The SAR Gold Medal Winners for 2023

Press Release Society of Abdominal Radiology
August 17, 2022

The Society of Abdominal Radiology Gold Medal is the highest recognition given by the Society and based on contribution to our abdominal radiology, medicine, patient health. It also takes into consideration service within the Society and is based on a lifetime of commitment to the SAR mission and values.

Gold Medal winners are selected by the Society’s Awards Committee, composed of the President, immediate Past-President, and senior members of the Society, and then formally discussed and voted on by the Society of Abdominal Radiology Board of Directors. The Gold Medals winners are announced in the late summer preceding the Annual Meeting of the Society.

The SAR Gold Medal winners for 2023 are Dr. Mark Baker, Dr. Dr. Cooky (Christine) Menias, and Dr. Judy Yee.

Dr. Mark Baker of the Imaging Institute at Cleveland Clinic is recognized for his longstanding record of scientific contribution and mentorship in many areas of GI radiology including CT intervention, CT radiation dose reduction and observer performance, and Crohn’s imaging. He served as Section Head of Abdominal Imaging at Cleveland Clinic from 1994-2003 and holds joint appointments in the Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute and the Taussig Cancer Center. He is a tireless advocate for the Society and former Chair of the Crohn’s Disease-focused Panel. He has been a mentor for a generation of radiologists in Cleveland and throughout the United States. Dr. Baker is known for his passion for science, people, and patient care, the span of his career and the innovations he has participated in, and his continued leadership in Crohn’s disease research and clinical trials.

Dr. Cooky (Christine) Menias of the Department of Radiology at Mayo Clinic Arizona is one of the most prolific and impactful educators and clinicians in abdominal radiology. She currently serves as editor for Radiology’s top educational journal, Radiographics, has published 7 books, numerous book chapters and over 310 peer-reviewed manuscripts. She has received multiple awards including the ARRS Educator of the Year Award, the RSNA Lifetime Honored Educator Award, Mayo Clinic Arizona Distinguished Clinician of the Year, and Alumni Achievement Award from Washington University. At SAR, she has been an Igor Laufer Visiting Professor, prolific plenary and workshop presenter, and partnered with Dr. Perry Pickhardt of the University of Wisconsin to create the SAR Unknown Film Panel, which is an annual highlight of the SAR Annual Meeting. Innumerable new and seasoned abdominal imagers are indebted to her mentorship and example of clinical excellence.

Dr. Judy Yee is chair of the Department of Radiology at Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Yee is known for her long-time service in SAR as a Past President of the Society and chair of its Corporate Support Committee; tireless advocate for the role of radiology in colorectal cancer screening including leading the successful effort to recognize CT colonography (CTC) as a recommended test by the United States Preventative Services Task Force. She has led the SAR multivendor CTC colonography course for nearly two decades, and is one of the Radiology’s most outstanding mentors, especially for women leaders in imaging, as well as diversity advocate. She is a nationally recognized leader in Radiology, serving as councilor on the Society of Chairs in Academic d Radiology Departments (SCARD) board and member of the Steering Committee for the SCARD GE Healthcare LEAD (Leading, Empowering, and Disrupting) women’s executive leadership program

The SAR Gold Medal Awards for 2023 will be presented at a ceremony during the SAR Annual Meeting following a reception held celebrating the recipients’ careers and contributions. The Awards Ceremony will take place in Austin, TX on Thursday, March 2, 2023.

SAR Mission

SAR’s mission is to promote patient health through scientific discovery, innovation, education, collaboration, and leadership development in abdominopelvic radiology.

SAR Values

• Clinical Excellence
• Collaboration
• Compassion
• Inclusion
• Integrity
• Mentorship
• Respect
• Scientific Expertise
• Service