Dr. Erica Martin-Macintosh named chair of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences Department of Radiology
GRAND FORKS, N.D.—Erica Martin-Macintosh, M.D., has been named chair of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS) Department of Radiology.
Specializing in diagnostic and nuclear radiology, Martin-Macintosh graduated from UND’s M.D. program in 2010 and later completed both a diagnostic radiology residency and nuclear radiology fellowship at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn.
“I am honored to return to UND as chair of the Department of Radiology,” said Martin-Macintosh, who is certified by the American Board of Radiology and practices radiology at Sanford Health in Fargo, N.D. “This institution had a profound impact on my own development as an undergraduate and physician. I look forward to contributing to its continued success.”
Among other duties, Martin-Macintosh’s job as chair will be to oversee the radiology curriculum while working collaboratively with other SMHS departments to incorporate radiology into the School’s interprofessional framework; ensure that third- and fourth-year clerkship students obtain hands-on training during the radiology elective and receive timely, formative feedback; and collaborate with clinical faculty in radiology across North Dakota to increase medical student interest in radiology as a medical specialty.
On this last, the need for more radiologists across the country is vast, said Martin-Macintosh. As of this writing, the American College of Radiology lists over 1,500 full time radiology positions open at health facilities across the U.S. Over the past decade, only six percent of medical doctors graduating from North Dakota’s only medical school – 43 out of nearly 700 UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences M.D. grads – successfully matched in radiology as a specialty, which follows a national trend at most American medical schools.
Part of the reason for these figures is that radiology residency programs are limited — particularly in the upper-Midwest — making radiology one of the most competitive specialties graduating students can choose.
All of this is why Martin-Macintosh has made it her mission to help prepare North Dakota’s students.
“I hope not only to support student and trainee integration of imaging into their future clinical practice, but also to potentially spark their interest in radiology as a career,” she explained, adding that because radiology is often the first step to identifying a patient’s condition, it’s important to help students understand that radiologists directly impact clinical outcomes. “With a shortage of radiologists in many regions, including our great state of North Dakota, there is an urgent need to develop this profession. This need creates a unique opportunity for medical students to pursue a career in radiology, a field that plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of medicine.”
Martin-Macintosh assumed the role of radiology chair at UND – a part-time, non-tenured position – on Feb. 16. She will continue her radiology practice in Fargo.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming one of our own back to UND,” said Marjorie Jenkins, M.D., MEdHP FACP, dean School of Medicine & Health Sciences and UND’s vice president for Health Affairs. “Dr. Martin-Macintosh’s dedication to excellence in medical education and patient care is self-evident and makes her the perfect person for this role.”
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Brian James Schill
Director, Office of Alumni & Community Relations
UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences
701.777.6048 direct | 701.777.4305 office
brian.schill@UND.edu | www.UND.edu