RSNA Member Spotlight: Svetla Dineva, MD, PhD
Learn more about a fellow RSNA Member
Svetla Dineva, MD, PhD, is a cardiovascular and interventional radiologist. Born in Burgas, Bulgaria, Dr. Dineva’s current work life is based in the city of Sofia where she serves as head of the Department of Radiology at the National Cardiology Hospital. She is also an associate professor of radiology.
Shortly after completing medical school, Dr. Dineva began her academic career at the Medical University of Sofia, where she earned her PhD and held various roles of assistant professorship. Dr. Dineva is involved in teaching, research and clinical work. She is a lecturer at international scientific meetings and author of several scientific articles.
What or who sparked your interest in radiology?
I was in my last year at medical school, realizing there was no time left for my future career choice. Different scenarios were rushing in my mind only to realize I’m in love with everything and that I find every medical field fascinating.
Then, one day I was present during endovascular interventional procedure, and I remember myself just gazing at the monitor, pretty much stunned. From that day on, nothing was more interesting than interventions. I strived for interventional radiology because it is helpful both to the patient and the health care system while being interesting and beautiful at the same time.
A great mentor in my IR career was Prof. Dimitrios Tsetis of Heraklion, Crete, who recently passed away, but his bright soul and loving heart will forever remain.
The same feeling came to me every time I was examining images from different modalities—they all made sense, they were in perfect sequence and perfectly synchronized with patients’ history.
My life turned out in such a way that I got more and more involved in diagnostic radiology only to realize I am where I belong. All the challenges radiology has to offer are like an energizing mixture to keep your mind awake and always focused. The spark was the beauty and depth of radiology itself.
What has been your best professional accomplishment?
As a radiologist and a university teacher for almost 15 years now it’s always very difficult to choose whether the gratitude in patients’ eyes or the experience of inspiring students only to observe how they flourish in their upcoming medical career is my biggest accomplishment. I would say both.
Nothing is more powerful than the feeling that you helped someone—either patient, resident or student in their path with their disease or their life. Being there for someone when needed, even if that is your renowned colleague, is what gives content to life—I wouldn’t want to be or do anything else.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your career?
Trying to perform interventional radiological procedures in Bulgaria during years when those who were familiar with this as a subspecialty in radiology were enough to be counted on one hand’s fingers. No administrative, medical or educational path was available. Also challenging was having three jobs to maintain my residency at the university.
The biggest challenge in everyone’s story is always the beginning. Slowly, gradually and certainly everything made sense and eventually came to its place. I’m grateful to have such a story to tell.
What RSNA resources do you enjoy using?
RSNA provides a huge educational resource and what I find very helpful and useful are the educational categories. In order to build a solid career, the basics should be broad and well founded. RSNA is a leader in that understanding.
I remember when I attended the RSNA annual meeting in 2018, a lot of courses on prostate imaging were taking place. Eventually by attending them my whole mindset was changed.
I instantly approached these exams differently and I feel confident to have established such a practice today working in perfect dialogue with the urologists.
When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
If I find myself with a free hour time slot in between hospital and family duties, I go running. I run five times per week on average. That’s the only way for my body and mind to relax from all the complex cases I endure as a radiologist, a head of radiological department and a mother of twins. My love for running wouldn’t let me restrain from participation in this year’s RSNA Fun Run where I was able to finish in top three of all participants in the women’s category.
During days off, I go far from the city in the beautiful Bulgarian nature, to stay in silence, frequently drawing. I like sketching—mainly portraits—and this is probably connected with radiology, too. Radiology is truly the art in medicine.
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