Radiology is a field of many outstanding performers, and it would be difficult to name just one. That’s why we felt it was so important to compile our second-annual Medical Imaging Industry Top 10, recognizing the 10 best in 10 categories, including associations, facilities, physicians, and technologists. Yes, Medical Imaging is a product and technology magazine; however, we feel that this survey is essential, because without the visionaries to research new imaging techniques and the facilities to enable this research, the very field would stagnate.

Once again, the survey was a success. Not surprisingly, many of the winners also appeared on last year’s list, but several newcomers rose to the top as well. For instance, Geoffrey Rubin, MD, of Stanford University, Stanford, Calif, in the “Cardiovascular Imager/Cardiac Catheterization Lab Director” category came in at number 1, and it was his first time on the ballot. The same is true in the “Radiologist” category with M. Linda Sutherland, MD, of St Joseph Comprehensive Breast Center, San Diego, who made her first appearance at number 10. Read about all of this year’s “cream of the crop,” and compare them with the 2006 Medical Imaging Industry Top 10 winners.

Readers, thank you for taking the time to vote on these professionals—your mentors, your leaders, your peers, and your employers. Being recognized for dedication, enthusiasm, and forward-thinking is vital in this ever-changing field. Sometimes, it’s this acknowledgement—this sign from colleagues that you and your work are appreciated and noticed—that can drive someone to go the extra step in research, patient care, and day-to-day efforts. To show our own thanks, we have rewarded four voters each with $50 gift certificates to Amazon.com.

Of course, the Industry Top 10 isn’t the only way that you can voice your opinion in the magazine. For starters, on our homepage, we have monthly Web polls; they ask questions about you, your facility, the technology you use, and more. I urge you to take part in these polls, as they can provide a yardstick for everyone as to where they and their facility are in comparison. Check out the results of our latest poll (look on the left side of the page).

Next, please participate in our second-annual PACS Usage Survey. The survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete, and the results will be published in our June issue. It will help all of our readers gauge the PACS market, including the most important features of the solution, the number of on-site visits attended before purchase, the solution used, and the true versus promised downtime. Also, four survey takers will be rewarded for their time with Amazon.com gift certificates. (Read the results of last year’s PACS Usage Survey in our online archives.)

Also, our sister publication, Axis Imaging News, currently is polling readers about their capital purchasing plans. Available at www.imagingeconomics.com/purchasing/, the survey aims to provide a snapshot of facilities’ equipment-related needs and expectations for imaging. Now that the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) has gone into effect, it will be interesting to see how budgets—freestanding imaging centers’ in particular—have changed. In last year’s results, respondents noted that the DRA would cause them to make drastic budget cuts, or to buy refurbished or less-advanced technology. Is that the case now? Look for the results in the July issue of Axis Imaging News.

In closing, as you peruse the list of radiology’s top performers in the second-annual Medical Imaging Industry Top 10, let me know your thoughts. I found each and every one of the winners to be inspiring—whether it was a facility, a person, or an association. I hope you’ll feel the same way.

Andi Lucas, editor