The American College of Radiology’s Economics and Health Policy Department has selected Dr. James V. Rawson, chair of the department of Radiology at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, as the 2017 recipient of the William T. Thorwarth Jr., MD, Award.

The award was established in 2004 by the ACR Commission on Economics to honor members or staff who show excellence in the field of economics and health policy by way of leadership, diplomacy and integrity.

Rawson holds the P.L., J. Luther, Ada Warren Endowed Chair of Radiology at MCG and has been a driving force in AU Health’s 15-year, $300 million alliance with Philips Healthcare, a transformational health care model that focuses on better patient outcomes through improved efficiencies.

Rawson’s past economic positions include works as chair and member of the Hospital Prospective Payment System, member of the Value-Added Subcommittee, chair of the Economic Issues in Academic Radiology and member of the Accountable Care Committee. He also is a member of the ACR Board of Chancellors, chairs the ACR Commission on Patient- and Family-Centered Care and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

Rawson also participates formally and informally in promoting social media for the ACR as an educational and communications tool for radiologists, and he has been named to the Healthcare IT News #HIT100 list, which includes some of the biggest names in health information technology on Twitter.

He is a reviewer for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and president of the Georgia Radiological Society.

Additional national leadership roles in radiology have included the Association of University Radiologists Board of Directors, the Society of Health Systems Content and Connections Committee, and the Board of the Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments.

Rawson served on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Ambulatory Payment Classification Advisory Panel where he chaired the Packaging Subcommittee.  His work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and outpatient payment improvements were lauded specifically by ACR officials.