With almost 700 active volunteers, members who take time to support society efforts are truly at the heart of all we do for the IR community. These three volunteers explain what motivated them to get involved with the society and what drives them to continue to do so. Learn more about volunteering for the society or foundation at members.sirweb.org/members/volunteer/, visit the Volunteer Manager on SIR Connect or see the “2016 Volunteer Spotlight,” which mailed with this issue.
Gary P. Siskin, MD, FSIR
Gary P. Siskin, MD, FSIR
@Albany_IR, @gsiskin
How did you first get involved with SIR?
I initially because involved with SIR through an interest in coding and billing. After completing a poster at a meeting on IR coding as a new attending, I was asked if I might be interested in joining the SIR Economics Committee and proceeded to rise within that committee to become co-chair.
How has volunteering impacted your career as an IR?
It is very clear to me that the progression I have seen in my own career has paralleled the progression of my SIR involvement and I believe that each has significantly contributed to the other. For example, my early involvement with the Economics Committee allowed me to be actively engaged in the billing and finances of my own practice. The insight I gained into that part of medical practice by volunteering on this committee led to tangible financial benefits to my own practice. Similarly, my progressive involvement with the annual meeting, from speaking to session organization and ultimately to chairing the meeting, gave me insight into the different ways of achieving academic success in IR. This clearly translated to academic opportunities that have benefited the attendings, fellows and residents that I have worked with through the years. Finally, the most powerful way that volunteering has impacted my career as an IR is that it has allowed me to be a part of a large group of like-minded individuals. The opportunities to closely interact with other interventional radiologists from different part of the country has provided me with a network of people with whom to share experiences, frustrations and interesting cases
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How do you balance your time as a volunteer with your other obligations?
Admittedly, this can be challenging in the context of a practice that is always busy. I have found though that the obligations of volunteering can usually be taken care of at your convenience or can usually be made to work when it can work for you. The important leap that you need to make is that your involvement is important and can benefit you, your practice and our entire society. Once you have recognized that, then you begin to realize that you have the time to make it work. It really is worth it.
Erik N.P. Cressman, MD, PhD, FSIR
Erik N.P. Cressman, MD, PhD, FSIR
How did you first get involved with SIR?
As a resident I applied for and received a travel award to a research meeting. I was just beginning to appreciate how broad the specialty is. That was the beginning of building a network.
How has volunteering impacted your career as an IR?
It’s hard to say because of the indirect nature. Networking of course and I’m sure it played a role in how I obtained my current position as a physician scientist at MD Anderson. It has also affected how I think about the direction the specialty is headed in and how I can make a larger impact, and it’s given me an appreciation for how complex running an organization is and how far ahead the society has to anticipate change (in regulatory and reimbursement environments) to be able to adapt and support the members in the best possible ways.
How do you balance your time as a volunteer with your other obligations?
I think anyone who gives an easy answer is either not giving it enough thought, not being forthright, or is unaware of the degree to which they are out of balance elsewhere, or some combination of the above. It’s rarely simple. I heard a term a while back that sums it up pretty well, where everyone in your world is to some extent unhappy with their amount of your bandwidth but in roughly equal/stable proportions: distributed dysequilibrium. Some things need more tending than others at certain times so you develop the skill of intellectual juggling. Try not to put more in the air than you can sustain for the long haul. The trick is not to break any plates but, if you do, at least try not to break the most precious ones.
Laura E. Traube, MD, MPH
Laura E. Traube, MD, MPH
How did you first get involved with SIR?
I became involved with SIR as a resident. I was immediately impressed by the high quality of organization, support structures and engagement within the society in comparison to other professional societies. It was incredibly easy to get plugged in, meet people and feel like a member of the IR community.
How has volunteering impacted your career as an IR?
Participating in SIR committees has been a great way to incorporate my interest in health policy and economics with my clinical career while contributing to the continuing development of our field. It has expanded my real-world understanding of the implications for IR that the current upheaval in health policy carries and has given me knowledge and a voice that I can use to support my own IR department as we move forward in this era of change.
How do you balance your time as a volunteer with your other obligations?
I've found the net return on volunteering within SIR to be so much greater than the investment. Committee work is done very efficiently and effectively, in large part thanks to the incredible staff. The value of the relationships I've built, inspiring role models I've met and practical insights I've gained is so great that I would gladly put in exponentially more time if needed.
