In honor of International Women’s Day, we interviewed three of our leaders who uphold our department’s operations to the highest standards in educational, research, and clinical endeavors.
Allison Grayev, MD, a professor in the Section of Neuroradiology, serves as the Diagnostic Radiology Resident program director. Prior to being appointed to that role in 2024, she was an associate program director for over a decade.
Sara John BS RT (R), is the Associate Director of Research for the department. She began her career as an MRI technologist assistant at UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) and has held numerous roles at the Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) throughout her time with the department.
Meghan Lubner, MD, a professor in the Section of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention and is the Clinical and Research CT Modality Chief. She was appointed director of CT research in 2011, and director of abdominal CT in 2014 before becoming modality chief in 2017.
Learn more about the important contributions they make every single day, and the advice they have for other women interested in pursuing leadership roles.
Allison Grayev, MD, Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program Director
You work both at an institutional and a national level to create quality education materials for medical students and radiology trainees. What are some of the similarities and differences between working institutionally versus with national societies?
The key difference between local and national level education initiatives is the need to understand the variability of educational environments between institutions. To create materials that work in any institution, framing them in solid pedagogy aimed at adult learners that relate directly to overall course objectives is paramount. The key to our success here at UW has been a thoughtful integration with other basic and clinical sciences with communication between the phases to allow for a holistic approach to radiology throughout the curriculum.
One of the highlights from the department’s annual education retreat is a new call structure for residents. How did you develop this initiative?
It was important to listen to the resident feedback regarding the volume on call and ask them how they would approach the problem. Allowing the residents to have agency in their program makes sure that they feel heard and creates the opportunity for me to act as an intermediary between the program and the department.
The key to any change that we make is to use data to support decisions and to consider how stakeholders are affected. Thanks to the informatics team, we were able to create an overlapping schedule to cover the busiest times after hours, thus optimizing our staffing. Our residents recognize the importance of independent call both for their development and for recruitment; and our faculty want to support them in this endeavor. We were able to introduce recovery days for our residents to balance out their increasing call burden, which will be more palatable with the upcoming expansion of our residency program.
Are there any other exciting ideas you’re exploring in your first year as program director?
My goal is to leverage the department’s expertise to continue to build on an already outstanding program. We are currently working with Collective Minds and informatics to create a new teaching file platform that would include the ability to embed videos and articles, as well as options for formative assessment.
Informatics is also playing a role in ongoing work that we are doing to implement improved feedback to residents after overnight shifts through implementation of large language models to compare preliminary and final reports. Ultimately, I would love to create individualized learning plans at scale using data from cases that residents dictate to identify potential knowledge gaps, both in terms of diagnoses and modalities, utilizing metadata already collected with each study.
We also have an amazing UW Imaging Physics Residency Program that we are looking forward to working with to create interdisciplinary learning opportunities that will be of benefit for both groups. We are revitalizing our Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Hospital rotation thanks to our new radiology chief, Rick Baker; including incorporation of combined diagnostic and procedural rotations and interactive rounds with the medicine teams.
What advice would you give to women early in their careers who are interested in pursuing leadership roles?
It’s important to think in the short and long term. Make short term goals in the context of your long-term plan. Find good collaborators; and recognize that they may be outside of your department. Take opportunities as they come, but don’t overstay your welcome. It’s important not to get too enmeshed in a single role, which can make it harder to pursue other prospects as they arise.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your philosophy as an educator, or as a leader?
I think it’s important to realize that education and leadership is not one size fits all. Specifically, thinking about the trainees, it is critical to offer learning materials in a variety of formats allowing them to find the resources that optimize their education. The same holds true for residency leadership – we need to have clear expectations while allowing flexibility to meet each resident where they are.
Sara John, BS RT (R)
, Associate Director of Research
What first sparked your interest in the research field?
Growing up, I was always fascinated by science, and having my dad as my high school chemistry teacher only fueled that interest. When I went to college, I knew I wanted to enter the medical field, but I wasn’t sure in what capacity. I attended UW-Milwaukee, which had just launched a bachelor’s program in radiologic technology. A friend in the program encouraged me to explore it, and I did.
When I discovered that UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) was one of the clinical placement options, I knew it was meant to be. Having grown up in Mount Horeb, I was aware of UW’s amazing reputation, and this was the perfect opportunity to return. During my studies, I worked as an MRI technologist assistant and had the chance to observe an MRI research scan. That experience was pivotal. When a position as an MRI technologist in radiology research opened up, I jumped at the chance to apply! It was the perfect opportunity to continue my radiology career while also being part of exploring cutting-edge imaging technologies to improve future patient care.
What has your career journey looked like?
As I mentioned earlier, I started my career as an MRI tech assistant at UWHC while completing my radiology technology clinicals. After graduation, I worked as a radiology technologist in general x-ray at UWHC. Six months later, I learned about a research MRI technologist position at the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research (WIMR), applied, and fortunately got the job. I worked as an MRI technologist at WIMR for 10 years.
In 2019, the department introduced a new service line for radiology research called Medical Imaging Research Support (MIRS) and sought a project manager to assist investigators using medical imaging in their research. I was ready for a change and saw this as the perfect opportunity to stay in radiology research while transitioning to a more administrative role. I served as a project manager in MIRS for about five years before being promoted to MIRS project program manager as we expanded our services. Most recently, in November 2024, I became the associate director of research for the Department of Radiology.
What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part of my job is, without a doubt, the people I work with. We have an incredible research team, and the faculty members and investigators are always so appreciative. The teamwork and collaboration within our department are outstanding, and everyone genuinely cares about improving patient care.
Was there anything that surprised you when you first started?
One thing that surprised me when I first started was the sheer amount of research conducted within the Department of Radiology. I always knew that radiology played a crucial role in many medical diagnoses, but I didn’t realize just how extensively it impacts nearly every aspect of patient care. Additionally, I was amazed by how many outside departments rely on medical imaging to help answer their research questions.
What advice would you give to other women who are interested in pursuing leadership roles?
If I could give advice to other women interested in pursuing leadership roles, it would be to go for it. We often doubt ourselves, get too comfortable, or worry about how our decisions might affect those around us. While these concerns are valid, the most important thing is to follow your passion. Embrace the challenges and opportunities that come your way. Your unique perspective and contributions are incredibly valuable. Surround yourself with supportive mentors and colleagues who will encourage your growth. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and take risks. You have so much to offer and sometimes taking that first step is all you need for the rest of the pieces to fall into place.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your role, your leadership philosophy, or research in general?
My leadership philosophy is to lead with authenticity. I believe in leading by example, embracing my strengths, and being open and vulnerable. Building meaningful relationships with those you work with is key. Just like in research, you won’t always have all the answers, but it’s important to try, take risks, and learn from past experiences. Creating a supportive and communicative environment helps everyone thrive and innovate together.
Meghan Lubner, MD, Clinical and Research CT Modality Chief
How long have you been in the Clinical and Research CT Modality Chief role? What initially drew your interest?
I was appointed director of CT research in 2011, and director of abdominal CT in 2014. I became modality chief when Myron Pozniak stepped down in 2017.
I have always considered CT a workhorse imaging modality that is really fundamental to our work as radiologists in general; and in abdominal imaging in particular. CT is fast, versatile, profoundly clinically impactful in a variety of situations, and continues to reinvent itself as a modality as the technology continues to develop.
What are some elements of the job that surprised you?
The challenges around COVID-19, the iodinated contrast shortage, and ongoing workforce challenges have surprised me; and have required team problem solving and collaboration. While they were challenging obstacles to overcome, they made me appreciate our ability to put our heads together and work out how we could continue to provide great care for our patients.
The development and emergence of photon counting CT has surprised me in delightful ways, bringing to fruition some of the most exciting CT advances of my career.
What other experiences or positions have you held, that have helped you in this role?
I have had many jobs prior to this one, with quite a range of roles. I’ve worked as a waitress, a unit secretary, and a member of the maintenance crew at Peninsula state park. All of these experiences have provided unexpected skills that I have used in this role.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
Hands down the people! Getting to be part of thoughtful and dedicated teams that are committed to providing the best possible patient care is a truly special aspect of working within the department.
What advice would you give to other women who are interested in pursuing leadership positions?
I think a few important skills include being a good listener, being curious, and using data when approaching a problem.
Is there anything else about the role, or your philosophy as a leader, that you would like to share?
I strive to be a servant leader, and I hope that I would not ask someone to do something I would not be willing to do or help with myself. A team approach to problem solving seems to almost always work best; creating diverse teams and positive team environments enable member contributions and forward progress.