10 Questions with Safwan Halabi, MD

In this series, 10 Questions, we ask the same questions to a diverse group of professionals who work in medical imaging. Taking a cue from Twitter, we’ve limited each respondent’s answers to 140 characters.

Here, we profiled Safwan Halabi, MD, a radiologist with Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.

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

Safwan Halabi, MD, Director of Imaging Informatics, Henry Ford Hospital

2. How did you get where you are today?

I experienced the transition to PACS and speech recognition systems and wanted to be on the front lines of the health IT revolution.

3. Why did you choose your profession?

Medical imaging plays a vital role in every aspect of medical practice. The advancements in radiology were extremely appealing.

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50 hours/week clinical work at hospital. 10-20 hours of clinical teleradiology from home. 5-10 hours/week administrative and IT meetings.

5. Where do you think radiology is going?

Radiology is redefining its role in medicine by branching out to directly communicate to the patient/health consumer.

6. What one thing would make your job better?

Better communication (person-to-person) with referring providers and patients

7. What is your favorite thing about radiology?

The culture to improve safety and quality through innovation

8. What is your least favorite thing about radiology?

Overutilization of medical imaging by way of financial incentives (self-referral) and defensive medical practices

9. What book would you recommend to other professionals in radiology?

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

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

"First, do no harm." It may be better not to do something, or even to do nothing, than to risk causing more harm than good.

If you would like to be considered for the series, please contact David Fuhriman at david@bernmedical.com.

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