Disease-Focused Panels & Emerging Technology Commissions

Why DFPs?

Central to the Society’s mission is to improve the care of patients with gastrointestinal and genitourinary diseases. Disease-Focused Panels (DFPs) will improve our ability to meet this mission by focusing on specific diseases through organization of passionate and knowledgeable SAR experts who will work together to address unmet needs within medical practice and the imaging community.

DFP Present Sessions During the 2020 Annual Meeting in Maui, HA
From left to right – Dan Margolis, Matt Davenport, Susanna Lee, Stu Silverman, Avinash Kambadakone and Eric Tamm

Why include non-radiologists?

The impact of imaging knowledge has largely been driven by non-radiology groups that are sometimes unfamiliar with the limits and benefits of imaging technologies. SAR’s ability to influence the wider medical community and improve patient care depends upon an exchange of knowledge with sub-specialty referring physician groups, patient advocacy groups, and other radiology societies with similar goals. By unifying abdominal radiology experts with a passion for a specific disease, cohesive goals and strategic partnerships and collaborations can be formed to improve patient care.

What is the DFP Program?

  • Review the Disease-Focused Panel Overview Document
  • View a Presentation for Further Explanation

Applications for DFP status will be reviewed and approved by the DFP Oversight Committee. Acceptance is at the discretion of this committee, based on already existing panels, the comprehensiveness of the application, the potential for success, interest amongst SAR members, and likelihood for impact on patient care. Each DFP Application will be reviewed by the DFP Oversight Committee in a formal review process, and each emerging panel will be provided the results of this review, along with an opportunity for revision.

Panels will each operate independently throughout the year to accomplish common goals, meet at the Society’s annual meeting to review progress and timelines, discuss plans for rotating leadership and membership, and provide annual reports to and seek guidance from the Oversight Committee, as needed.

The SAR Annual Meeting Council Educational Committee may choose to contact a DFP for involvement in the annual meeting; however, no specific avenue for involvement in the Educational Program currently exists, other than informing the Educational Committee of DFP proposals.

How to Get Involved:

All those interested in participating in a DFP should review the current list of active panels, and consider forming a new or related group. Members with similar interest should work together to develop goals, leadership and communication plans on their own until ready to submit a formal DFP Application.

Those interested in potentially participating as an active member working to further the goals of any new or emerging DFP should consider reaching out to current members or Panel Chairs.

The Beginning:

The DFP program began in 2015 with only a few Panels. These dedicated SAR members formed the first DFPs, and helped to launch the program into what it is now. A very special thanks to the founding Chairs of the DFP program!