Putting Patients First
AHRA & Canon Medical Systems Putting Patients First Grants Enhance Safety in Imaging
The AHRA & Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc. Putting Patients First program seeks to improve patient care and safety in diagnostic and interventional imaging for pediatrics and adults through offering grants to fund programs, trainings and seminars at IDN/hospital systems, local hospitals and imaging centers. The winning grant programs are selected by the AHRA and are dedicated to improving patient care and developing best imaging practices in the areas of CT, PET/CT, MR, Ultrasound, X-ray and Angiography.
In 2025, five grants will be awarded according to the following categories:
Five grants of up to $10,000 are available to be awarded according to the following categories:
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Pediatric Imaging
- Oncology Imaging
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Safety
To learn more or to apply for the 2025 Grant Program visit the AHRA Putting Patients First Program at Programs & Campaigns - AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management.
Congratulations to our 2024 Grant Program Winners:
Diagnostic Imaging: Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital – Eugene Ferrer, Imaging Manager – Comprehensive staff training and process optimization to improve pathways from diagnostic mammography to biopsy.
Diagnostic Imaging: Houston Medical Center – Lindsay Arrington, Radiology Manager – Advancing patient, staff, and provider education with development of a MRI safety guide.
Pediatric Imaging: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital – Enzo Poretta, CRA, Director of Radiology – Scanning Without Anesthesia Program (S.W.A.P.) to provide patients over the age of 5, without complex medical conditions, the ability to be scanned without anesthesia thorough the use of MRI goggles and Child Life Services.
Radiation Safety: CentraCare Health – Joe Klaers, CRA, Senior Director Imaging Services – Development of a system-wide MRI safety program.
Radiation Safety: Unity Medical Center – Sara Riskey, Director of Radiology – Enhancing radiation safety with dose optimization software to automate image quality monitoring, protocol mapping, and patient dose alerts while providing advanced dosimetry and regulatory-compliant reports.
Recent Past Grant Recipients Include:
Diagnostic Imaging: TeleScan – Elizabeth Gardner – Using AI to bring high-risk obstetric ultrasound to underserved populations.
Pediatric Imaging: Texas Children’s Hospital – Carly Hansen – Cardiac CT quality improvement through technologist training and protocol optimization using a dynamic cardiac phantom.
Oncology Imaging: Ascension Seton Healthcare – Debra Flores – PET/CT implementation.
IDN Hospital System: Einstein Healthcare Network, Automatic Detection of Intracranial Hemorrhage on Non-contrast CT Brain Images to Prioritize Workflow and Analyze the Most Acute Examinations First to Improve Patient Care.
Pediatric Imaging: Lexington Medical Center, Sustainable Immobilization Systems to Better and More Safely Position Patients.
Pediatric Imaging: Nemours Children’s Hospital, MRI Mini Models and Play Based Therapy to Reduce Sedation, Costs, and Time in Pediatric MRI Scanning.
Patient Care and Safety: University of Maryland Medical Center, Electronic Patient Tracking Board and Waiting Room Care Cards to Improve Comfort and Reduce Anxiety During Outpatient Interventional Procedures.
Patient Care and Safety: Inova Alexandria Hospital, Advancing Patient Comfort and Safety in Mammography with a Hausted Mammography/Biopsy Chair to Accommodate Patients that Become Distressed During Invasive Procedures.
Oncology Imaging: CARTI Cancer Center, Improving Patient Clinical Pathways with Point-of-care Lab Testing to Deliver More Accurate Results Prior to CT and MRI Scans.
Oncology Imaging: University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 3D Printing to Improve Patient Understanding and Improve Management of Pancreatic Cancer.
