletal radiology career working alongside radiologists in training and helping to improve radiologic education. His studies of spinal degeneration and pain have informed countless radiologists across the globe.

"Professor McCall exemplifies the best that our field has to offer," Dr. Hricak said. "His dedication and his generous efforts to reach out to transitional countries are inspiring."

"I have worked closely with RSNA and its officers during my work for European radiology and the European Society of Radiology—this has been both developmental and constructive," Dr. McCall said. "It is a very great honor for me to be awarded RSNA honorary membership."

Dr. McCall has received many honors, including honorary membership in the German, French, Austrian and Hellenic radiology societies and the European Society of Skeletal Radiology, the founders gold medal of the International Society of Radiology and the gold medal of the Turkish Society of Radiology.

Since 1996, Dr. McCall has been a professor of radiologic sciences at the University of Keele in Staffordshire, U.K. For the past 33 years, he has also worked as a consultant musculoskeletal radiologist at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic & District Hospital.

Dr. McCall served as editor of Skeletal Radiology from 1997 to 2007, was deputy editor of Clinical Radiology from 1987 to 1994 and has been editor of Imaging Management since 2006.

Kazuro Sugimura, M.D., Ph.D.

Although he began his radiology career in Japan, Kazuro Sugimura, M.D., Ph.D., credits a 1988 research fellowship in the U.S. with establishing his path to becoming an internationally known radiologist, educator and researcher.

After earning his medical degree and doctorate from Kobe University School of Medicine in Hyogo, Japan, Dr. Sugimura traveled to San Francisco to pursue a research fellowship in the Department of Radiology at the University of California.

"Dr. Sugimura's vision and dedication built the field of women's imaging in Japan, and the excellence of his research established Japan as an important player in genitourinary MR imaging research worldwide," Dr. Hricak said. "Furthermore, his friendliness and remarkable leadership skills have helped bring about close international collaboration in the field."

"I am very proud and deeply honored in being awarded RSNA honorary membership," Dr. Sugimura said. "I will continue taking part in the RSNA meeting and hope to make this outstanding meeting known to more radiologists in Japan and Asia."

Dr. Sugimura began his prestigious academic career in 1980 as an assistant professor of radiology at Kochi Medical College and in 1994 became a professor and chair of radiology at Shimane Medical University. In 1999, Dr. Sugimura was appointed a professor and chair of radiology at Kobe University School of Medicine. In 2001, he assumed his current position as a professor and chair of radiology at Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine.

Dr. Sugimura is revered for his work in women's imaging. In 1996 he served as one of the directors-at-large for the Society for the Advancement of Women's Imaging in the U.S. and in 2000 established the Japanese Society for the Advancement of Women's Imaging. Since 2000, Dr. Sugimura has served on the RadioGraphics Women's Imaging Panel for RSNA.

Note: Copies of RSNA 2010 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press10 beginning Monday, Nov. 29.

RSNA is an association of more than 44,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists committed to excellence in patient care through education and research. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. (RSNA.org)