Celebrating Three SNR Honorary Presidents

Three Honorary SNR Presidents were celebrated during SNR XXII, held May 14-16, 2022, in New York City. The Honorary Presidents were appointed by the SNR XXII President, Dr. Mauricio Castillo, and recognized by SNR XXII Program Chair, Dr. Christine Glastonbury, during the Opening Ceremony.

Professor Sirintara Singhara Na Ayudhaya

Professor Sirintara Singhara Na Ayudhaya is a neuroradiologist at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok and a pioneer in the field of Neurointerventional Radiology in Thailand.

Dr. Singhara Na Ayudhaya graduated with honors from Mahidol University’s medical school in Bangkok and was awarded the Certified National Board in Radiology by the Thai Medical Council in 1987. It was during her Residency Training Program that she developed a keen interest in Neurointerventional Radiology and then went to Paris to train further in Interventional Neuroradiology at Bicêtre Hospital, under the guidance of Prof. Lasjaunias – who many will know as perhaps the grandmaster of Interventional Neuroradiology. This training in Paris was the beginning of a long association as she was chosen to be a Co-Director of the Joint Master Degree in Neurovascular diseases between the Universities of Mahidol and Paris Sud from 1999 – 2008. This program later became known as the Diploma course in Neurovascular disease and was later renamed PLANET.

After her initial training in Paris Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya returned to Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok in 1995, where she was appointed to be the first Chief of the Neurointervention Unit – later renamed to the Division of Neurointerventional Radiology. Here she has held several prominent executive positions including as Chief of Diagnostic Radiology, Vice Chair and then Chair of the Department, as well as the Deputy Director of Ramathibodi Hospital. Since 2012 she has held the position of Deputy Dean for International Relations and Research Collaborations and she is currently the Acting Director of the Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Center and Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital.

She continues to lecture and teach at many conferences and meetings and remains as co-director of the PLANET conference. The program is a result of a collaboration between Tufts University (USA), University of Toronto (Canada), and Ramathibodi hospital (Thailand). More than 600 students have graduated from this program in over 50 countries from around the world.

Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya is a world-known specialist in interventional neuroradiology, and respected contributor at academic meetings of the world societies of Neurointervention and neuroradiology.

Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya co-founded The Association of Thai Interventional Neuroradiology in 2008 and served as President for three terms. She has been a senior member of Asian-Australasian Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (AAFITN) since 2000 and also served as president of that society from 2010 to 2012. and was President of World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology from 2015-2017.

Throughout her years of dedication to the medical profession, Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya has received numerous national and international awards in recognition of her contributions. In 2005, she was granted the Chevalier in L’Ordre des Palmes Academique which is a national order bestowed by the French Republic on distinguished academics and teachers for valuable service to universities, education and science.

Dr. Raquel del Carpio-O’Donovan

Dr. Raquel del Carpio-O’Donovan, is a Professor of Radiology, Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University and a full time practicing neuroradiologist at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC),

Professor del Carpio grew up in Peru and went to medical school in Lima before moving to Montréal for radiology residency at McGill, then staying for fellowship. Upon completion of her training, Professor del Carpio joined McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences where she is active lecturer and teacher of Neuroradiology. She has been on faculty 30 years and has held positions as Radiology and Neuroradiology program director as well as Vice-Chair of the Department. Since 2013 she has been the Director of the Visiting Professor program using her extensive international network to invite Neuroradiology luminaries from around the world to teach at McGill.

Dr. del Carpio-O’Donovan is a very active lecturer and traveler, having been an international visiting professor in at least 30 countries, and also collaborating in the organization of meetings and courses in several Latin American countries. She has lectured on behalf of the RSNA, ISMRM, CIR, CAR. She has also actively participated in educational programs in developing countries representing the ASNR and the Ibero-Latin American Society of Neuroradiology (SILAN). Dr. del Carpio-O’Donovan has been deeply and actively involved in the development of diagnostic radiology in South America.

Dr. del Carpio has many honors to her name and her first Radiology award was in 1982, and an Honorary Mention for her scientific exhibit “High resolution CT scan in the study of the middle ear.” A few of the perhaps more notable awards since then: In 2016 she received the Gold Medal from the Peruvian Society of Radiology for her continuous efforts to improve the quality of Radiology in her native country as well as the Gold Medal for achievements throughout her career from the Canadian Association of Radiologists. In 2017 the Societe de Radiologie du Quebec awarded her its highest distinction, the Prix Albert Jutras and in 2019 the Mexican Society of Radiology and Imaging also awarded her its Gold Medal for her career achievements and longstanding contributions to the Radiology community in Mexico.

Professor Françoise Héran

Professor Françoise Héran a member of the French Society of Neuroradiology.

Growing up in a small village in the south of Paris she had intended to be a psychiatrist but after arguing with radiologists in her training, she chose an internship in Radiology and found her calling. She later specialized in Neuroradiology and H&N imaging.

Professor Heran is a full time neuroradiologist for the past 23 years at la foundation Adoff de Rott-chillled in Paris. She has held various positions at this ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology hospital, including deputy, then Chief of Radiology.

She has been and still is very active in multiple societies. She is the Treasurer and a member of the board of the French Society of Neuroradiology, the Treasurer and member of the board the Ile de France department of the French Society of Radiology and a member of the Board of the French Club of Neuroophthalmology. She is known for her enthusiasm and skill for teaching. She gives courses to many trainees in neuroradiology, ENT radiology, ophthalmology and anesthesia resuscitation.

She published her first book in 2007 written with her friend and colleague François Lafitte: “Practical MRI In Neuroradiology” with the second edition published in 2013 and the third edition in progress.

In 2016 “Neuro Ophthalmology” was published which she again wrote with Francois Lafitte with collaboration from radiologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, ophthalmologist.

“Imaging of the Salivary Glands” was published 2011 with Philippe Katz and brought together ENT specialists, anatomical pathologists, cytologists and radiologists.

As part of her teaching Prof Heran teaches courses given for students achieving their university diplomas including in neuroophthalmology, ear, nose and throat diseases and in neuroradiology. She also participates enthusiastically at annual meetings with presentations, posters and refresher courses.

In addition to her outstanding career as a professor, Francoise has many non-Radiology interests including reading, playing the piano, gardening, travelling, learning Spanish, biking, cooking, dancing, going to concerts and spending time with her kids.