Distinguished Alumna Award: Rosaleen Gembala Parsons '77

Let’s begin with Rosaleen:

 

Rosaleen went from Springside to LaSalle University and earned her M.D. from Drexel University. She is a radiologist and is currently Chair of the Diagnostic Imaging Center at Fox Chase Cancer Center.  

 

A hallmark of a Springside Chestnut Hill Academy education is to learn the important art or skill of “collaboration” to be successful in our ever-changing and fast-paced world. Rosaleen best personifies this crucial ability in her role at Fox Chase Cancer Center where she has been since 1999 and has overseen the dramatic expansion of the department, which is now a state-of-the-art, fully digital facility with interventional radiology, PET/CT, ultrasound, digital mammography, and computed tomography.

 

In her words, she entered radiology because, “I love the diversity of the speciality and consultative aspect of the field, ‘the doctor’s doctor’ idea. This means that my role is mainly to work closely with the rest of a patient’s doctors to determine the diagnosis, the stage (extent) of the cancer and how treatment affects it.”

 

Something else we teach at SCH is to look at different studies like books, science experiments, entrepreneurial pursuits, forensics, historical treaties, building a robot and more from all angles, to come to a solid, workable conclusion. Rosalie embodies this practice as well and shares, “I use my expertise to correctly interpret complicated findings. I enjoy comparing patients’ imaging results with clinical findings to ensure that all possible diagnoses have been considered. This process takes place in collaboration with other members of the physician team and for a patient, this translates to a more accurate diagnosis and helps the oncologists to design a more tailored treatment.”

 

Rosaleen has an international reputation in the field of genitourinary radiology (yes, we had to look it up and that would be the full range of imaging services to evaluate known or suspected disorders of the abdomen and pelvis). She has published manuscripts and authored chapters in the field. She has lectured in China, Switzerland, and Italy. She has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Women’s Imaging and is a manuscript reviewer for Radiology, Radiographics, American Journal of Radiology, and Acta Radiology.Rosaleen has also served as a Counselor for the American College of Radiology and was awarded fellowship status in May 2009. She has been a board examiner for the American College of Radiology since 1997 and is a member of the American Roentgen Ray Society (the oldest radiology society in America), the Radiological Society of North America, the Society of Uroradiology, and the International Society of Oncologic Imaging. She also gives national board review to urology residents in the field of genitourinary radiology.

 

Her accomplishments are many and here are a few of her accolades:

Rosaleen, we are inspired by your accomplishments and proud to call you an alumna!

The first line of our mission statement states that at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy we educate students to be innovative leaders, breakthrough thinkers, and imaginative problem solvers. We challenge students to learn in powerful new ways, engage in active inquiry, hone skills of creative and analytic thinking, and celebrate the joy of discovery. Eydie and Rosaleen could not embody these traits or characteristics more, and we thank you for being powerful role models for our students and are proud to have you as alumnae.