The Power of Diversity in Nuclear Medicine
Domnique Newallo, MD, RT(R)(CT), moved around a lot as a kid, thanks to her mother’s military service. She enlisted herself, and trained as a radiographer while serving in the Army. After completing service, Domnique worked as a radiographer for 10 years before a yearning to do more led her to enroll in Spelman College to pursue a new endeavor: becoming a doctor.
“I knew I wanted to be a radiologist by the time I applied to Spelman but had two kids--one with special needs--and a GED, so I wasn't sure how it would work out. I didn’t know about Spelman’s reputation and legacy when I applied but Spelman not only welcomed me, the professors let me bring my kids to school when I had no childcare and they inspired me to dream big.”
After graduating with a BS in chemistry, Domnique went to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston where she volunteered in the radiology department and where she met her mentor, Dr. Leonie L. Gordon, director of nuclear medicine. Dr. Gordon encouraged her to consider nuclear medicine; after a surgical internship year, Dr. Newallo matched with Emory to the Nuclear Medicine Residency program.
“I am very happy I ended up at Emory,” she says. “Within the Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, everyone appreciates diversity. The clinical and research faculty are very diverse and share an around-the-world perspective.”
Dr. Newallo is especially inspired by the women of Emory Radiology. “These are powerful and super-strong women who are so influential in the field, from our chair, Dr. Carolyn Meltzer, and my program director Dr. Erin Grady, to the director of IR, Dr. Janice Newsome. I look up to them and am excited to grow under their influence.”
Dr. Newallo enjoys the scientific aspects of nuclear medicine: the intersection of physics and chemistry with physiology. Even more rewarding, she says, are the opportunities nuclear medicine offers to interact directly with patients. “Helping people at the scariest moment of their lives, when they have no idea what’s going to happen, means so much. We can support cancer patients in a way few others can.”
Nuclear medicine depends on a close, collaborative relationship between the radiologist and the imaging technologist, something Dr. Newallo takes seriously. “I’ve been where they are. I interact with the technologists differently because of that. They know I’m going to support them and work with them as equals.”
Collaboration also defines her approach to serving as chief resident for the Nuclear Medicine Residency program. She communicates regularly with the chief residents of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency program about the schedule and other matters affecting all of the residents.
If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, Dr. Newallo delivers lectures in the Medical Imaging Program and serves as a mentor for undergraduate students and technologists-in-training. An active member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) serving on multiple committees and task forces, Dr. Newallo completed the SNMMI Future Leaders Academy in February and earned the 2020 Robert E. Henkin, MD, Governmental Relations Fellowship. She also is secretary for the Nuclear Medicine Resident Organization in the American College of Nuclear Medicine, which entails serving as the editor for the Scintillator newsletter, and serves as an intern on the Academic Council Board of Directors. She additionally earned the Summit Scholarship to attend the Summit Leadership Program of the American College of Radiology.
Despite her many accomplishments, Dr. Newallo still confronts doubt—not in herself, but from others.
“Even with my white coat on, people don’t think I could be a doctor, not at first. I like to prove those people wrong. More importantly, my patients from minority communities appreciate the time I take with them and their families; I’m able to communicate more effectively with them than other doctors because I understand and they know I understand where they’re coming from. There’s real, life-saving power in diversity.”
“I knew I wanted to be a radiologist by the time I applied to Spelman but had two kids--one with special needs--and a GED, so I wasn't sure how it would work out. I didn’t know about Spelman’s reputation and legacy when I applied but Spelman not only welcomed me, the professors let me bring my kids to school when I had no childcare and they inspired me to dream big.”
After graduating with a BS in chemistry, Domnique went to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston where she volunteered in the radiology department and where she met her mentor, Dr. Leonie L. Gordon, director of nuclear medicine. Dr. Gordon encouraged her to consider nuclear medicine; after a surgical internship year, Dr. Newallo matched with Emory to the Nuclear Medicine Residency program.
“I am very happy I ended up at Emory,” she says. “Within the Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, everyone appreciates diversity. The clinical and research faculty are very diverse and share an around-the-world perspective.”
Dr. Newallo is especially inspired by the women of Emory Radiology. “These are powerful and super-strong women who are so influential in the field, from our chair, Dr. Carolyn Meltzer, and my program director Dr. Erin Grady, to the director of IR, Dr. Janice Newsome. I look up to them and am excited to grow under their influence.”
Dr. Newallo enjoys the scientific aspects of nuclear medicine: the intersection of physics and chemistry with physiology. Even more rewarding, she says, are the opportunities nuclear medicine offers to interact directly with patients. “Helping people at the scariest moment of their lives, when they have no idea what’s going to happen, means so much. We can support cancer patients in a way few others can.”
Nuclear medicine depends on a close, collaborative relationship between the radiologist and the imaging technologist, something Dr. Newallo takes seriously. “I’ve been where they are. I interact with the technologists differently because of that. They know I’m going to support them and work with them as equals.”
Collaboration also defines her approach to serving as chief resident for the Nuclear Medicine Residency program. She communicates regularly with the chief residents of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency program about the schedule and other matters affecting all of the residents.
If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, Dr. Newallo delivers lectures in the Medical Imaging Program and serves as a mentor for undergraduate students and technologists-in-training. An active member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) serving on multiple committees and task forces, Dr. Newallo completed the SNMMI Future Leaders Academy in February and earned the 2020 Robert E. Henkin, MD, Governmental Relations Fellowship. She also is secretary for the Nuclear Medicine Resident Organization in the American College of Nuclear Medicine, which entails serving as the editor for the Scintillator newsletter, and serves as an intern on the Academic Council Board of Directors. She additionally earned the Summit Scholarship to attend the Summit Leadership Program of the American College of Radiology.
Despite her many accomplishments, Dr. Newallo still confronts doubt—not in herself, but from others.
“Even with my white coat on, people don’t think I could be a doctor, not at first. I like to prove those people wrong. More importantly, my patients from minority communities appreciate the time I take with them and their families; I’m able to communicate more effectively with them than other doctors because I understand and they know I understand where they’re coming from. There’s real, life-saving power in diversity.”