RSNA Press Release

CHICAGO–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 Giovanni G. Cerri, M.D., Ph.D., from São Paulo, Brazil; Mukund S. Joshi, M.D., from Mumbai, India; and András Palkó, M.D., Ph.D., from Szeged, Hungary.

Giovanni G. Cerri, M.D., Ph.D.
As secretary for health of São Paulo State, Brazil, Giovanni G. Cerri, M.D., Ph.D., is focused at home, working to strengthen the role of regional healthcare, tackle issues such as organ transplantation and oncology treatment, decrease child mortality and in¬crease the number of hospital beds.

At the same time, Dr. Cerri has an eye on the rest of the world as he works to bring his international radiology colleagues to São Pau¬lo. Due in large part to Dr. Cerri's efforts, the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB), the Latin Ameri¬can Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, and the Radiological and Diagnostic Imaging Society of São Pau¬lo will host a joint meeting in São Paulo in May 2013.

Dr. Cerri also serves as director of the Institute of Radiology at the Hospital das Clinicas, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo and as president of the Council of the Cancer In¬stitute of São Paulo State.

"Dr. Cerri epitomizes the type of person we want to recognize with honorary membership in our Society," said 2012 RSNA President George S. Bisset III, M.D. "Accomplished people don't wait for work—they find it. Dr. Cerri's steadfast efforts to improve patient care throughout Brazil have paid huge dividends extend¬ing well beyond the field of radiology. I am proud to award Dr. Cerri this honor, as a colleague and as a friend."

"Being awarded this honorary membership by RSNA is so deeply meaningful to my career as a professor of radiology," Dr. Cerri said. "I feel so honored by this distinction, and it is truly a great stimulus to continue working to broaden the collaboration and exchange between the RSNA and my fellow Brazilian radiologists.

Born in 1953 in Milan, Italy, Dr. Cerri immigrated to Brazil in 1955. He received his medical degree in 1976 from the School of Medi¬cine of São Paulo University, where he subsequently completed his radiology residency and earned his doctorate. Dr. Cerri com¬pleted fellowships at the University of Birmingham, U.K., and the Hospital Saint-Antoine at the University of Paris.

A full professor of radiology at the School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo since 1996, Dr. Cerri was president of the Postgraduation Committee there and clinical director of the Hospital das Clinicas of the University of São Paulo. He then became dean of the School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo and president of the Council of the Hospital das Clinicas. He was in charge of developing the Cancer Institute of São Paulo and was its first president.

Dr. Cerri has served as president of the São Paulo Radiology Society and president of the Brazilian College of Radiology, as well as editor of the Brazilian Journal of Radiology. Dr. Cerri also has served as WFUMB president, was charter member of the board of the International Society of Radiology and has been a RSNA member since 1983.

Dr. Cerri has authored 300 scientific articles in international and Brazilian journals, 22 books and about 50 newspaper and magazine articles. He has supervised 48 theses and held confer¬ences in 25 countries. He has received more than 30 awards, including honorary membership in the French Society of Radiolo¬gy and honorary fellowship in the American College of Radiology. He is the recipient of the LAFI Medical Sciences Award.

Mukund S. Joshi, M.D.
Ask his radiology colleagues around the world, and they'll tell you—the name Mukund S. Joshi, M.D., is synonymous with ultra¬sound in Asia.

Dr. Joshi is a consultant radiologist in the Department of Radiol¬ogy at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre and medical advisor in radiology at Kohinoor Hospital, both in Mumbai, India. He has extensively taught and promoted ultrasound, as well as radiology as a whole, in his native India and abroad.

"When I mention Dr. Joshi's name to any of my Asian colleagues, they light up with enthusiasm," said 2012 RSNA President George S. Bisset III, M.D. "Complimentary words like mentor, visionary and generous pour from their mouths without hesitation. His teaching has touched so many people around the world—we are all indebted to Dr. Joshi for all he has done for radiology, and we recognize his accomplishments by awarding him honorary mem¬bership in the RSNA."

Dr. Joshi said he has long been impressed by the fact that, de¬spite being an organization in North America, RSNA has striven to look after the needs of radiology globally. "In many ways, RSNA has offered expertise and financial assistance to the un¬derprivileged in the world," he said. "The fact that there exists the RSNA International Advisory Committee to look at global needs, speaks volumes for the eagerness and seriousness of this organization. My heartfelt congratulations to RSNA for all it is do¬ing around the world in promoting the science of radiology."

"Being in Chicago to attend the RSNA meeting is like going to Mecca on a pilgrimage," Dr. Joshi continued. "Not only do you educate yourself, you have the pleasure of meeting all your colleagues. I will continue to be at the RSNA meetings as long as I live. I feel very proud to be a small donor in the task of what RSNA has undertaken and is doing."

Dr. Joshi completed his bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery degrees at Bombay University in Mumbai, his diploma in medical radiodiagnosis at the College of Phy¬sicians and Surgeons, Bombay, and his medical doctorate at Bombay University. Starting his radiology career in the pre-CT and MRI era, Dr. Joshi completed training in ultrasound at Herley Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, and the Royal Marsden Hos¬pital, United Kingdom, and training in breast imaging at Sydney Square Breast Center in Australia. Dr. Joshi trained in Doppler ultrasound at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., and the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Joshi established "Mumbai Ultrasound Course," India's first and still extremely popular teaching program in ultrasound. He has served as editor-in-chief of the Indian Journal of Radiology & Imaging and currently is editor of the Indian Journal of Ultrasound. He is a past-president of the Indian Radiological & Imaging Association and the Indian Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.

Dr. Joshi has produced numerous articles in national and inter¬national radiology journals and has given more than 500 lectures and CME courses nationally and internationally.

In addition to his commitment to excellence in clinical patient care, teaching and research, Dr. Joshi has been active in admin¬istration and community outreach. From 1997 to 2002, he was a member of the Expert Working Group on the Planning Commis¬sion of India for Supportive and Diagnostic Services at Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Health-care Levels. Dr. Joshi also serves on the board of directors for the Medical Imaging Partnership, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that seeks to provide access to imaging equipment, expertise, training and encouragement to developing countries. An RSNA member since 1990, he has served on RSNA's International Advisory Committee since 2009 and is a member of the Advisory Commit¬tee on Education for the International Society of Radiology.

András Palkó, M.D., Ph.D.
As a cofounder of the first European Day of Radiology in 2011, internationally renowned radiologist András Palkó, M.D., Ph.D., held the role that perfectly captures his lifelong passion for the specialty.

Then vice president of the European Society of Radiology (ESR), Dr. Palkó envisioned a day to build greater awareness of the value and significance of radiology throughout Europe. Celebrated by 19 European radio¬logic societies, the success of the event led to the first International Day of Radiology sponsored by ESR, RSNA and the American College of Radiology in November 2012. Dr. Palkó, who serves as professor and chair of the Department of Radiology at the University of Szeged Medical School in Szeged, Hungary, has aspirations for an even bigger World Radiology Day.

"Dr. Palkó's intense loyalty to the specialty of radiology is unparal¬leled," said 2012 RSNA President George S. Bisset III, M.D. "His steadfast devotion to enhancing the worldwide recognition and status of radiology has impressed all of us who have had the op¬portunity to work with him. This global vision makes Dr. Palkó an obvious choice as an honorary member of the RSNA. We should take great pride in having a member with his background, pas¬sion and work ethic."

"This is an honor I have never dreamed of, and I take it as an expression of continuously improving scientific, educational and political cooperation of our societies, and also as an acknowledg¬ment of my efforts in the promotion of this process," Dr. Palkó said.

Born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1953, Dr. Palkó's devotion to radi¬ology began at the University of Pécs, Hungary, where he gradu¬ated from medical school in 1977, began his radiology training in 1979 and swiftly completed his doctoral thesis on "CT in the Di¬agnosis and Staging of Renal Cell Carcinoma." In 1987, he rose to the position of assistant professor of radiology at the University of Pécs. He has served in his current posi¬tion at the University of Szeged Medical School since 1998. Dr. Palkó served as senior registrar in the Department of Radiology at Al-Jahra Hospital, Al-Jahra, Kuwait, in 1992 and as vice rector of scientific and foreign affairs at the University of Szeged from 2009 to 2010.

As an educator, Dr. Palkó stresses the unique, multifaceted role radiology plays in medicine by blending elements of physics, in¬formatics, engineering, biochemistry, molecular science and nanotechnology with the diagnostic and therapeutic sides of pa¬tient care. Dr. Palkó, who teaches in Hungarian and English and also speaks Russian and German, has given more than 200 in¬vited lectures across the globe. At RSNA 2011, he lent his exper¬tise to the International Trends session examining the strengths and weaknesses in radiology education around the world. He is the author of some 90 peer-reviewed articles and more than 30 books and book chapters.

As the first ESR president from an eastern European country, Dr. Palkó focused on developing communication lines with members, improving the society's service orientation and increasing its vis¬ibility, among other goals. Dr. Palkó served as president of the Hungarian Society of Radiology from 2002 to 2004 and of the Hungarian College of Radiology from 2004 to 2011.

Note: Copies of RSNA 2012 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press12 beginning Monday, Nov. 26.

RSNA is an association of more than 50,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists, promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. (RSNA.org)