Member Spotlight: Berat Bersu Ozcan, MD

What or who sparked your interest in radiology?

My interest in radiology began during my medical school training at Hacettepe University, which is a tertiary center that serves patients from many regions throughout Turkey. During my clinical rotations, I witnessed how radiologists synthesized complex clinical information and imaging findings into decisions that directly shaped patient care. I was drawn to the intellectual depth of the field and to the way radiology sits at the center of multidisciplinary care.

Several mentors helped me see radiology not only as a specialty, but as a community. At Hacettepe, Drs. Musturay Karcaaltincaba, Deniz Akata and Ruhi Onur were among the people who paved the way for me and encouraged my early interest in radiology.

Later, I was a research fellow in the Department of Radiology at UT Southwestern under the mentorship of Dr. Başak Dogan who became a defining mentor and role model for me. She taught me how to approach research questions thoughtfully, connect imaging findings with clinical impact and communicate our work with purpose. She also introduced me to radiology communities that I had once admired from a distance. Her mentorship and guidance helped me grow as a researcher and a future radiologist.

While these mentors played a central role in sparking and shaping my interest in radiology, I have also been fortunate to learn from many mentors who continue to support, challenge and inspire me.

What has been your best professional accomplishment?

Rather than one single moment, the accomplishment that has been most meaningful to me is gradually building a place for myself in radiology. As an international medical graduate, matching into radiology was an important milestone because it represented years of persistence, adaptability and support from the people around me.

I am also grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to contribute to the field so early in my training. Receiving the RSNA Trainee Research Prize, earning an RSNA Magna Cum Laude award, serving on the RadioGraphics Trainee Editorial Board, and publishing work in RadioGraphics and Radiology: Imaging Cancer have all been deeply meaningful.

Being invited to speak at the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine-American College of Radiology (SIIM-ACR) Data Science Summit about equitable AI was especially memorable because it was my first invited talk and the topic was very close to my heart. It allowed me to take part in a conversation about fairness, trust and responsibility in radiology.

Together, all of these experiences helped me feel that I was beginning to find my place in radiology while taking small, meaningful steps toward contributing to the field.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your career?

The biggest challenge has been building a career across different countries, institutions and systems while trying to stay grounded in my goals. After moving to the United States to pursue research, my path required several transitions between cities, clinical roles and training environments. Each transition came with a new learning curve, a new community to build and moments of uncertainty.

What made these transitions more difficult was being far from my family. I am deeply grateful to them for supporting my goals, even when that meant accepting the distance between us. Their unwavering support, in both the good days and the difficult ones, kept me going.

What RSNA resources do you use to assist you with your professional development and in your daily practice?

I frequently use RSNA journals and annual meeting resources to support my learning and professional development. RadioGraphics has been especially helpful during residency because of its educational style, curated reading lists and practical approach to topics that are directly relevant to daily radiology practice.

The annual meeting has also been one of the most meaningful resources for me. It introduced me to a world that I could not have imagined being part of when I was a medical student. Through RSNA, I have had the opportunity to present my work, meet people I deeply admire, learn from leaders in the field and feel connected to a larger radiology community.

When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your free time?

I enjoy exploring the food scene in whatever city I am living in and traveling whenever I can. Trying new restaurants has become one of my favorite ways to get to know a new place, and I love how food can make a city feel more familiar. I also enjoy cooking at home, especially when I try new recipes.

I’ve recently been trying to develop a green thumb by slowly filling my home with plants. I also enjoy long walks through neighborhoods and trails.

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