Dr. Robert L. Egan joined the Emory faculty in 1965 from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where he began his pioneering work in mammography while he was in his residency training. He brought with him several major research grants and teaching programs that supported his extensive work in the development of modern mammography. He played a key role in developing Emory as a leader in research and education regarding the effective clinical application of modern mammography.
His greatest contribution beyond research and teaching was the promotion of mammography as an effective method of saving lives by detecting cancer. It was his development of "the Egan technique" for performing the x-ray examinations and conducting clinical studies to demonstrate its diagnostic capabilities that convinced the medical profession of mammography's value in the battle against breast cancer.
During his lifetime he received many national and international recognitions and awards, including the American Cancer Society's Distinguished Service Award in 1975 and the Gold Medal of the American College of Radiology in 1992.