October 2016
Robert R. Hattery was born in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1939, but his roots are in Indiana.
After receiving his B.A. in Anatomy/Physiology from Indiana University, he went on to obtain his M.D. from the same institution in 1964. An internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, TX, was followed by two years of military service before Dr. Hattery moved to Rochester, Minnesota, to finish his residency at the Mayo Medical School.
On completion of his radiology residency, Dr. Hattery accepted a position as coordinator and teacher of skeletal radiology and anatomy, paediatric radiology, and diagnostic radiology at Mayo Medical School and Mayo Clinic, where he would find a home for his entire distinguished academic career. He discovered his niche in diagnostic radiology starting in 1973, when he was appointed as an instructor. He quickly moved up the academic ladder at Mayo, reaching the rank of professor in 1982. In 1981, he was named chairman of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, a post he held for the next 5 years. From 1994 to 1998, he served as chairman of the Mayo Clinic Board of Governors, thus becoming the chief executive officer for all of the Mayo Clinic's operations in Rochester.
At present, Dr. Hattery is immediate past president of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and executive director of the American Board of Radiology (ABR), a position he has held since 2002. He maintains professor emeritus status at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, where he devoted 30 years to his teaching and administrative duties. He is currently a clinical professor of diagnostic radiology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he is involved in educating radiology and urology residents in genitourinary imaging.
Dr. Hattery has devoted most of his career to imaging of the genitourinary tract, with particular emphasis on computed tomography (CT), CT urography, ultrasonography, and contrast agents. Furthermore, his interests lie in the fields of organisational dynamics, transitions through change, continuous quality improvement, board certification and professionalism.
He has been a much sought-after speaker in the area of genitourinary imaging, having fulfilled visiting professorships and lectureships at institutions around the world, from Japan, China, and India to Germany, Italy, Spain, and Scotland. He has participated in 17 named lectures or visiting professorships.
He has authored or co-authored more than 150 publications, including peer-reviewed articles, abstracts and book chapters. Most relate to his interest and expertise in genitourinary radiology, although in recent years, in his position at the ABR he has been writing and speaking more frequently on resident training and maintenance of certification (MOC). Dr. Hattery has served on the editorial boards of RadioGraphics, Journal of Computed Body Tomography, Urologic Radiology, and Abdominal Imaging. In addition, he has contributed as a scientific reviewer to Radiology, RadioGraphics, Urology, Urologic Radiology, Investigative Radiology, Abdominal Imaging, and American Journal of Roentgenology.
Dr. Hattery is a past-president of the Society of Computed Body Tomography (SCBT), the Society of Uroradiology (SUR) and the American Board of Radiology (ABR). An RSNA member for more than 20 years, he was elected to the RSNA Board of Directors as liaison-designate for Publications and Educational Materials at the Society’s 1998 annual meeting. Dr. Hattery has served on the Board in the following capacities: liaison for Publications and Educational Materials (1999-2002); liaison for Publications and Communications (2002-2003); chairman of the Board (2003-2004); president-elect (2004-2005) and became president at the Society’s annual meeting in December, 2005.
Dr. Hattery has been honoured by many organisations for his contributions. He received the Hartman Gold Medal of the Minnesota Radiological Society in 1998, the gold medal of the American Roentgen Ray Society in 2000, and the gold medal of the Society of Uroradiology in 2005.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field of genitourinary imaging and computed body tomography, as well as of his efforts in educating and tutoring young radiologists over decades, Dr. Hattery is awarded Honorary Membership of the European Congress of Radiology and the European Association of Radiology.
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