Member Spotlight: Melissa Davis, MD, MBA
Learn more about a fellow RSNA member
Melissa Davis, MD, MBA, is vice chair of medical informatics and an associate professor in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at Yale University in New Haven, CT.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College in Massachusetts and received her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. She went on to complete her diagnostic radiology residency and neuroradiology fellowship at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She subsequently completed a fellowship in healthcare leadership at Yale University.
Dr. Davis is an advocate for organizational change and innovation in healthcare. These interests are reflected in her active service with RSNA, where she is the chair of the Technology and Practice Subcommittee of the RSNA Government Relations Committee.
She also serves on the Noninterpretive Skills (Beyond Imaging) Subcommittee of the RSNA Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee and the RSNA/ACR Common Data Element Committee.
What or who sparked your interest in radiology?
When I went to college, my initial goal was to become a chemical engineer. Over time, my academic interests shifted toward chemistry and psychology. As a chemistry major, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Nancy Kolodny, who became an important mentor. She introduced me to nuclear magnetic resonance and the principles of spectroscopy. Looking back, this experience was my first true introduction to imaging as a discipline.
While searching for undergraduate opportunities one summer, Dr. Kolodny introduced me to her daughter, a radiologist. Meeting with her and discussing medicine as a career planted an early seed of interest in the field. That curiosity faded temporarily as I focused on gaining admission to medical school, but it resurfaced strongly during my first anatomy course. A radiologist, Dr. Zoran Rumbult, taught several sessions and invited students to shadow him. That experience truly solidified my interest in radiology.
I ultimately chose radiology because of the welcoming environment of the reading room and the specialty’s unique ability to integrate technology with patient care through diagnostic imaging and procedures.
What has been your best professional accomplishment?
When I reflect on my goals as a trainee and compare them to my accomplishments today, there are many achievements I am proud of. However, my most important professional decision was reaching out to Dr. Howard Forman during my third year of residency and applying to the Leadership in Healthcare Fellowship and Executive MBA program at the Yale School of Management.
That decision set off a series of pivotal moments that ultimately led me to my current role. At the time, I was deeply concerned that I might be making the wrong choice—extending my training, reducing my earning potential for two years and taking on a very demanding schedule. Despite those concerns, my instincts told me this was the right path, and I am forever grateful that I trusted them.
As a result, I gained a community of friends, colleagues, mentors and sponsors who continue to challenge me to be better every day, and for that I am truly grateful.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your career?
The greatest challenge I have faced has been learning how to balance personal well-being with career mobility. Following a non-traditional career path after training provided many opportunities and allowed me to develop a versatile skill set, but it also came at the cost of my deeper personal connections and time with my family.
In 2019, that personal cost manifested physically, making it clear that a change was necessary.
Leaving an environment that had provided immense growth and opportunity was a difficult decision, but I recognized the need to move to a setting that would allow me to regain balance and focus on developing a specific skill set while also creating space for personal reflection and re-centering.
Although I went back and forth on that decision many times, it ultimately proved to be the right choice. The decision allowed me to clarify my core values and strengths, and the experience taught me the importance of being open to taking thoughtful risks.
What RSNA resources do you enjoy using?
I attend the annual meeting every year. Although the week is fast-paced and packed with sessions, I consistently gain exposure to a wide range of topics, from core imaging education to emerging innovations in radiology. I always leave feeling energized and optimistic about the future of the field.
I also regularly consult RSNA’s radiology journals as part of my clinical practice. In addition, serving on several RSNA committees has allowed me to expand my knowledge in areas such as informatics, governance and change management, all of which have been invaluable for my professional growth.
When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
I love to travel. This year, I traveled to my seventh continent, Antarctica, which was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Traveling allows me to experience different cultures and ways of life while giving me a deeper appreciation for the life I have built at home. I also have a close group of friends from college, and we take one trip together each year with the goal of visiting all seven continents together—five down, two to go.
I am passionate about food and wine. I cook almost every day and maintain a running list of restaurants around the world that I hope to visit. Despite my culinary curiosity, my favorite food remains the Southern cooking I grew up with. I love discovering traces of Southern cuisine in other cultures, a reminder that we are all more connected than we realize.
Most mornings, you’ll find me in my makeshift garage gym. Regular workouts—usually a combination of weight training and running—are essential for my sense of balance and well-being. Occasionally, my partner convinces me to go for a bike ride, which inevitably reminds me that cycling uses a completely different set of lungs.