Dave Fellers, C.A.E., has resigned his position as RSNA Executive Director, effective August 31. Fellers has served as executive director since January 2001.

Fellers has overseen significant growth in RSNA programs and in the Society's national and international prominence. He is particularly proud of RSNA's recognition for excellence among nonprofit organizations. RSNA was named one of nine remarkable associations in the American Society of Association Executives Measures of Success study in 2006.

"On behalf of the RSNA Board of Directors, I would like to thank Dave for his service to RSNA," said RSNA Board Chair Hedvig Hricak, M.D., Ph.D., Dr. h.c. "He has been tireless in his efforts to implement the Board's vision for the Society and our profession, and we wish him well for the future."

Fellers said he is very proud of RSNA's accomplishments. "RSNA is a wonderful organization, has a fabulous staff and I will miss my many friends and colleagues," he said.

The Board of Directors has formed a committee, chaired by Dr. Hricak, to conduct the search for a new executive director. The committee will be assisted by an executive recruitment firm. The Board has appointed Mark G. Watson, C.P.A., to serve as interim executive director through the transition period. Watson has been a member of the RSNA staff since 1990 and has served as assistant executive director for finance and administration since 1994.

"With this appointment and the RSNA's dedicated professional staff, the Board is confident that the Society will continue to operate at a high level through a smooth transition," said Dr. Hricak.

CAR Publishes Standard for Irreversible Compression in Digital Diagnostic Imaging

The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) has published a standard validating irreversible, or "lossy," compression of digital diagnostic images under certain circumstances and for specified examination types. The standard is available at www.car.ca/Files/Lossy_Compression.pdf.

CAR developed the standard in response to mounting concerns about the increasing volume of data generated by new imaging modalities, in particular with respect to storage cost and the efficiency of transmission over networks.

The standard provides compression ratios for computed radiography/digital radiography, CT, ultrasound, MR and nuclear medicine and offers guidelines for implementation and quality assurance.

CMS Launches CTC Coverage Study

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a national coverage analysis to study the impact and readiness of widespread CT colonography (CTC) colorectal cancer screening in the U.S. The analysis, scheduled to be completed early next year, could lead to a national coverage determination affecting reimbursement for CTC by Medicare and third-party payors.

Medicare reimbursement for colorectal cancer screening currently includes only some modalities, including optical colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, double-contrast barium enema and fecal occult blood testing. More information about the CTC analysis is available at www.cms.hhs.gov.

2008 Meeting Program Dedicated to Picker

Harvey Picker, M.B.A.

RSNA will dedicate the 2008 RSNA Meeting Program to the memory of renowned physicist, inventor, educator, businessman and philanthropist, Harvey Picker, M.B.A. Picker died March 22 at the age of 92.

Picker, of Camden, Maine, was named an RSNA honorary member in 1997. Longtime head of the Picker International imaging company and founder of the patient-focused Picker Institute, Picker served on the RSNA Research & Education (R&E) Foundation Board of Trustees from 1991 to 1997. Picker's donations to the Foundation remain the second highest by an individual donor.

2008 Editorial Fellows Chosen

Andrew R. Forauer, M.D.

Dino P. Massoglia, M.D., Ph.D.

RSNA has named Andrew R. Forauer, M.D., of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., as the 2008 William R. Eyler Editorial Fellow. Dino P. Massoglia, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Maryland Medical System's Department of Radiological Sciences, is the Trainee Editorial Fellow.

Both fellows will work with Radiology editor Herbert Y. Kressel, M.D., in Boston and RadioGraphics editor William W. Olmsted, M.D., in Bethesda, Md. The Eyler fellowship lasts one month and the trainee fellowship lasts one week. Each fellow will also visit the RSNA Publications and Communications Division at RSNA Headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill. During the final week of his fellowship, Dr. Forauer will work with the RSNA editorial team at the RSNA annual meeting.

Dr. Forauer specializes in vascular and interventional radiology. He has been a manuscript reviewer for the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology and Journal of Vascular Surgery. He has also served on a special emphasis review panel for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Massoglia, who specializes in neurobiology, has researched topics including neuromorphic engineering and the development of time-coding nuclei in the auditory brainstem of the barn owl.

Both fellows say they look forward to gaining insight into the editorial process and using the knowledge in their future careers. "By sharpening my own writing and editing skills, I hope to be a resource for my colleagues and to promote this aspect of academic practice to our trainees," said Dr. Forauer.

For more information about the RSNA Editorial Fellow program, go to RSNA.org/publications/editorial_fellowships.cfm.