RSNA Member Spotlight: Amy K. Patel, MD 

Amy K Patel, MD, is a breast radiologist who also serves as medical director of the Liberty Hospital Breast Care Center in Missouri. She is an associate professor of radiology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a managing partner at Alliance Radiology.

A staunch advocate for equity in health care access, Dr. Patel also serves as chair of the American College of Radiology’s Radiology Advocacy Network (RAN) and Radiology Political Action Committee (RADPAC) where she leads 40,000 radiologists and radiation oncologists in the fight for equitable access to radiological care for patients.

In addition to her advocacy work, Dr. Patel is associate editor of digital media for the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Currently serving as president of the Missouri Radiological Society, Dr. Patel is also a past president of the American Association for Women in Radiology. She was named the 2022 Kansas City Chiefs Fan of the Year in recognition of her love of the team and her work in bridging the gap to breast care disparities in the region.

What or who sparked your interest in radiology?

I became interested in radiology after a friend of mine in medical school suggested I do a breast radiology medical student rotation with his mom who was a breast radiologist. I instantly fell in love with the specialty as it had all the elements I was looking for—an emphasis on women's health and the advocacy aspect that came with that—both from a health policy and patient education standpoint, including patient interaction, procedural exposure and interpretation at the workstation.

What has been your best professional accomplishment?

I think my best professional accomplishment was spearheading the establishment of a comprehensive breast program in a part of the United States that badly needed access. The last almost seven years has most certainly been a grind in every sense, but it was worth it to see the quality and outcomes of our breast cancer patients improve significantly. It means even more as I was able to do this in the area in which I was raised, so it's truly been a calling.