Dr. Lucy Spalluto, MD, MPH

Dr. Lucy Spalluto, MD, MPH, is an Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences at Vanderbilt University. She specializes in Breast and Women’s Imaging and dedicates much of her time to improving diversity, inclusion, and equity in radiology. Through her work, she has been a successful advocate and leader for women in radiology.

Dr. Spalluto discovered her passion for radiology three years into medical school at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Upon seeing its capability to help nearly every patient in a hospital, she couldn’t ignore her desire to pursue radiology as a career. After medical school, she went on to complete an internship in Internal Medicine at Cabrini Medical Center of Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in 2007, a residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Brown University in 2011, and a fellowship in Women’s Imaging at Vanderbilt in 2012. Dr. Spalluto stayed in Nashville where she joined the faculty at Vanderbilt in 2014. Three years later, she became interested in research and decided to continue her education and completed a health services research fellowship, the VA Quality Scholars Program, and the Vanderbilt Master of Public Health.

Focused on Radiology Diversity and Patient Health Equity

Early in Dr. Spalluto’s career, she focused on diversifying radiology through dedicated programming, research, and publication. She served as the President of the American Association of Women in Radiology and worked in Vanderbilt’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion to achieve her goal of helping create programs for women in radiology. While she still believes diversity is very important for the radiology community, she has shifted her focus to health equity for patients. Dr. Spalluto currently serves as Vanderbilt University Medical Center Radiology’s inaugural Vice Chair of Health Equity where she works to make sure all patients receive the best care possible, addresses health disparities, and creates educational training programs to ensure proper patient care.

“In my diversity, equity, and inclusion work I really enjoy working on multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary teams to solve complex problems. Developing a network of colleagues across the country and across the world has been an unexpected and absolute favorite part of my job!” said Dr. Spalluto.

She also loves mentoring and teaching early-career faculty at Vanderbilt, working with patients, and conducting research projects. Academic work allows her to teach future radiologists and shape the future of radiology. Dr. Spalluto believes that when she mentors young radiologists she learns just as much as they do because there is always room to learn in radiology.

Outside of radiology, she loves spending time with her husband and their two children, Anna and Joey. She spends most of her free time watching her kids play baseball and soccer. Dr. Spalluto and her family are also working towards their goal of visiting all 30 active Major League Baseball ballparks! She credits balancing life as a mom and a radiologist to her confidence and successes.

Dr. Spalluto is a strong leader in radiology. Her hard work is helping shape a bright future for radiology that promotes inclusivity, diversity, and equity. The accomplishments she has achieved thus far are inspiring for all women who hope to pursue a career in medicine.

By Melanie Holzer

By Melanie Holzer

PulseISM Author

Recent graduate from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in strategic communication and a minor in business administration.