Dr. Byrn Williamson Jr.

They are James Anthony Seibert, PhD, and Byrn Williamson Jr., MD.
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Byrn Williamson Jr., MD, has played a significant role in the growth, importance, and impact of SIIM. He is associate professor of radiology (emeritus) at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., and, as a practicing radiologist for more than 30 years, he experienced the digital imaging revolution in radiology first-hand.

Williamson first became involved with SIIM/SCAR in 1997 as a member of the organizing committee for the SCAR 1997 meeting hosted by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. While it was a time of uncertainty for the SCAR meeting, the meeting was quite successful in terms of attendance, quality of presentations, and number of exhibitors, as well as financially.

The experience with SCAR 1997 led Williamson to lead the effort to organize a standing Annual Meeting Program Committee, and he chaired this committee until 2004. During that time, meeting attendance and exhibit booth space increased dramatically. At the same time, the high quality of the meeting led to recognition of SIIM/SCAR as the premier organization with expertise in RIS, PACS, and other electronic imaging applications.

Williamson became chair of SIIM/SCAR in 1998, and began a process to increase individual involvement in society activities. He helped organize the framework in which multiple committees were established to carry out the activities of the society and define duties and appoint members. This effectively broadened participation in the society, with work performed by the committees under the leadership of the board.

Williamson also helped form the SIIM/SCAR grant program and was the founding chair of the subcommittee in 2001. He has been editor of SIIM News since 2003, is current chair of the Finance and Administration Committee, and a participant in numerous other committees.

They are James Anthony Seibert, PhD; and Byrn Williamson Jr., MD.
...
Byrn Williamson Jr., MD has played a significant role in the growth, importance, and impact of SIIM. He is Associate Professor of Radiology (emeritus) at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and, as a practicing radiologist for more than 30 years, he experienced the digital imaging revolution in radiology first-hand.

He first became involved with SIIM/SCAR in 1997 as a member of the organizing committee for the SCAR 1997 meeting hosted by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. While it was a time of uncertainty for the SCAR meeting, the meeting was quite successful in terms of attendance, quality of presentations, and number of exhibitors, as well as financially. The experience with SCAR 1997 led Dr. Williamson to lead the effort to organize a standing Annual Meeting Program Committee, and he chaired this committee until 2004. During that time, meeting attendance and exhibit booth space increased dramatically. At the same time, the high quality of the meeting led to recognition of SIIM/SCAR as the premier organization with expertise in RIS, PACS, and other electronic imaging applications.

Dr. Williamson became chair of SIIM/SCAR in 1998, and began a process to increase individual involvement in society activities. He helped organize the framework in which multiple committees were established to carry out the activities of the society and define duties and appoint members. This effectively broadened participation in the society, with work performed by the committees under the leadership of the Board.

He also helped form the SIIM/SCAR grant program and was the founding chair of the subcommittee in 2001. He has been Editor of SIIM News since 2003, is current chair of the Finance and Administration Committee, and a participant in numerous other committees.

Byrn Williamson , M.D.SecretaryRadiologist , Mayo ClinicRochester , Minnesota

Dr. Byrn Williamson, chair of the SCAR program committee, recalls a panel discussion at SCAR's 1997 meeting in which three academic institutions described their experience with filmless imaging.

"That was perhaps 50% of the institutions that were filmless then," he said."Although we still have a long way to go, there are maybe hundreds of institutions that are filmless now."

At that time, according to Williamson, radiology departments were asking whether they should or shouldn't purchase a PACS.
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SCAR also offers poster and scientific session presentations, and the tone is changing there as well, Williamson said.

"We're seeing more presentations by community hospitals.Originally, PACS was adopted by large academic institutions with big budgets.Now we're seeing private practices and community practices describe their experiences," he said.

SCAR 2000 will bring these discussions to a common forum, said Dr. Byrn Williamson, scientific committee chairman and immediate past president of SCAR.

"People are bringing their personal experiences to the meetings now.In a sense, we are seeing the next level of research on PACS," Williamson said."We used to think that to have PACS meant to move images electronically and store data.Now we are beginning to understand the difference it is making in our practices and the changes it is introducing that will make our practices more efficient.A number of papers (will) bring these issues to the table."

One of the benefits of the meeting is the broad spectrum of those involved, Williamson said.Attendees are not just radiologists, but physicists and engineers, among others.

"It is good to get these groups talking.For instance, it is good for users to talk to vendors, and for both to discuss what is good and not good about their products.The SCAR meeting is unique in the number of constituencies involved in sharing issues and concerns," Williamson said."For skeptics it will be a good place to start."

SCAR 2000 will bring these discussions to a common forum , said Dr. Byrn Williamson , scientific committee chairman and immediate past president of SCAR.

People are bringing their personal experiences to the meetings now.In a sense , we are seeing the next level of research on PACS , Williamson said.We used to think that to have PACS meant to move images electronically and store data.Now we are beginning to understand the difference it is making in our practices and the changes it is introducing that will make our practices more efficient.A number of papers ( will ) bring these issues to the table..

One of the benefits of the meeting is the broad spectrum of those involved , Williamson said.Attendees are not just radiologists , but physicists and engineers , among others.

It is good to get these groups talking.For instance , it is good for users to talk to vendors , and for both to discuss what is good and not good about their products.The SCAR meeting is unique in the number of constituencies involved in sharing issues and concerns , Williamson said.For skeptics it will be a good place to start..

SCAR 2000 will bring these discussions to a common forum, said Dr. Byrn Williamson, scientific committee chairman and immediate past president of SCAR.

People are bringing their personal experiences to the meetings now.In a sense, we are seeing the next level of research on PACS, Williamson said.We used to think that to have PACS meant to move images electronically and store data.Now we are beginning to understand the difference it is making in our practices and the changes it is introducing that will make our practices more efficient.A number of papers (will) bring these issues to the table..

...
One of the benefits of the meeting is the broad spectrum of those involved, Williamson said.Attendees are not just radiologists, but physicists and engineers, among others.

It is good to get these groups talking.For instance, it is good for users to talk to vendors, and for both to discuss what is good and not good about their products.The SCAR meeting is unique in the number of constituencies involved in sharing issues and concerns, Williamson said.For skeptics it will be a good place to start..