Member Achievements

Peggy J. Fritzsche, MD
President, Radiological Society of North America, 2003

By Burton P. Drayer, M.D.

Peggy J. Fritzsche, M.D., was installed as the 88th President of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) on December 5, 2002, at the Society's 88th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois. This well-deserved honor represents another achievement in a distinguished career of outstanding and enthusiastic service to the radiology community.

Dr. Fritzsche was born in Dayton, Ohio. She is the youngest of five children and was raised "on a farm in the country." At the age of eight years, after speaking with family friends, she decided to become a physician. Peggy was a straight A student and National Merit Scholar, resulting in the Charles P. Kettering Foundation supporting her undergraduate and medical school education. These successes are more impressive because she was raised in an environment and an era in which women were not encouraged to become doctors. Her motivation and intelligence resulted in her attending Loma Linda University School of Medicine following graduation from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

It was clear to Peggy during medical school that the specialty of radiology offered unique challenges both diagnostically and therapeutically. After completing an internship at the Charles Kettering Memorial Hospital in Kettering, Ohio, she became a resident in radiology at the White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Because of her technical inclinations, she decided to return to Loma Linda in 1971 and participate in a cardiovascular fellowship. She then remained on the faculty at Loma Linda University and became an expert in the uses of and adverse reactions associated with iodinated contrast materials. To further enhance her expertise in urologic radiology and to follow what would become a lifelong passion to achieve expertise in emerging areas of radiology, she left her faculty position to accept a fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1973-1974.

After the fellowship, Peggy returned to the faculty of Loma Linda University, where she remained until 1991. Her accomplishments were extensive and included directing the Loma Linda University radiology fellowship training program from 1979 to 1982 and radiology at the outpatient Loma Linda Faculty Medical Offices from 1982 to 1986 and serving as Professor of Radiology and Section Chief of Uroradiology, President of the Loma Linda University Alumni Association Holding Fund from 1986 to 1987, and President of the Medical Staff from 1987 to 1988.

During a sabbatical at the UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, California, Peggy became excited about the widespread applications of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. In 1991, she made the difficult decision to leave the faculty of Loma Linda University and become the Medical Director of the Riverside MRI Center in California. She enthusiastically took on this new challenge, and soon her practice included high-field strength, as well as open, MR imaging. She also recently added positron emission tomography to her practice at the San Bernardino MRI and Inland Empire Regional PET Center in California. Peggy fully understands the power of combining knowledge and compassion with communication skills and has instilled this message in the RSNA leadership. She strongly believes that "my patients are my best ambassadors."

Peggy is married to the internationally renowned head and neck/neuroradiologist, Anton "Tony" Hasso, M.D. Although they meet all the criteria of a "power couple," it is difficult to use such a label when describing two of the warmest and most fun-loving individuals with whom I have ever had the good fortune to interact. They exude so much charm, goodwill, and positive thinking that a smile comes to my face just thinking of them. They have two grown sons, Stephen, who works in computer networking, and Martin, a creative writer. They have always loved to ski together as a family, and Peggy fondly remembers teaching the boys to ski - "lots of tears on the hill." Peggy is possibly best known for stunt flying in her Bellanca Super Decathlon acrobatic airplane and for her love of "loops, rolls and spins." Thankfully, our Society need not worry, as she has curbed her enthusiasm for this activity in recent years.

Peggy has always considered Tony to be her mentor in academic and professional activities. Tony taught her the importance of "participating by presenting papers, supporting the goals of the RSNA, and always saying yes when asked to be on a committee." Her accomplishments have far exceeded any mentor's expectations. She has served as a scientific referee for Radiology, Academic Radiology, and the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and has served on the editorial board of RadioGraphics. Dr. Fritzsche has authored more than 50 journal articles and book chapters and presented at more than 200 regional, national, and international scientific meetings and educational symposia. Her publications have focused on urologic radiology and MR imaging, including the use of contrast materials and early innovative work in percutaneous nephrostomy and ureteral stent placement. Peggy is a past-president of the American Association for Women Radiologists and the Inland Radiological Society. She remains committed to the Loma Linda University Alumni Association and served on its Board of Directors from 1992 to 1995.

Dr. Fritzsche's contributions to the RSNA are numerous. She began as a member of the Audiovisual Services Committee, became its Chair, and acted as a "translator and coordinator" for the lecturers and audio-visual service providers. She was on the Ad Hoc Roentgen Centennial Committee and was a founding contributor to and the only woman on the FutuRad Committee. She is proudest of her role as a "communicator" for the RSNA membership, playing a seminal role in making public communications a primary function of the RSNA through monthly press releases, the RSNA News, the activities of the Public Communications Committee and the Public Information Advisory Board, and the RSNA-sponsored exhibit on radiology at Walt Disney World's EPCOT in Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Fritzsche's contributions to radiology extend beyond organized radiologic societies. She is a past-president of the San Bernardino County Medical Society, a delegate to the California Medical Association (CMA), and the RSNA alternate delegate to the American Medical Association. Her stature in the AMA is enhanced by her multiple years of service to the CMA, where she continues to be active in educating legislators concerning imaging issues and "building friendships for radiology."

The RSNA is truly fortunate to have Peggy Fritzsche as its 88th President. Her extraordinary combination of intelligence, elegance, warmth, organization, unbounded energy, and enthusiasm make her an ideal ambassador to the outside world from the North American and international community of radiologists.

This article, authored by Burton P. Drayer, M.D., appeared in Radiology 2003; 226:10-11. Reprinted with permission from the Radiological Society of North America, 820 Jorie Blvd., Oak Brook, IL 60523.