The American Society of Radiologic Technologists Board of Directors has selected Melissa B. Pergola, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(M), FASRT, as the Society’s new chief executive officer and executive director. Dr. Pergola will take over the top post of the world’s largest radiologic science organization upon the retirement of current CEO and Executive Director Sal Martino, Ed.D., R.T.(R), FASRT, FASAE, CAE, on Jan. 4, 2023.
Dr. Pergola is currently ASRT’s associate executive director where she oversees the Society’s governance, government relations, professional practice and meetings and conferences functions.
“We chose Dr. Pergola as she thoroughly understands the ASRT, its members and the radiologic technology profession,” said ASRT Chair of the Board Kristi Moore, Ph.D., R.T.(R)(CT). “Her radiologic technology experience combined with her educational background, volunteer history, work in corporate settings and leadership skills make her an outstanding choice to lead the Society into the future.”
The Board selected Dr. Pergola following six months of work by a search committee comprised of Board members and an ASRT senior staff executive. Cynthia Mills of The Leaders’ Haven served as the search consultant. The competitive process included a nationwide search, thorough reviews of each candidate and multiple rounds of interviews. The committee offered Dr. Pergola the position in early July, and she accepted shortly after.
Dr. Pergola is a registered radiologic technologist with an extensive career in clinical practice, radiologic science education, hospital operations and leadership roles. She also has more than 25 years of experience as a volunteer for the ASRT, North Carolina Society of Radiologic Technologists and various other organizations.
Before joining the ASRT staff, Dr. Pergola worked at Siemens Healthineers for six years as a competency management development specialist and global human resources people and leadership development specialist. In her role as competency management development specialist, she created strategies to hire, onboard and develop new employees. She also led the Employee Distress Index Team for the Education and Workforce Solutions Division. The team’s purpose was to create a strategy for measuring, preventing and combating employee distress. In addition, she assisted the global team with implementation of an employee engagement platform, which increased leadership’s ability to communicate with employees and build a more inclusive workplace. She was an invited member to the Siemens Healthineers Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council where she worked with Siemens Healthineers nine Employee Resource Groups to create and implement strategies to promote and celebrate diversity.
One of Dr. Pergola’s passions is developing leaders and she worked on several leadership programs during her time at Siemens. She managed the Healthcare Workforce Development Series, which provided Siemens’ customers with a full-service leadership training program. Dr. Pergola consulted with health care managers across the country and designed in-person training plans to teach leadership, critical thinking and interpersonal skills strategies to frontline staff, managers and executives.
Prior to Siemens, she worked at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Department of Allied Health Science, Division of Radiologic Science from 2004 to 2015 as a clinical assistant professor. She is also an adjunct assistant professor at North Carolina State University. Additional positions in academia included serving as an instructor at North Carolina’s Johnston Community College and Wake Technical Community College from 1997 to 2002. In between her work in education, she served as the imaging services education and clinical operations manager for Wake Medical Center in North Carolina from 2002 to 2004.
Dr. Pergola also has a great deal of experience as a practicing medical imaging professional. For the first five years of her career, she was a diagnostic radiographer working in orthopedic, trauma, portable and operating room settings.
Her volunteer efforts began in 1996 when she joined the NCSRT. She served in multiple volunteer positions including chief sergeant at arms, Nominating Committee chair, annual conference moderator, Legislative Committee chair and many others. Her volunteer efforts led her to serve on the NCSRT Board of Directors from 2004 to 2008 where she held the positions of president-elect, president and board chair. In 2012, the NCSRT recognized her with life member status to honor her commitment to the state society.
For ASRT, her volunteer work started in 2005 and included positions on the ASRT B.S.R.S. Curriculum Revision Workgroup, serving as Radiologic Technology Editorial Review Board vice chair, leading the Education Steering Committee as chair, traveling to the nation’s capital to support ASRT’s R.T. in D.C. federal legislative advocacy efforts, and participating on several other task forces and committees. She has served as both an affiliate and Education Chapter delegate. She also served on the ASRT Board of Directors as secretary/treasurer, vice president, president-elect, president and chair of the Board. In 2018, the Society elevated Dr. Pergola to ASRT Fellow status in recognition of her significant contributions to the profession and the association.
In addition to her state and national volunteer positions, Dr. Pergola has also given her time to numerous other radiologic science organizations. She is a member of the Image Wisely Executive Committee, a member of the Image Gently Steering Committee, a member of the Quality Standard for Imaging International Advisory Group and an international advisory group representative on the editorial review board for the journal, Radiography.
As CEO and executive director, Dr. Pergola will oversee a staff of more than 100 employees and play a key role in establishing the strategic vision and short and long terms goals for the Society. In addition, she will serve as the CEO of the ASRT Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the ASRT.
“I’m incredibly honored that the ASRT Board of Directors has entrusted me with the responsibility to lead the world’s largest and oldest medical imaging and radiation therapy association, and the Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Society,” said Dr. Pergola, who will be only the sixth person to serve as the chief executive in ASRT’s 102-year history. “I’m a purpose driven person who genuinely believes in ASRT’s mission, its members and the profession, and by collaborating with our amazing staff, committed volunteers and hardworking Board of Directors, we’ll become an even more innovative organization that meets the needs of our members so they can excel in the profession and continue to provide patients with high-quality care.”