Closing General Session – The 2026 Samuel J. Dwyer III Lecture
The People You Meet in Imaging Informatics
Tessa Cook, MD, PhD, CIIP, FAAR, FACR, FSIIM
Associate Profession and Vice Chair of Practice Transformation, Department of Radiology
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Session Number: 4023
The Dwyer Lectureship was named for Samuel J. Dwyer, III, PhD, FSIIM, who has been characterized by his peers as a humble, prolific pioneer, and longtime friend of SIIM. Throughout his career, Dr. Dwyer identified, measured, and quantified issues that no one else thought about. His early contributions to digital medical imaging are still a part of the curriculum for new students in the field.
Each year, the Lecturer is selected from the prestigious SIIM College of Fellows as the presenter of a particularly relevant and insightful topic in imaging informatics and is featured at the society’s annual meeting.
In a field focused on rapidly evolving technology, it's easy to forget that people are at the core of everything we do. Let's take some time to remember that and explore how we can nurture each other and the next generation."
Biography
Tessa S. Cook, MD, PhD, FAAR, FACR, FSIIM is Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Practice Transformation in the Department of Radiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. An internationally recognized leader in imaging informatics, she focuses on advancing clinical workflow, enterprise imaging strategy, and the responsible integration of emerging technologies into practice.
Dr. Cook’s work centers on leveraging informatics, analytics, and AI to improve quality, efficiency, and provider experience across complex health systems. She led the development of the National Imaging Informatics Course (NIIC), helping to establish it as a foundational educational experience for imaging informaticists and trainees nationwide. In 2020 she was inducted into the SIIM College of SIIM Fellows; and served as Chair of the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) from 2022-2024, where she guided strategic initiatives to advance education, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration across the field.
Through her scholarship, leadership, and mentorship, Dr. Cook continues to shape the future of imaging informatics and practice transformation, bridging clinical excellence with technological advancement.
Learning Topics
Professional Development
Specialties
Cardiology
Dermatology
Ophthalmology
Radiology
Pathology
Credit Types
ACCME-MD
ARRT-RT
CAMPEP-MPCEC
SIIM IIP-CIIP
