RSNA Member Spotlight: Brandon K.K. Fields, MD
Learn more about a fellow RSNA member
Brandon K.K. Fields, MD, is a radiology resident in the Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco.
A Colorado native, he completed his undergraduate degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2014, where he earned highest honors in classical guitar performance, summa cum laude in integrative physiology, and was named the top graduating student in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Fields received his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, where he was conferred highest distinction degree honors, inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Society, and was named the top graduating student in the class of 2021. His research interests include investigating quantitative imaging and machine learning applications for tumor characterization and treatment response.
As a member of the RSNA Education Council, the American Board of Radiology Initial Certification Advisory Committee for Diagnostic Radiology, and the Radiology: Imaging Cancer Trainee Editorial Board, as well as the current vice chair of the RSNA Resident and Fellow Committee (RFC), Dr. Fields is passionate about service. He values giving back to the community and has dedicated his efforts toward advocating for early-career opportunities for trainees, including medical students and residents.
Dr. Fields is committed to fostering avenues for early exposure to RSNA and the radiological sciences in medical school curricula and enjoys mentoring students interested in pursuing a career in radiology.
What or who sparked your interest in radiology?
I was fortunate enough to know fantastic radiologists growing up (special thank yous to Drs. Mark Schein, Aaron J. Schein, and Rita Krane!), who gave me a sense of the work of a radiologist and encouraged me from the very beginning.
During medical school, I had wonderful research mentors in musculoskeletal imaging with Dr. George R. Matcuk, Jr., and body imaging/machine learning with Dr. Vinay A. Duddalwar at USC, who generously passed on their wisdom and offered me early-career guidance during my formative years. On rotations, I came to appreciate how central radiology is to the modern practice of medicine. As we all know, oftentimes crucial decisions about whether a patient goes home, gets admitted, goes to surgery, and more hinge upon their imaging diagnosis.
What has been your best professional accomplishment?
I am most proud of the work that we have done to establish and develop the RSNA Medical Student Task Force (MSTF) over the last few years. In 2020, I was honored to serve as one of the founding MSTF members and the first editor for the Med Student Pulse newsletter.
During my time with the RFC Medical Student Outreach Subcommittee, which serves as the steering committee for the MSTF, I have had the privilege of watching our efforts and scope expand to include what is now a multi-day program of events at the annual meeting specifically for medical students and the establishment of the RSNA Medical Student Travel Scholarship, among others. This year, the MSTF even had an invited booth at the American Medical Student Association annual meeting.
All of the credit truly goes to our exemplary MSTF student members, each of whom have had the vision and execution to imagine an even bigger and better year than the last. I am so grateful to RSNA for taking a chance on the MSTF and letting it grow into what it is today, granting our members invaluable opportunities for leadership and service, and reaching hundreds of medical students every year.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced building your career?
This has to be the pandemic. I was both a medical student and a PGY-1 intern during the two biggest waves of COVID-19. Not only did the practice landscape of medicine change drastically, possibly in some ways irrevocably, but so too did the training landscape for many fields. We were faced with challenges which were never imagined previously, and we were pushed beyond our limits emotionally and physically. I am so thankful to be at a residency program where teaching and clinical training has remained at the forefront of our mission, even as we continue to adapt to our post-COVID state of affairs.
What RSNA resources do you use to assist you with your professional development and daily practice?
I regularly use Radiographics, and I sincerely believe that every trainee should avail themselves of it. I have also made use of the RSNA Physics Modules, which are a fantastic way to learn foundational physics.
Serving on the RSNA: Imaging Cancer Trainee Editorial Board and as a deputy editor for Images in Cancer has been an invaluable opportunity for my professional development and mentorship. I would highly encourage any trainees interested in getting involved with academic publishing to consider joining an RSNA Trainee Editorial Board. I have likewise been fortunate to have taken advantage of publishing opportunities with the RSNA suite of journals.
The RSNA annual meeting is genuinely without compare. l sincerely look forward to seeing my friends from around the country and internationally every year and hearing the latest in radiology technology and news. Plus, what’s not to love about Chicago?
When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
I love playing the guitar. My mother is my musical inspiration, herself a wonderful musician and previous piano faculty with USC for nearly 15 years. Growing up, my guitar instructor, Jerry Cusack, was a lifelong teacher and friend to me and we still keep in touch. Academically, I studied classical music, though I maintain an active interest in progressive heavy metal and have seen my favorite band, Dream Theater, over a dozen times in the last 15 years.
Since moving to San Francisco, I have taken up indoor rock climbing and try to go at least 1-2 times per week. I used to be quite an avid martial artist with my father, a sixth-degree black belt in his own right, although unfortunately my knees just can’t take it anymore. Hopefully, once my residency schedule lightens up a bit, I will have some time to travel!
For More Information
Connect with Dr. Fields on social media:
- X (Twitter): @bkkfields
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkkfields/
Access Dr. Fields’ publications:
- ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brandon-Fields-2/research
- Doximity: https://www.doximity.com/pub/brandon-fields-md-c8575e33
Keep up to date on RSNA member achievements, moves and news by visiting RSNA.org/News Announcements/Member-Updates.