Inspirations, favorite quotes and more about speakers at SIR 2023—from well-known luminaries to first-time presenters! In this article: Yolanda Bryce, MD; Donna L. D'Souza, MD, FSIR; Guillermo Gonzalez, MD; David Mauro, MD; and Amanda R. Smolock, MD, PhD. Click the names below to find each one in the SIR 2023 program.
Yolanda Bryce, MD
Why did you choose IR?
Yolanda Bryce, MD
In my 4th year of medical school it was the only thing that intrigued me that I thought I could do for life—procedures, care of patients and innovation.
How do you explain your work to non-IRs?
I use imaging to guide me in doing procedures such as stopping a bleed from the inside, putting stents in a blocked artery, or burning or freezing a cancer to death with a probe that looks like a biopsy needle.
What would you say drives your work or inspires you?
I am inspired by the possibility of improving a patient's life, bringing to them high quality and equitable care to level the playing field and give them the best chance possible
What is your favorite or most meaningful memory/experience as an IR?
After over 2 years of ground work, sweat, and tears, performing the first peripheral arterial disease procedure at my cancer center.
What is your favorite quote (if you have one)?
God works out everything for our good.
Donna L. D'Souza, MD, FSIR
Why did you choose IR?
Donna L. D'Souza, MD, FSIR
I chose IR because it combines my love of imaging and surgery. In my radiology residency I found that I was happiest in the angio suite, so I did an IR fellowship and found my passion.
What would you say drives your work or inspires you?
The frequent wins, big and small. It is very gratifying to see a patient's ascites dry up after a TIPS, menorrhagia resolve after a UFE, leg swelling resolve after a venous procedure, etc., and the impact that has on their lives. And it is just as gratifying to see an abscess resolve after drain placement or lots of glomeruli on a renal biopsy specimen. We really do help a lot of people each day.
What is your favorite or most meaningful memory/experience as an IR?
Being asked to do a reading at the funeral of one of my long-term oncology patients, by his family, and it was a lovely experience.
What is your favorite quote (if you have one)?
"We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."
Guillermo Gonzalez, MD
Why did you choose IR?
I saw a GI bleed embolization as a medical student and thought it was the coolest thing I'd seen in medicine.
How do you explain your work to non-IRs?
Easy, plumbing for the human body.
What would you say drives your work or inspires you?
Taking care of patients the way Id want a family member to be cared for
What is your favorite or most meaningful memory/experience as an IR?
One of the most meaningful occurred on the patient side - my wife underwent Fallopian tube recanalization and a few months later became pregnant with our first child.
What is your favorite quote (if you have one)?
Less certainty, more inquiry
David Mauro, MD
Why did you choose IR?
I chose IR for the ability to combine minimally invasive procedures with a constantly evolving tool and skill set and the variety of procedures and patient populations that we can impact
What would you say drives your work or inspires you?
I gain a huge satisfaction from our multidisciplinary approach to manage our HCC population and the collaboration across specialties.
Amanda R. Smolock, MD, PhD
Why did you choose IR?
Ananda R. Smolock, MD, PhD
I chose IR because I was fascinated by the ability to combine cutting-edge technology and imaging to treat patients, including some who may not otherwise have effective treatment options.
How do you explain your work to non-IRs?
I perform minimally invasive procedures using imaging guidance to treat many different diseases and parts of the body.
What would you say drives your work or inspires you?
My patients inspire me and drive what I do. My subspecialty focus is IO; caring for cancer patients is both profoundly impactful and gratifying despite being emotionally challenging at times
