For decades, AIUM members have driven innovation, education, and collaboration in medical ultrasound. Peter M. Doubilet, MD, PhD, FAIUM, is an example of how sustained engagement with the AIUM can shape both an individual career and the field as a whole. His long history with the AIUM reflects why the organization values its members—and why its members, in turn, value the AIUM.
Dr. Doubilet joined the AIUM in 1985, at a formative point in his career and in the organization’s history. From the beginning, the AIUM offered him more than membership; it provided a professional home grounded in academic rigor, shared purpose, and multidisciplinary exchange.
Below, Dr. Doubilet shares his perspective on what the AIUM has meant to him over the years.
Why did you choose to join the AIUM?
When I joined AIUM in 1985, it was primarily composed of radiologists, obstetrician/gynecologists, and ultrasound physicists. At that time, most academic radiologists with a subspecialty focus in ultrasound were active AIUM members. As an aspiring academic radiologist, joining AIUM was a natural and important step for me, providing opportunities to connect with leaders in the field and to become part of the broader academic ultrasound community.
Dr. Doubilet’s experience reflects a common thread among long-standing members: the AIUM has long served as a gathering place for leaders, mentors, and emerging voices in ultrasound.
What is your favorite AIUM benefit?
While I am a member of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound and other Radiology organizations, AIUM is unique in bringing together ultrasound practitioners from a wide range of medical specialties. As the organization has grown and diversified, I have especially valued the opportunity to interact with and learn from OB/Gyn’s, emergency medicine physicians, sonographers, and colleagues from other disciplines. This multidisciplinary environment is one of AIUM’s greatest strengths.
This emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration is central to the AIUM’s mission, and a key reason members continue to find value as the field evolves.
What does the AIUM mean to you?
AIUM is the only organization that truly welcomes everyone involved in the practice, teaching, research, and technological advancement of ultrasound. Its diverse membership spans multiple specialties, educational backgrounds, and professional roles. Through its annual convention, journal, educational courses, and practice parameters, AIUM fosters collaboration, shared learning, and high standards that enhance the quality of ultrasound practice and improve patient care.
Dr. Doubilet’s words underscore how the AIUM serves as both a standard-bearer and a connector across the ultrasound community.
Has being in the AIUM helped you in your career? If so, how?
AIUM has had a very positive impact on my career. Opportunities to lecture at its annual conventions and courses, as well as to publish in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, have strengthened my professional credentials. These experiences have had a multiplicative effect, leading to additional invitations to lecture at a variety of meetings and courses, collaborate on research, and participate in guideline development. Being named an AIUM Fellow in 1988 and receiving the Joseph H. Holmes Clinical Pioneer Award in 2020 have further enhanced my professional standing within the field.
The AIUM’s commitment to education, scholarship, and recognition helps members amplify their expertise and extend their influence well beyond the organization.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
In addition to the many benefits I have received from AIUM membership, I have greatly valued the opportunity to give back to the organization. I have served on the Board of Governors (1995–1998 and 2013–2016), the Editorial Board of the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, and multiple AIUM committees, including the Education Committee, which I chaired from 1991–1993. I have also contributed by directing or co-directing AIUM courses, moderating film panels at the Annual Convention, and developing educational videotapes. These roles have allowed me to support AIUM’s mission and contribute to the continued advancement of ultrasound education and practice.
Dr. Doubilet’s career illustrates the reciprocal nature of AIUM membership: members gain knowledge, community, and opportunity, and in turn, help advance the field for future generations.
The AIUM is grateful for Dr. Peter M. Doubilet’s decades of leadership, service, and dedication. His story is a reminder that the strength of the AIUM lies in its members and their shared commitment to excellence in ultrasound.
Peter M. Doubilet, MD, PhD, is a Radiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is a Professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.
You must be logged in to post a comment.