Society of Interventional Radiology Names Timothy P. Murphy, M.D., FSIR, as 2011-12 President

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Mar 30, 2011, 08:00 ET

Interventional Radiologists 'Are Uniquely Qualified to Deliver the Gamut of Interventional Medicine in a Manner No Other Specialty Can Duplicate,' Says Director of the Vascular Disease Research Center at Rhode Island Hospital, Providence

CHICAGO, March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Timothy P. Murphy, M.D., FSIR, an interventional radiologist and director of the Vascular Disease Research Center at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, assumed office as the 2011–12 president of the Society of Interventional Radiology during its 36th Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, Ill. SIR is a national organization of nearly 4,700 doctors, scientists and allied health professionals dedicated to improving health care through minimally invasive treatments.

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"The need is great to educate the public and hospital administrators on the safety and cost-effectiveness of interventional radiology treatments," said Murphy. "Strong interventional radiology programs are in the best interests of institutions, physicians and—above all—patients. Interventional radiology therapies are effective and a relatively low-cost option for surgical issues and complement the needs of accountable care organizations, or ACOs, very nicely," he added.

When asked about strategic goals, Murphy explained, "I see the strategic objectives of the Society of Interventional Radiology as having the ability to develop or adapt new procedures so that we can better serve patients; to validate those procedures so that we can show their value; to ensure reimbursement for the procedures; and to make certain that interventional radiologists are well-placed to provide those services indefinitely into the future."

"Interventional radiologists are caring professionals who play pivotal roles in patient care for many disease conditions. The diverse collection of critical services provided in a timely manner with a high degree of expertise by on-site interventional radiologists delivers tremendous value to a hospital," said Murphy. "Whether in a traditional hospital-based practice or subspecialty office-based environment, interventional radiologists are uniquely qualified to deliver the gamut of interventional medicine in a manner no other specialty can duplicate," he noted.

Murphy explained what he thinks are the most interesting developments in interventional radiology at this moment: the expanding role for interventional radiologists in acute stroke care, the opportunities afforded by miniaturized endovascular aneurysm repair, or EVAR, devices, and potential services that can be offered for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency or CCSVI (where there is a blockage in the veins that drain blood from the brain and spinal cord and return it to the heart), and the interventional treatment of venous diseases like varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis.

Murphy holds a patent for a stent graft system and is widely published. He has authored and co-authored numerous scientific articles that have appeared in numerous medical journals including SIR's flagship publication, the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, and the Journal of the American Medical Association. He has contributed to pieces on angiography, cardiovascular care, stenting and deep vein thrombosis, among many others. Murphy has been active within SIR on numerous committees and has written many times for SIR on the logistics of clinical practice. He has served as a distinguished reviewer and associate editor for JVIR.

"Interventional radiologists will continue to offer patients and the health care system what no other specialty can: the most in-depth knowledge of the least invasive treatments available using imaging guidance—treatments that offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery—coupled with diagnostic and clinical experience across diseases and organ systems," said Murphy.

Murphy received his bachelor and medical degrees from Boston University. He completed an internship at Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge, Mass., and served his residency and chief residency at Rhode Island Hospital and the Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University.

The 2011–12 SIR president has held several academic positions at Brown University School of Medicine. He is a fellow of SIR, the American College of Radiology, the American Heart Association and the Society of Vascular Medicine. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Rhode Island Radiological Society; Murphy is also an American Heart Association Premium Professional Silver Heart member (in recognition for continued service).

More information about the Society of Interventional Radiology, interventional radiologists and how to find an interventional radiologist in your area can be found online at www.SIRweb.org

About the Society of Interventional Radiology

Interventional radiologists are physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments. They offer the most in-depth knowledge of the least invasive treatments available coupled with diagnostic and clinical experience across all specialties. They use X-ray, MRI and other imaging to advance a catheter in the body, such as in an artery, to treat at the source of the disease internally. As the inventors of angioplasty and the catheter-delivered stent, which were first used in the legs to treat peripheral arterial disease, interventional radiologists pioneered minimally invasive modern medicine. Today, interventional oncology is a growing specialty area of interventional radiology. Interventional radiologists can deliver treatments for cancer directly to the tumor without significant side effects or damage to nearby normal tissue.

Many conditions that once required surgery can be treated less invasively by interventional radiologists. Interventional radiology treatments offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery. Visit www.SIRweb.org.

The Society of Interventional Radiology is holding its 36th Annual Scientific Meeting March 26–31, 2011, in Chicago, Ill. The theme of the meeting is "IR Rising: Leading Image Guided Medicine," the theme chosen to reflect the optimism and pride the IR community feels as IR continues to revolutionize modern medicine.

SOURCE Society of Interventional Radiology