About SSR

The Society of Skeletal Radiology (SSR) was founded in 1978, at about the same time that Musculoskeletal Imaging (then Skeletal Radiology) was being formed as a distinct specialty within Radiology. Skeletal Radiology fellowships were not being recruited or advertised, and academic Radiology programs did not typically include Skeletal sections or specialists within their organization. The SSR was created to address the issues of specialty recognition and representation, resident and fellowship training, research in musculoskeletal imaging and continuing education. Society membership remains limited to Musculoskeletal Radiologists and Fellows in order to insure dedication to these goals.

It is the continuing mission of the Society of Skeletal Radiology to encourage and support the development of expertise in the subspecialty of Musculoskeletal Radiology. The SSR's CME efforts provide continuing medical education for practicing musculoskeletal radiologists via an annual scientific meeting and online resources.  The society, through these and other means, including scholarships and awards, also supports research, teaching and the development of our organization and its membership. The SSR thoughtfully represents our specialty and our members through its socioeconomic, residency and fellowship, standards, wellness, and other essential committees.  The SSR is a cosponsor of the Journal of Skeletal Radiology, sponsor of the Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship Match, has formal liaisons with other international MSK societies and sends representation to the ACR, ARR and AIUM.

The Society of Skeletal Radiology is proud to represent Musculoskeletal Radiology in the United States and Canada and with our membership, is committed to the continual advancement of our science, our teaching and our service.

A Message From Our President

Hello, and I hope everyone is enjoying the summer. As the new President of the Society of Skeletal Radiology, I wanted to reach out, say hello, and update you on 7 items pertaining to the SSR:

  1. 2025 Annual Meeting: The 2025 SSR Annual Meeting will be held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Sunday, March 30 – Wednesday, April 2. David Rubin (SSR President-elect and Chair, Program Committee) and the rest of the Program Committee are working hard to put together an exciting educational program. Santa Fe is an amazing city with plenty of exciting attractions. We hope you can make it. Please see the SSR website for more details and instructions for abstract submission (October 1 deadline).
  2. Case-of-the-Day (COD) for Annual Meeting: An ad hoc committee (chaired by Daniel Wessell) will determine which CODs will be presented at the Annual Meeting. The committee also will choose the “Best COD” Award, whose author will be invited to submit the case for publication in Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology. If interested in being part of this committee, please email Daniel at [email protected].
  1. Committee organization: Jen Demertzis (SSR Secretary) has been working with the committee chairs documenting a standard operating procedure (SOP) for each committee, updating those from standing committees and requesting new SOPs from ad hoc committees. This is important to ensure continuity from year to year when there is changeover of committee leadership. Each committee chair should review their website content and SOP twice per year (June and February) and inform the Executive Committee of any SOP updates.
  1. New committee volunteering process: Naveen Subhas (Chair, Nominating Committee) has revised the committee volunteer process. Please apply by September 30 via the SSR website, indicating your top choice.
  1. Residency and Fellowship Education Committee (RFEC): Connie Chang (Chair, RFEC) is organizing a fellowship director panel for the SSR Resident Education Club on September 11, which will be of interest to residents interested in musculoskeletal radiology.
  1. SSR Scholars Program: Don’t forget to inform your first and second year radiology residents about the SSR Scholars Program, in which selected recipients are invited to attend the SSR Annual Meeting with free registration, travel stipend, and other perks. Request for applications typically occurs in late summer.

2024 SSR Annual Meeting grant and award winners:

  • 2024 Hot Topics Grant: Katie Van Shaik, “Identifying Epigenetic Factors Associated with Early Osteoporosis that Result in Imaging Findings Detected by Deep Learning Techniques”
  • 2024 Early Career Grant: Ged Wieschhoff, “Educational Effectiveness of Interactive Radiology Cases”
  • RSNA Award:  David Gimarc, “Transpedicular-Transdiscal Cement Augmentation Technique in the Treatment of Proximal Junctional Spinal Fusion Hardware Failure – A 5-Year Follow Up”
  • ISS Award:  Connie Chang, “Can Gas and Infection Coexist in the Intervertebral Disc? A Retrospective Analysis of Percutaneously Biopsied Suspected Discitis-Osteomyelitis Cases”
  • Patrick Liu Award: Joshua Polster, “Tendon Elongation After Rotator Cuff Repair and its Relationship with Postoperative Shoulder Function”
  • ESSR Award: Meghan Sahr, “MRI Findings of Extraspinal Sciatic After Proximal Hamstring Repair”

I would also like to congratulate Soterios Gyftopoulos as the new Treasurer Elect and welcome him to the Executive Committee.

Thank you and hope to see you in Santa Fe! 

Jon A. Jacobson, MD FACR
President, Society of Skeletal Radiology

Mission Statement

The Society of Skeletal Radiology (SSR) is dedicated to the goal of encouraging and supporting the development of expertise in the subspecialty of musculoskeletal radiology. The Society of Skeletal Radiology’s CME efforts shall be to provide continuing medical education for practicing musculoskeletal radiologists via an annual scientific meeting.

The goals of this annual meeting are to encourage research activity and dissemination, stimulate collaboration among members, and refine subspecialty expertise.

Peer-reviewed papers will be given by society members covering such musculoskeletal topics as tumors, arthritis, sports medicine/trauma, metabolic/endocrine disease, diseases of the spine, imaging techniques and procedures, resident/fellow education, and socioeconomic issues.

Completed research, preliminary work, or germinal ideas can be given a forum, with discussion encouraged.

Based on needs assessment, special topics panel discussions will be developed and presented.

2024-2025 Officers

President:Jon Jacobson, MD
President-Elect:David Rubin, MD
Secretary:Jennifer Demertzis, MD
Treasurer:Kirk Davis, MD
Treasurer-Elect:Soterios Gyftopoulos, MD
Immediate Past President:Donna Blankenbaker, MD
Executive Director:Sue O'Sullivan