10 Questions with Frank J. Lexa, MD, MBA

Our "10 Questions" series asks the same questions to a diverse group of professionals in the imaging community.

Here, we profiled Frank J. Lexa, MD, MBA.

1. Please state your name, title and the organization you work for. 

Frank J. Lexa, MD, MBA, Medical Director, the Radiology Leadership Institute^® (RLI) of the American College of Radiology (ACR).

2. How did you get where you are today?

I have had a hybrid career working both in academic neuroradiology and in business doing strategic and entrepreneurial planning. This led me to focus on developing educational programs for radiologists that can help them with the nonclinical material that they need to learn to succeed in the modern health care environment.

3. Why did you choose your profession?[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_crop","fid":"41738","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","id":"media_crop_4880278279018","media_crop_h":"0","media_crop_image_style":"-1","media_crop_instance":"4436","media_crop_rotate":"0","media_crop_scale_h":"0","media_crop_scale_w":"0","media_crop_w":"0","media_crop_x":"0","media_crop_y":"0","style":"height: 259px; width: 200px; float: right;","title":"Frank J. Lexa, MD, MBA","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]

After working as a radiologist for several years, I saw a need for us to develop nonclinical skills in order to help strengthen our departments and practices. That led to my decision to get an MBA in order to use those disciplines to help us thrive, despite the issues that challenge us.

4. What is your biggest day-to-day challenge? 

My biggest challenge right now is settling in as an ACR commission chair and understanding the intricacies of the RLI. There is a lot to learn, but it is going fantastically well to date, and we look forward to great things ahead.  

5. What worries, if any, do you have about the future of radiology? If none, where do you think the field is going?

My biggest worries center on the devaluation of radiology (decline in reimbursement and the role that radiologists play in the house of medicine), commoditization of radiology, and pressures that are reducing the independent practice of radiology.

6. What one thing would make your job better?

Having more time in the day. I juggle several responsibilities so there is never enough time to get everything done.

7. What is your favorite thing about radiology? 

Making a great diagnosis that significantly changes how a patient is treated. Having that kind of impact makes my day.

8. What is your least favorite thing about radiology? 

The decline in the face-to-face interaction that occurs with our nonradiologist physicians. That makes the job less interesting and can negatively impact the value of what we do.

9. What is the field’s biggest obstacle?

Continued severe pressures to cut costs in U.S. medicine and a shortage of data that proves how valuable we really are.

10. If you could give the radiology specialty one piece of advice, what would it be?

Be flexible, be resilient and come up with innovative responses to the challenges that we face.

Is there someone in the imaging community that you want to hear from? E-mail us their name and we'll ask them 10 questions.

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