The BLAiR Track Experience

Danika Baskar, MD, stood on the polished marbled floor of the Georgia State Capitol Rotunda and looked up. Looked up past the sweeping twin staircases, the ballustrades ringing both gallery floors above. Looked up to the Gold Dome 187 feet above, and expected to feel overwhelmed. Expected it, but felt something altogether different: powerful. 

"I was really struck by the power of what we were there to do," the third-year diagnostic radiology resident says. "By talking with legislators, I discovered how important it is for doctors to educate them about issues affecting our ability to provide the best medical care. They really wanted to know our thoughts about insurance reform and prior authorization processing, for example."

Dr. Baskar, fellow second-year resident AJ Cheo, MD, and first-year resident Sam Afshari, MD, traveled to downtown on February 4 for Physicians' Day at the Capitol organized by the Medical Association of Georgia. 

Dr. Afshari found the experience enlightening as well. “I feel fortunate to have attended Physicians’ Day at the Capitol and gained insight into the policy decisions being made at the state level that directly impact our profession and, more importantly, the care we provide to our patients. Seeing so many early-career physicians actively engaged in advocacy was inspiring, and learning how to effectively communicate with policymakers is an invaluable skill that will serve me throughout my career." 

Such advocacy activities are the kinds of hands-on learning experiences residents benefit from in the new Business, Leadership and Advocacy in Radiology (BLAiR) Track of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency program.

"As I listened to Dr. Kay Kirkpatrick, one of only four physicians among Georgia’s 236 legislators, share policies she is advancing in the Georgia Senate, it reminded me that while physicians care for patients within hospital walls, lasting impact on health outcomes happens through policy. It dawned on me that more doctors need to engage in local and national advocacy to help educate lawmakers so they can craft policies that support high-quality, patient-centered, equitable, and affordable health care."

Drs. Baskar and Cheo received an Adopt-A-Resident Grant from the department in 2025 to establish the BLAiR Track. They continue todevelop the track with guidance from faculty mentors Sumir Patel, MD, MBA, assistant professor and director of the Community Radiology Specialists division, and Jennifer Nathan, MD, assistant professor also in the Community Radiology Specialists division. Both are themselves recognized leaders and advocates in radiology, making them especially valuable mentors.

"Radiologists who want to lead must understand more than images. They must understand systems. The BLAiR Track equips our residents with the financial, operational, and policy fluency needed to influence the future of our field," says Dr. Patel.

Validated instructional resources like the American College of Radiology's Radiology Leadership Institute courses help BLAiR Track residents cultivate that fluency. They recently completed the "Leadership Essentials" module and are working through "Healthcare Economics Milestones." 

"These courses are a great opportunity to interface with leaders in the field, expand our knowledge, and analyze relevant data from the Emory Healthcare system while also learning from the experiences of peers in other institutions who also are taking the courses." says Dr. Baskar.

Dr. Nathan regularly reminds the residents that, “True leadership in medical imaging extends beyond the reading room. Leaders must understand health-care economics, and have the essential skills to comprehend and influence policies affecting the scope of radiologic practice."

To flex those skills, Drs. Baskar and Cheo recently co-authored a piece for the Journal of the American College of Radiology Focus Issue on the Economics of Education. Titled, "The Economics of Radiology Education in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities," they examine current radiology education funding sources and analyze the impact of recent policy changes on radiology training programs. Most importantly, they suggest strategies to counter these negative forces.