ARRS Names Judy Yee, MD, FACR, 2026 Distinguished Educator

The American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) has named Judy Yee, MD, FACR, as the recipient of the 2026 ARRS Distinguished Educator Award, honoring leaders in medical imaging who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to advancing radiological education through innovative teaching and training initiatives.

The ARRS Distinguished Educator Award recognizes “truly inspirational teachers—like Dr. Yee—dedicated to education that results in improved participant performance, ultimately leading to enhanced patient outcomes.”

Dr. Yee will be honored during the opening ceremony of the 2026 ARRS Annual Meeting, held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Yee is chair of radiology at Montefiore Medical Center and professor of radiology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. A graduate of the Bronx High School of Science and Barnard College, she earned her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her internship at Mount Sinai Medical Center. After returning to Einstein for her radiology residency, she pursued an abdominal imaging fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she later served as professor of radiology and biomedical imaging, vice chair of radiology, and chief of radiology at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

Her research focuses on colorectal cancer screening and early detection using CT colonography, a technique she helped advance. Dr. Yee has authored more than 130 peer-reviewed articles, over 120 abstracts, and 23 book chapters, and is editor and primary author of Virtual Colonoscopy, a leading textbook in the field. She also holds a patent related to enhanced virtual colonoscopy.

An internationally recognized educator and speaker, Dr. Yee has held leadership roles across major radiology organizations. She served as president of the Society of Abdominal Radiology (2015–2016), where she launched several initiatives including a development fund, mentorship program, and hall of fame. She currently chairs the American College of Radiology Colon Cancer Committee and the Radiological Society of North America’s Gastrointestinal Refresher Course Program, and serves on multiple editorial boards including RadioGraphics, Abdominal Radiology, and the Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography.

Dr. Yee has received numerous honors for her teaching and mentorship, including the UCSF Outstanding Faculty Mentoring Award, the Academy of Medical Educators Excellence in Teaching Award, and ARRS’ Best Speaker Award. In 2019, she was named an Honorary Fellow of the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology, becoming the only recipient from the United States to receive that distinction.