The Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences is happy to announce that Kim Sandler, MD, has been named Vice Chair of Faculty Development. Dr. Sandler, a specialist in Cardiothoracic Imaging who was promoted to Professor in July of this year, is also the Director of the Vanderbilt Lung Screening Program.
In her new role, Dr. Sandler will oversee radiology’s promotions process, lead the promotions committee, and mentor junior and mid-career faculty. She will also assist in various development opportunities both inside and outside of VUMC. This role will ensure a transparent and systematic approach to career growth for our dedicated clinicians and researchers.
“I am excited and grateful for this opportunity,” Dr. Sandler says. “I cannot wait to begin working with our talented faculty. I have been so fortunate with the mentorship that I have received. I hope to be able to provide similar guidance to our junior faculty as they begin their careers and continue to support the development and advancement of our associate and full professors.”
She continues: “There are many different paths to success in our department, including opportunities to excel in clinical work, research, teaching and administration. I hope to help our faculty members find opportunities to pursue their passions and to build careers that allow advancement while dedicating time to endeavors that they find truly meaningful.”
For department leadership and faculty, it was clear that this role required someone who understands the complex intersections of academics and medicine—particularly in radiology.
“I am thrilled that Dr. Sandler has taken this role,” says Daniel Brown, MD, FSIR, Chair of the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences. “Her experience working with multidisciplinary collaborative teams across the institution has provided her exposure into options available for faculty candidates for promotion. She will be meeting with leaders from the Office of Faculty Affairs & Career Development in the coming weeks to guide our faculty in these areas.”
J. Jeffrey Carr, MD, Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair and Professor of Radiology—who is also a Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Cardiovascular Medicine—shares Dr. Brown’s emphasis on collaboration.
"Patient care is increasingly complex and multidisciplinary, making it crucial to support our faculty's growth across many fields relevant to academic medicine,” Dr. Carr explains. “Dr. Kim Sandler, with her intellect, empathy, and national experience, is the perfect person to help us all advance in our careers."
Associate Professor Catherine Phillips, MD, VUMC Radiology’s Medical Director of Ultrasound and Director of Inpatient Operations, also finds Dr. Sandler’s background ideal.
“Dr. Sandler is an accomplished leader in the field of lung cancer screening and has a proven interest in developing the careers of others,” Dr. Phillips says. “Her meticulous attention to detail and knowledge of the VUMC promotion process will be a true asset. I am excited to see her excel in this new role.”
Kim Sandler, MD, is an honors graduate from Emory University who earned her medical degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Dr. Sandler completed her residency and a fellowship at VUMC before she joined as faculty in 2015.
