NightHawk’s Berger donates $1.5 million to RSNA scholarship fund

Dr. Paul E. Berger, founder and CEO of NightHawk Radiology Services, has donated $1.5 million to the RSNA's Research and Education Foundation to endow the Derek Harwood-Nash Scholar Grant. The donation is the largest gift to the fund by a single member in the 24-year history of the foundation.

The Harwood-Nash fellowship program will help young academic radiologists from outside the U.S. travel to North America for advanced research training.

The endowment is a personal tribute to the late Harwood-Nash, who was born in the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia in 1936 and trained in South Africa, England, and Canada before conducting pioneering work that led to the subspecialty of pediatric neuroradiology. He died in Toronto in 1997.

"Derek Harwood-Nash's passion for his African homeland and his numerous friends and colleagues all over the world made him a roving ambassador for the RSNA," said Dr. Anne G. Osborn, chair of the RSNA R&E Foundation.

Berger received his radiology training at the University of Michigan and completed a fellowship in pediatric neuroradiology under Harwood-Nash at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. In a written statement, Berger said he is indebted to Harwood-Nash for guiding his way as a young radiologist. He expressed hope that the grant will add to the legacy of his mentor and friend. A revealing biography of Harwood-Nash was published in the American Journal of Neuroradiology following his death (1997;18:1803-1812).

The gift also reflects the success of NightHawk. Berger is the largest individual stockholder of the teleradiology firm in Coeur d'Alene, ID. Its total market capitalization, two years after going public in February 2006, is $442 million.

For more information from the Diagnostic Imaging archives:

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Lifestyles drive radiologists into the wings of nighthawks

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