by Emily Stembridge

Sumit Pruthi, MD, MBBS, professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, has succeeded Marta Hernanz-Schulman, MD, as chief of Pediatric Radiology and medical director of Diagnostic Imaging at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Pruthi, the current chief of Pediatric Neuroradiology and director of the Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Training Program, joined Vanderbilt in 2010 as an assistant professor after working for three years at Seattle Children’s Hospital. In 2015, he was named an associate professor of Pediatrics and Radiology, and in 2021 he was promoted to professor.

Pruthi established the VUMC 3D Printing Center in 2018, which offers support to all VUMC departments. He serves as the specialty chair of the American College of Radiology’s pediatric appropriateness criteria panel and holds additional leadership positions on various committees for academic radiology associations, including the Society for Pediatric Radiology, American Society for Pediatric Neuroradio- logy, Radiologic Society of North America and the American Roentgen Ray Society.

“I am ready to work hard to meet the high expectations set by Dr. Schulman, which is both daunting and thrilling,” Pruthi said. “I’ve been extremely lucky to be mentored closely by her during my 12 years at Vanderbilt. Our department runs successfully and efficiently because of her hard work — all the pillars are standing because of her. I feel honored and proud to step into such big shoes.

“I am very fortunate to have a highly qualified, diverse and passionate team to carry and fulfill this dream with me,” Pruthi continued. “I also look forward to maintaining the excellent collaboration that was established by Dr. Schulman between Radiology and our referring physicians throughout Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.”

During Schulman’s nearly two decades as chief of Pediatric Radiology and medical director of Diagnostic Imaging, she led Pediatric Radiology from a four-member team to an award-winning pediatric program that offers several subspecialities, such as pediatric interventional radiology, neuroradiology and musculoskeletal radiology. The division now has 13 pediatric radiologists on the team who support the clinical services of Children’s Hospital.

“The excellence and success of a department are measured by its people,” Schulman said. “I consider myself very lucky that we were able to recruit a physician of the caliber and dedication of Dr. Pruthi. He was instrumental in our ability to establish a world-class pediatric neuroradiology service. He is the right person to take over this role and keep our department moving forward to answer the new challenges that undoubtedly the future will bring. I will be here supporting him every step of the way.”

Pruthi earned his medical degree from Grant Medical College in Mumbai, India, and completed a residency in radiology at LTM General Hospital in Sion, India.

He completed a fellowship in neuroradiology at University of Washington Medical Center and a fellowship in pediatric radiology at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center.

Schulman, professor of Radiology and Pediatrics, is an internationally known pediatric radiologist who has served as a former president and board chair of the Society for Pediatric Radiology and is a recipient of its gold medal. She has served as a member of the Board of Chancellors and vice president of the American College of Radiology and is a recipient of national research awards and of lifetime achievement awards from the American College of Radiology and the American Board of Radiology.

“I would like to thank Dr. Marta Schulman for her visionary leadership of Pediatric Radiology,” said Reed Omary, MD, MS, Carol D. & Henry P. Pendergrass Professor and chair of the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences.

“She has built our program into a national powerhouse. I would also like to welcome Dr. Pruthi into his new leadership role and look forward to an exciting future for our department and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.”