In July 2024, Allison Grayev, MD assumed the role as program director of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency program in the University of Wisconsin Department of Radiology. Primed by years of educational experience, Dr. Grayev demonstrated how an inclusive leadership style can result in positive change such as right-sizing the call schedule.
Since taking the reins as director, Dr. Grayev has empowered residents to have agency in their training and help ensure the already successful program continued to meet the needs of both the department and the residents.
“I have been fortunate to take over an excellent residency program, which has allowed me to focus on aspirational goals for the future,” noted Dr. Grayev. “To that end, we’ve spent this first year factfinding – what’s working for the residents and what isn’t.”
Through these efforts, Dr. Grayev discovered residents were facing an increasing demand for overnight imaging requests from the emergency department. At the department’s education retreat in January 2025, Dr. Grayev led brainstorming sessions and worked with trainees to develop a new call structure.
“Dr. Grayev anticipated the developing problem, created a task force including residents, and implemented a practical solution,” said Vice Chair of Education David Kim, MD. “Her ability to communicate and include relevant groups in the decision-making process and ultimately get buy in was impressive.”
Dr. Grayev also wanted to ensure the residents were acknowledged for their efforts taking on the increasing demand for imaging requests. With the support of Department Chair Scott Reeder, MD, PhD and Dr. Kim, Dr. Grayev is advocating for the residents to receive additional pay until the new Section of Emergency Radiology became fully staffed.
Even beyond the call structure, Assistant Director of Education Katie Ricks, MS observed the positive changes resulting from the inclusive environment Dr. Grayev fosters.
“Dr. Grayev encourages a culture of transparent communication and feedback with our trainees,” said Ricks. “The collaborations have led to the creation of a new swing shift, a new phone tree structure, and changes to rotations, all of which has improved education and training for our residents.”
Dr. Grayev gained an insider’s perspective to our department’s training programs when she completed her Neuroradiology fellowship here. In August 2010, she returned to Madison to join the Department of Radiology’s Section of Neuroradiology as a faculty member.
Early on in her time as faculty, Dr. Grayev focused on educational initiatives including the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s ForWard Curriculum. Dr. Grayev created a new preclinical radiology curriculum, introducing the field early in the medical school timeline. By exposing students to the field earlier, Dr. Grayev has helped to foster an increased interest rate for medical students to pursue a career in radiology. Her contributions earned her the Dean’s Teaching Award in 2021.
Not only is Dr. Grayev helping to shape radiology education within the department, but at the national level as well. She recently finished her year-long term as president of the Alliance of Medical Student Educators in Radiology (AMSER), an organization she’s served since 2017. Dr. Grayev serves as a member of AMSER’s executive committee and as chair of the organization’s Membership, Awards and Nominating committees.
While Dr. Grayev’s first year as program director included many accomplishments, she’s not slowing down. The program currently offers opportunities for dual board pathways in early specialization in interventional radiology (ESIR), nuclear medicine and pediatric radiology. Dr. Grayev hopes to create an educational pathway as well as one for management and leadership. To do so, she will continue to engage multiple collaborators. For the management and leadership track, she will partner with Dania Daye, MD, PhD, the inaugural director of the Center for High-Value Imaging. In addition, she will work with Alisa Walz-Flannigan, PhD who directs the UW Department of Medical Physics’ Imaging Physics Residency program to build interdisciplinary learning opportunities that will benefit both groups.
“Our program has always been at the forefront of creating great radiologists,” said Dr. Grayev. “I want to create opportunities to shape the radiology leaders of tomorrow – while allowing residents to find the paths that best align with their career aspirations.”