Inspirational Women in STEM and Tech: Dr Helen Nadel of Stanford University On The 5 Leadership Lessons She Learned From Her Experience
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Communication is the key. Be a good listener. Be supportive. Remember to give praise. Encourage your team to speak to you directly without fear of consequences.
As a part of my series about “Lessons From Inspirational Women in STEM and Tech”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Helen Nadel, M.D.
Dr. Nadel is a dual board -certified pediatric radiologist and nuclear medicine physician in both the USA and Canada. She holds certifications from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, The American Board of Radiology (ABR) with certificate of added qualification in Pediatric Radiology and the American Board of Nuclear Medicine (ABNM). Dr. Nadel was an Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of British Columbia and had been practicing as a pediatric radiologist and pediatric nuclear medicine physician at British Columbia Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia since 1983, after medical school at University of Manitoba (1977, Winnipeg, Manitoba), internship and residency at University of Toronto (1978–1982) and Pediatric Radiology fellowship (Chief Fellow) at the Hospital for Sick Children (1982–1983, Toronto, Ont.). She has been working with general and hybrid nuclear medicine studies in children in a fully integrated department of Pediatric Radiology and lecturing to promote nuclear medicine for her entire career. Dr. Nadel currently uses PET/MR exclusively for PET imaging at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University (LPCH) and co-directs the clinical PET/MR program at LPCH. Dr. Nadel has been inducted as a Fellow of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and is the 2021–2022 Vice President-Elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
For me, it is always about people and children. I had a very memorable high school biology teacher. Mr. Joyce sparked my interest in human biology. Then I came to radiology when I was doing a general internship, planning on a career as a general practitioner. But, my best friend from high school, who was a year ahead of me in medical school, had switched her focus to radiology. I knew very little about this field, but she encouraged me to do an early elective in nuclear medicine and radiology. The instructors were so welcoming and the technology was fascinating, as we were just at the beginning of learning about ultrasound, CT scanning and nuclear medicine computer advances. My career path to both radiology and nuclear medicine was inspired by a nuclear medicine physician, and she guided me on my path to understand the science of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. I saw the challenges, but I also saw the amazing opportunities where I could influence both the healthcare of children and the practice of nuclear medicine as a pediatric radiologist and pediatric nuclear medicine physician.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began at your company?
It was very interesting for me to attend national and international meetings early in my career and hear inspirational and informative talks by nuclear medicine leaders. By exploring new things I had heard about in my niche field of pediatric nuclear medicine, I soon was considered a nuclear medicine expert and I was now giving these talks at these international meetings. At Stanford University, we are always striving to be the best at meeting patient needs. In the last few weeks, we have performed several studies that would routinely only be performed on an adult patient, but are rare examinations in a pediatric patient. This required us to overcome protocol issues for using these studies in children. This is an exciting time for nuclear medicine advancements for children.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When I started my first job as an attending physician at Children’s Hospital in Vancouver I would often call my mentors back in Toronto, more than 3000 miles away. My mentor/teacher would ask me my opinion on what I was asking about and then say yes, I would agree with you. After doing this a few times, I realized my mentor felt I was doing just fine and did not need to ask her advice. It’s always a pivotal time in your career, when you realize you’re no longer the student, but the expert. I can also remember many funny incidents in doing presentations when I still used ‘slide’ carousels and the slides would fall out or be upside down. Audio visual missteps always created humorous presentation memories for me.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
At Stanford University, we are doing unique pediatric nuclear medicine procedures in the full spectrum of general nuclear medicine and we are one of only a handful of pediatric facilities that perform PET/MRI. We have performed more than 800 PET/MRI studies in the last three and half years.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
PET/MRI, which is nuclear medicine, allows us to evaluate the whole body in children with less radiation than PET/CT and allows us to provide advanced anatomic imaging with MRI which gives us more information compared to limited imaging with CT. We have performed radioiodine therapy in eight children with thyroid cancer in the past year. This helps to ensure any small remaining cancer cells will be eliminated and help ensure these children remain cancer free. These treatments are painless and can be done as an outpatient in the appropriate home setting for patient isolation. We are now all familiar with the six-feet distancing rule with COVID-19, and similar time and distance isolation needs to occur for five to seven days after these nuclear medicine therapies. If the home situation does not allow for adequate distancing or if there are young children in the home then the child can remain in our dedicated therapy suite that has its own bedroom and bathroom and separate attached suite for parents to stay as well. These two rooms are separated by a protective shielding but the child and parents can see and communicate with each other through visual and auditory communication. Both rooms have nice entertainment options like a TV and mobile device capabilities, and allow access to full medical facilities on a patient ward.
Ok super. Thank you for all that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Are you currently satisfied with the status quo regarding women in STEM? What specific changes do you think are needed to change the status quo?
We definitely need more women in STEM and more women who are mentors in STEM programs. Women need to be on an equitable career track as a similar qualified male counterpart. In addition, all genders should be allowed to have secure jobs with access to supported family leave at certain times of their lives.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women in STEM or Tech that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts? What would you suggest to address this?
Again, in radiology and nuclear medicine, there has been reluctance in the past to hire women knowing they may take time off for child rearing. All genders should be able to share in child rearing where possible without threat to their employment. Women should not be afraid to ask for pay equity and work equity too. Sometimes ‘the ask’ for equitable pay is the most difficult part for women.
What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a woman in STEM or Tech. Can you explain what you mean?
- The myth that women in STEM can’t be excellent in their jobs AND manage families. Women in STEM have already broken many barriers to be where they are. Like other working women, they can be proficient in more than one role.
- The myth that women in STEM aren’t as creative as other career fields. The fact is many of us in STEM careers are well-trained to think ‘outside the box’ and by nature are drawn to STEM careers because we like to challenge the ‘status quo’ and ask questions.
- The myth that women in STEM aren’t good communicators. I find that many women in STEM fields are masters at synthesizing detailed information quickly and rise to leadership roles because they know how to streamline and convey that information efficiently and effectively, and assimilate ideas quickly.
What are your “5 Leadership Lessons I Learned From My Experience as a Woman in STEM or Tech” and why. (Please share a story or example for each.)
- Get involved at the local level in your field. This will support advancement to the national and international arena.
- Seek out good mentors.
- Be prepared to work outside of “work hours”; it takes effort to succeed.
- Your example of how you handle your work and home environment will not be lost on your family, especially your young children. When I was studying for my specialty certification in nuclear medicine as a second field of expertise, my children used to take my books and open them on their play tables and play “studying.” The example of ‘see one, do one, teach one” can apply to your family as well.
- Network and don’t be shy. Introduce yourself to people and start dialogues.
What advice would you give to other women leaders to help their team to thrive?
Promote those around you. Pay it forward.
What advice would you give to other women leaders about the best way to manage a large team?
Communication is the key. Be a good listener. Be supportive. Remember to give praise. Encourage your team to speak to you directly without fear of consequences.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I have been fortunate to have many mentors along the way. My high school biology teacher is one of my greatest mentors, he began my journey. My radiology colleague, Dr. David Stringer, a world-renowned pediatric radiologist with whom I studied for exams and who then encouraged me to take my first job in nuclear medicine, is another. I mirrored Dr. Hyacinth Chin-Sang of Toronto to become both a specialist in radiology and nuclear medicine. I was also mentored by other pediatric radiologists who encouraged me to subspecialize in this area. My most memorable mentor was Dr. Ignac Fogelman. I met him in my mid-career during a random meeting in Australia and he became my teacher, mentor and guide for all of the advanced nuclear medicine I now do, even though he lived and worked in England. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2015 after having been professor and chair of Nuclear Medicine at Guy’s Hospital in London. I was fortunate to have been brought to Stanford by Dr. Sam Gambir. Dr. Gambir is truly one of the visionaries of precision medicine and past chair of radiology at Stanford University. He also tragically died too soon in 2020 and we all strive to continue his legacy at Stanford University Department of Radiology. I am fortunate to be able to collaborate with my nuclear medicine colleagues under the direction of the head of the division of nuclear medicine, Dr. Andre Iagaru. My colleague, Dr. George Segall, is a world renowned nuclear medicine physician and recently retired chief of the department of nuclear medicine at the Palo Alto Veteran Affairs Healthcare System. He has been my mentor and friend and is the reason I applied for this job at Stanford. My colleagues in pediatric radiology are the best in the world and I am fortunate to have been recruited by the former head of pediatric radiology at Stanford, Dr Richard Barth.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
Children are our future. I hope I have helped advance the field of nuclear medicine and pediatric radiology in a way that allows children to get the maximum benefit of these techniques when applied together; in turn improving children’s quality and quantity of life when they are in critical need.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would love for more families to have access to advanced cancer care for their children, no matter their socio-economic circumstances. We are seeing so many cutting edge nuclear medicine treatments and techniques that are creating life-changing experiences for the children and their parents. This opportunity should be more available in our country and the world.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Who is the richest? One that is happy with their lot in life.” This was a quote from “Chapters of the Fathers” in Jewish Rabbinic literature. This was a saying that my father taught me and that he followed and that I have tried to follow in my life. For me, it means, no matter your circumstances, find the contentment in all things. Be fulfilled in the life that is before you, as all moments are opportunities for joy.
We are very blessed that very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
I would love to have lunch with Barbra Streisand. I love her music, and have fond memories of attending one of her concerts with my colleagues, which we spared no cost on the admission ticket. As a Jewish woman, her movie Yentl was impactful to me, and I’ve always been inspired by her resilience both personally and professionally. Her philanthropic efforts and her determined spirit to live her best life at any age is something that I admire.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
Inspirational Women in STEM and Tech: Dr Helen Nadel of Stanford University On The 5 Leadership Les was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.