Annual Duluth Breast Imaging Conference

Dr. Gizienski is the director of breast imaging of Magee Women's Hospital of Cranberry, PA.  Cranberry is located north of the city of Pittsburgh.  She has previously been a speaker on all breast imaging modalities including stereotactic biopsies, ultrasound guided biopsies, MRI biopsies, breast ultrasound, MRI and tomosynthesis.  She has spoken throughout the United States and also other countries such as Italy, Japan and Korea.   Dr. Gizienski received her medical degree from Pennsylvania State University and completed her residency and breast imaging fellowship at the University of Virginia.  She is interested in Automated Breast Ultrasound  for dense breast tissue and extent of disease in newly diagnosed patients, and all types of breast biopsies.

Dr. Jessica W. T. Leung is Professor of Diagnostic Radiology and Deputy Chair of Department of Breast Imaging at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.  She earned her summa cum laude undergraduate degree from Harvard University and medical degree from Harvard Medical School.  After completing her medical internship at Massachusetts General Hospital, she pursued residency in diagnostic radiology and fellowship in breast/women’s imaging at University of California San Francisco (UCSF).  Dr. Leung has worked on both coasts, having served as faculty in breast imaging at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Center, and UCSF.  She also has extensive community practice experience, having served as Medical Director of the Breast Health Center at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.  Dr. Leung has published extensively and lectured nationally and internationally.  She has achieved the recognition of Fellow of Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) and Fellow of American College of Radiology (ACR), along with the honors of American Roentgen Ray Society Scholar, UCSF Teacher of the Year, and George R. Leopold Lecturer.  In 2020, she is President of Society of Breast Imaging.  She is also a member of the ACR BI-RADS Committee and ACR Stereotactic Accreditation Committee.

Deborah has been a registered radiologic technologist since 1995, specializing in mammography since 1996. Deborah is a lead technologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas now for 24 years.  With her 25 years’ experience as a mammographer, she started teaching mammography continuing education courses and performs mammography consulting now for 18 years.  Deborah currently is a medical educator at the UT School of Health Professions at MD Anderson Cancer Center bachelor program teaching the 40-hour initial mammography training curriculum and preparation for ARRT registry.  She completed her Masters of Science in Radiologic Sciences degree at UT School of Health Professions in August 2021.  She travels around the United States to help guide the accreditation process and MQSA yearly inspections for MTMI.  She is compassionate about breast health and shares her experience and knowledge to help fight the battle with breast cancer. 

Sharon Walenga is the Clinical Manager of Breast Imaging of the Central Chicago Region of Advocate Aurora Healthcare, which includes 3 hospitals and 3 off-site locations.   She was the project manager for beta testing and the subsequent implementation of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis; successfully becoming the first site in the Midwest to offer this modality in 2011. In 2018, she implemented Contrast Enhanced Mammography to become the first in the state of Illinois to offer this service.  Sharon was involved with the Chicago Task Force “Train the Trainer” program and has taught at Moraine Valley Community College’s Mammography Program as an adjunct professor for positioning and QC.  Sharon is a firm believer in teaching mammographers consistency and reproducibility. She educates both students and technologists on proper positioning techniques through hands on training at her facilities.  Since breast imaging is has a unique patient experience, she promotes to making sure the patient is part of the equation and that perception is greater than reality!  She is currently seeking her MBA in Healthcare Management and is married with 2 sons- one is seeking a profession in Healthcare and the other in Education (he also plays Rugby at University of Kentucky- Go Cats!)

Dave Mezzoprete has over 30 years of experience in women's imaging and has held sales and sales management positions with several companies over that period of time. Dave sold Lorad/Hologic mammography units for many years before joining R2 Technology to introduce the first computer-aided-detection system for mammography into the market. Later Dave and was a digital mammography specialist for Fuji and helped to introduce the Fuji FCRm CR for mammography into the US. Recently Dave has teamed up again with many of the scientists from R2 Technology to bring Volpara Solutions Density, Dose, and Analytics products to market.

Lead Mammography Technologist
Swedish - Ballard Breast Imaging Center
Seattle, WA

Director, Breast Imaging Accreditation
American College of Radiology