RSNA Member Spotlight: Zi (Jill) Zhang, MD, MSc
Learn more about a fellow RSNA member
Zi (Jill) Zhang, MD, MSc, is an assistant professor of radiology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and the associate residency program director at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.
Dr. Zhang earned her medical degree from Capital Medical University in Beijing and a Master of Science in clinical epidemiology from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
She completed a surgical internship at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, followed by a diagnostic radiology residency at Harlem Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, where she served as chief resident. Dr. Zhang later completed a fellowship in breast imaging and imaging informatics at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
A breast radiologist whose work spans clinical care, research and education, Dr. Zhang has authored and presented widely on breast imaging, health disparities, AI and workforce sustainability.
Dr. Zhang has been actively involved with RSNA throughout her career. As a trainee, she received several awards, including the Roentgen Resident/Fellow Research Award and the RSNA Student Travel Award. She now serves on the RSNA Professionalism Committee and the Regional Committee for Asia/Oceania. She is also an abstract reviewer for the RSNA annual meeting.
Committed to bringing mentorship, career insights and professional development to a wider audience of radiologists, Dr. Zhang created and hosts RSNA Unscripted, a web video series featuring candid conversation with leaders in the field.
What or who sparked your interest in radiology?
While earning my Master of Science in clinical epidemiology, I began to see how radiologists shape patient care far beyond image interpretation.
As I conducted clinical research in head and neck cancer, I regularly attended multidisciplinary tumor boards and watched radiologists translate complex imaging findings into actionable decisions for the care team.
What resonated with me most was seeing radiology practiced as a form of clinical leadership, where imaging and clinical expertise directly influenced how care teams moved forward and how patients were treated.
At the same time, I was exposed to large-scale, multicenter clinical research and innovation focused on improving patient outcomes, which highlighted radiology’s unique ability to impact care at both the individual and population level.
That combination—being at the center of clinical decision-making while also driving innovation through research—made it clear to me that radiology was the specialty where I could best integrate my background in clinical epidemiology, my interest in leading team-based care and my passion for advancing patient outcomes.
What has been your best professional accomplishment?
My proudest professional accomplishments have been matching into radiology as a foreign medical graduate and, more recently, launching RSNA Unscripted with the RSNA Communications team. Both represent moments where persistence, growth and collaboration came together in support of a shared vision.
RSNA Unscripted is especially meaningful to me because it reflects not just a personal milestone, but a true team effort. It draws on skills I’ve built over many years—from research and education to communication, storytelling and leadership.
Creating it also required stepping outside my comfort zone by learning new technical skills, building new networks and reimagining how mentorship and professional development can be delivered.
At its core, this initiative is deeply personal. Throughout my career, I’ve benefited from mentors who made opportunities feel possible at pivotal moments. RSNA Unscripted is my way of paying that forward by making mentorship, insight and inspiration more accessible to a broader audience.
The series was also created to connect the radiology community through authentic conversations, bringing together voices across different backgrounds, experiences and expertise. I hope this initiative encourages more people to pursue radiology and believe in what they can achieve.
What has been your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced in my career has been choosing the long, uncertain path when easier or more visible options were available. During medical school in Beijing, I briefly stepped away to train and compete in the finals of 2005 Miss Chinese Cosmo competition, an annual international beauty pageant that promotes women’s empowerment.
When it ended, I faced a defining choice: continue down a path of visibility and momentum or return to the demanding journey of becoming a physician. I chose to go back to medical school, knowing it would require years of sustained effort.
Soon afterward, I decided to pursue graduate training in the United States. Adjusting to a new country, language and academic system was deeply challenging. I arrived without a support system and had to rebuild my life from the ground up. Through perseverance, mentorship and hard work, I gradually found my footing, excelling academically, leading clinical research and ultimately matching into a radiology residency.
Looking back, these challenges shaped not only my career, but also who I am as a person. I’ve learned that progress is rarely linear and that mentorship can turn seemingly impossible paths into achievable ones. By sharing this journey, I hope others—especially those navigating uncertainty or self-doubt—feel encouraged to dream big, stay resilient and pursue the work that truly matters to them.
What RSNA resources do you enjoy most?
RSNA offers an incredible range of resources, and I regularly rely on RSNA journals and EdCentral content to stay current. My favorite resource remains the RSNA annual meeting, which goes beyond knowledge-sharing to provide opportunities for connection, mentorship and community-building.
I also consistently register for Virtual Access, which allows me to revisit sessions and explore topics I may have missed during the in-person meeting. The breadth of content is remarkable, spanning day-to-day clinical practice, cutting-edge technology, novel research and education.
I truly believe the RSNA annual meeting is not just a conference, but an investment in ourselves. I hope more radiologists will take advantage of it to learn, connect and continue developing into the best versions of themselves.
When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
When I’m not working, I love exploring the world, its people, cultures and landscapes. I grew up in China and have always been proud of its over 5,000 years of cultural heritage. As I’ve traveled more widely, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the diversity of cultures and perspectives around the world. It’s both humbling and inspiring to see what humanity has accomplished and to learn from history, art and shared human experiences across different societies.
I completed my residency in New York City, where I was drawn to the city’s energy, creativity and cultural richness. Now, with a growing family of my own, my free time has naturally shifted toward sharing experiences together, whether traveling when we can or exploring closer to home.
I also genuinely enjoy learning new skills and often sign up for an online course or join new communities when time allows. Curiosity has always been a driving force for me, both professionally and personally.
For More Information
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