Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD, Appointed Chair of RSNA Board of Directors

Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD, a pioneering figure in neuroradiology, nuclear medicine, and academic leadership, has been named chair of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Board of Directors.

Dr. Meltzer currently serves as dean of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC), where she leads more than 2,300 faculty at one of the nation’s most diverse and research-driven medical institutions. Since joining USC in 2022, she has continued to champion health equity, scientific innovation, and the development of future physician-leaders.

“Dr. Meltzer is widely respected not only for her clinical and scientific contributions but for her deep commitment to mentoring and inclusion,” said RSNA President Umar Mahmood, MD, PhD. “Her leadership at RSNA and in the broader medical community reflects an unwavering dedication to shaping the future of radiology.”

Before joining USC, Dr. Meltzer spent nearly two decades at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, where she served as chair of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, executive associate dean of faculty academic advancement, leadership and inclusion, and Chief Diversity Officer. During her time there, she founded the Emory Center for Systems Imaging and launched the Emory Radiology Leadership Academy, a professional development initiative that graduated more than 120 leaders in radiology.

A recognized trailblazer in advancing diversity and inclusion in medicine, Dr. Meltzer served as the inaugural chair of RSNA’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and has held similar leadership roles with the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Association of American Medical Colleges. Her long-standing advocacy has helped shape policies that foster equity in the radiology workforce.

Dr. Meltzer’s scientific and clinical career has been distinguished by numerous national leadership roles. She has served as president of both the American Society of Neuroradiology and the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research and held board positions with the ACR, the Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments, and the International Society of Strategic Studies in Radiology. She chaired the ACR Commission on Research and contributed to the RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA).

Her research has focused on neuroimaging in aging and neurodegenerative disease, as well as the development of advanced imaging technology. Over a span of 20 years, she has maintained continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers. At the University of Pittsburgh earlier in her career, she helped oversee the first clinical evaluation of a combined PET/CT scanner for human use.

Dr. Meltzer’s achievements have been widely recognized with some of radiology’s highest honors. These include gold medals from RSNA-affiliated societies such as the American Society of Neuroradiology, the Association of University Radiologists, and the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research. She has also received the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Award from the American Association for Women in Radiology and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Medical Association. In 2023, she was inducted as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Meltzer earned her medical degree from The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and completed her fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She began her academic and research career at the University of Pittsburgh, where she held key leadership positions in neuroradiology and PET imaging.

With her appointment as RSNA Board Chair, Dr. Meltzer brings decades of visionary leadership to one of the most influential organizations in medical imaging—at a time when radiology is rapidly evolving through AI, precision medicine, and global collaboration.