Shaping the Future of Breast Imaging: Insights from the 2026 SBI Breast Imaging Symposium

The Society of Breast Imaging hosted its annual SBI Breast Imaging Symposium 2026 in Seattle, WA, bringing together more than 1,300 attendees and industry representatives for five days of comprehensive education, collaboration, and forward-looking discussion. The meeting, held from April 16-19, featured a broad range of plenary sessions, scientific presentations, workshops, and hands-on training reflecting both the depth and rapid evolution of breast imaging practice.

The meeting attests to the society’s continued growth and stability, as it transitions to new leadership, underscored by the appointment of incoming president Gary Whitman, MD, Professor of Breast Imaging and Breast Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “The society is strong and moving in the right direction,” Dr. Whitman said. “We’re seeing continued growth, strong engagement, and a high level of enthusiasm across the field.”

The symposium also recognized Dr. Wendie Berg, MD, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Radiology, and the Dr. Bernard Fisher Chair for Breast Cancer at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with the SBI Gold Medal Award. Reflecting on the honor, Dr. Berg described it as “both gratifying and humbling,” emphasizing the collective contributions of collaborators, patients, and the broader research community in advancing breast imaging.

For many attendees, the meeting remains a critical forum for professional development. Michael Linver, MD, FACR, FSBI, Clinical Professor of Radiology at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, who has attended since 1995, described it as an opportunity “to stay current on the latest issues and technologies… and to network with friends and colleagues.” He added that the meeting helps clinicians return to practice with “a better approach for providing a higher level of care.”

A Program Reflecting a Field in Transition

Across the week, programming reflected a field balancing foundational clinical practice with accelerating innovation. Key themes included contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM), artificial intelligence, personalized screening strategies, and ongoing debate surrounding breast cancer screening guidelines.

Lars Grimm, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology in the Division of Breast Imaging at Duke University and SBI Scientific Program Chair for the 2026 meeting, noted that the program was intentionally designed to serve a diverse audience. The goal, he said, was to balance “traditional, bread-and-butter” education with emerging topics, ensuring relevance for both dedicated breast imagers and general radiologists.

AI Takes Center Stage

A keynote presentation by  Woojin Kim, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer at HOPPR, framed the future of breast imaging through the lens of 2050. The session explored the progression from current tools to foundation models, vision-language systems, and agentic AI, while emphasizing that the specialty’s future will depend on how actively clinicians engage in shaping governance, implementation, and workforce integration.

The keynote reinforced a recurring theme throughout the meeting: AI is no longer a theoretical discussion, but a practical one. As Dr. Grimm noted, “We know the technology works. The challenge now is how to implement it in a way that’s meaningful in daily practice.”

From a clinical perspective, Laurie Margolies, MD, Vice Chair of Breast Imaging at the Mount Sinai Health System and Chief of Breast Imaging at the Dubin Breast Center, emphasized that AI is most effective when used as a complement to physician expertise. “AI works best as a partner to the radiologist,” Dr. Margolies said. “At Mount Sinai it supports decision-making, improves consistency, and helps reduce unnecessary callbacks, which ultimately benefits patients.”

CEM Draws Strong Interest

Contrast-enhanced mammography emerged as one of the most discussed topics of the meeting. A pre-symposium workshop focused on establishing and interpreting CEM programs accommodated more than 200 attendees. Dr. Grimm described the level of interest as significant. “CEM is front and center right now,” he said. “Practices are actively evaluating how to adopt it and where it fits within their workflows.”

Sessions throughout the meeting addressed practical considerations, including workflow integration, comparison with MRI, radiation dose, and management of contrast reactions, signaling a shift from early adoption toward broader clinical implementation.

Screening Guidelines and Clinical Clarity

Breast cancer screening remained a central focus, with ongoing debate surrounding guideline variability and recent announcements from the American College of Physicians suggesting that for asymptomatic, average-risk females aged 50 to 74 years, clinicians should use biennial mammography screening for breast cancer.¹ Many speakers emphasized the importance of consistent, evidence-based messaging.

Dr. Margolies stressed the importance of early detection. “Screening beginning at age 40 saves the most lives,” she said, noting that inconsistent recommendations can create confusion for both clinicians and patients. Dr. Grimm reinforced this core message. “At the end of the day, everything we do comes back to saving lives through early detection,” he said.

Dr. Berg noted that despite significant advances, important gaps remain. Screening participation is inconsistent, and mammography alone may not be sufficient for all patients, particularly those with dense breast tissue. Dr. Berg is also Chief Scientific Advisor to the educational website: DenseBreast-info.org.

Expanding Access and the Role of Mobile Imaging

Access to care and health equity were recurring themes throughout the meeting. Mobile mammography programs were highlighted as effective tools for reaching underserved populations while maintaining consistent imaging quality. Dr. Margolies emphasized the importance of delivering uniform care across all settings. “Patients should receive the same quality mammogram whether they’re seen in a major center or on a mobile unit,” she said.

The Mount Sinai Mobile Mammography Program addresses disparities in cancer screening by bringing 3D mammography services to all five boroughs of New York City and has hosted more than 1000 community screening events since it launched in 2018. Dr. Whitman similarly noted that many patients served through mobile programs would otherwise go without screening, underscoring the importance of expanding access and maintaining established standards of care.

Workforce Pressures Shape the Conversation

Workforce challenges continue to impact the field, with increasing imaging volumes and a limited supply of breast radiologists placing pressure on practices. “There’s a growing demand for breast imaging services, and practices are feeling that pressure,” Dr. Grimm said, pointing to the need for new approaches to efficiency and care delivery. These challenges are driving interest in AI-enabled workflows, remote reading models, and expanded team-based approaches.

Looking Ahead

As the meeting concluded, attention turned toward the future of both the specialty and the society. Dr. Whitman emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum while continuing to expand SBI’s reach and impact. "Our goal is to support the growth of the field through education, collaboration, and innovation", he said. "We want SBI to remain a central resource for understanding where breast imaging is today and where it’s going". Dr. Grimm noted that the path forward will require thoughtful navigation of both technological change and workforce challenges.

The Society of Breast Imaging’s annual symposium will reconvene May 20–23, 2027, in Pittsburgh, PA, where many of these discussions are expected to continue.

Reference

1. Amir Qaseem, Curtis S. Harrod, Ethan M. Balk, et al. Screening for Breast Cancer in Asymptomatic, Average-Risk Adult Females: A Guidance Statement From the American College of Physicians (Version 2). Ann Intern Med. [Epub 17 April 2026]. doi:10.7326/ANNALS-25-05116