The CAR is pleased to announce new members of the leadership team for the Canadian Heads of Academic Radiology (CHAR). Please join us in welcoming the new Chair Dr. James Clarke (Dalhousie) and Co-Chair Dr. Omar Islam (Queen’s). The CHAR thanks Dr. Narinder Paul (Western) for his dedicated and thoughtful leadership at such a critical time for academic radiology in Canada.
Dr. Clarke is currently a Professor and Head of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Dalhousie University.
“I am pleased to have been selected by my fellow Department Heads to be Chair of the Canadian Heads of Academic Radiology for the next two years. CHAR is a group that helps to advance academic radiology across the country and share information and best practices,” said Dr. Clarke. “Radiology is becoming more critical every year to the management and diagnosis of our patients and as the institutions that graduate the vast majority of the radiologists in Canada, our academic centers and training programs are a key part of the effort to ensure radiology in Canada is high-quality and sustainable.”
During his upcoming term, Dr. Clarke hopes to highlight the activities underway at academic centres across Canada so we can continuously improve the quality of education for our residents and fellows and identify gaps in the system that require support from the broader community to meet the challenges radiologists face.
Dr. Islam is the Department Head of Diagnostic Radiology and Associate Professor at Queen’s University.
“It’s a tremendous honour to serve as Co-Chair of CHAR alongside Dr. Clarke,” said Dr. Islam. “CHAR represents a national community of leaders who are deeply committed to advancing academic radiology in Canada, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help guide that work. The conversations reflected in our recent meeting, whether around AI policy challenges, website development, recruitment pressures, technologist shortages, or national advocacy efforts, highlight how important it is for departments to learn from one another and move forward collectively. I’m proud to contribute to an organization that fosters collaboration, supports innovation, and amplifies the academic voice of radiology across the country.”
Dr. Islam’s goal as Co-Chair is to help strengthen CHAR’s role as a national convener and catalyst for progress.
“One key priority is advancing the education initiatives, which includes developing a National Grand Rounds CME program that showcases academic talent across institutions and enhances visibility for Canadian radiology,” Dr. Islam explained. “I see this as an exciting opportunity to create a scalable, collaborative platform for knowledge sharing.”
He is committed to continuing CHAR’s work on equity, including advancing the Anti-Racism Statement that CHAR has developed and promoting nationally coordinated approaches that reflect the organization’s shared values.
“Together, these efforts will help CHAR elevate the academic mission, strengthen inter-institutional collaboration, and position Canadian radiology for success in the years ahead,” said Dr. Islam.
Congratulations to both Dr. Clarke and Dr. Islam on being appointed to these important positions.