When Barbara Deppman, RDMS, MSM, FACHE, assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer of Strategic Radiology (SR) on November 15, 2021, it represented the culmination of a successful and varied career in health care administration that closely tracked radiology. She has headed the Radiology, Radiation Oncology, and Women’s Breast Clinical Services deparments at University of Miami/Jackson Health System and served as Executive Director of a large practice of diagnostic and interventional radiologists that also included vascular surgeons. She has consulted on radiology workflow, quality, and productivity with Truven Analytics, Prism Healthcare Partners, and Claro Healthcare and renegotiated and executed contracts for mobile imaging, teleradiology, physician services, PACS, voice recognition across state lines, as well as navigated CON restrictions to implement advanced imaging technology. Her career began as a radiologic technologist and sonographer.

Ms. Deppman is likely to call on all of the experience accrued over her career as Strategic Radiology embarks on its 13th year working to execute its strategic plan on behalf of independent private practice radiology in the U.S. She generously took a few minutes to address several questions for the readers of Hub.

Q: What were your first thoughts when you saw that the SR COO position was open and why did you decide to put yourself forward for the position?

Deppman: Having been part of SR from 2015 to 2018 while I was serving as Executive Director of Radiology Associates of South Florida (RASF), I was very familiar with the organization.  After that group went the corporatization route, I moved into consulting and continued to keep in touch with SR leadership, hoping that I could find a way to continue to be involved with the organization. When I saw that Randy Roat was retiring from the COO position after a dozen years, I decided to throw my hat into the ring.

Q: You have had a long, successful career in radiology, but this new position is unique. Which of your previous experiences best prepared you to lead a coalition of independent private practices?

Deppman: I am a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and hold a master’s degree in organizational development and behavior—those experiences gave me an in-depth perspective on the leadership qualities needed to support large health-care organizations. I have applied this knowledge to assist with leadership roles within a large academic medical center as well as community-based hospital radiology departments. I have had the opportunity to work in nearly all settings where Radiology is delivered, including an academic medical center, hospital radiology department, private practice radiology, outpatient imaging, and also from the technology side in leading an image-sharing startup. While my time in physician practice leadership provided a great education in the business operations of practice leadership, I believe that all of the previous roles I’ve held have prepared me for my current role as COO of Strategic Radiology, including my experience in chairing the RBMA Advanced Education Subcommittee.  Having a strong background in imaging technology, hospital leadership, private practice administration, and education will be called upon to fulfill the responsibilities of this new position. 

Q: You were an SR member for a time as lead administrator for a former member practice. How will that experience inform your approach to the position.

Deppman: Being a part of a previous SR member group has enabled me to view SR from a member’s perspective. This is particularly important in understanding what necessary and additional value SR could deliver to its member practices as we all strategically collaborate on responding to the various internal and external forces currently impacting practices. 

Q: What are your three most important objectives for 2022?

Deppman: First, my goal is to support Dr. Bundy and the SR team in delivering on our strategic objectives to support our member practices, including the completion and execution of the various Tiers 1, 2, & 3 initiatives, especially ensuring the timely roll-out of our health care group insurance captive for the members for 2023. Second, I'll work with the Finance Committee to continue to keep Strategic Radiology stable during these challenging times. Third, I'll support efforts to continue to build the membership footprint across the nation to maintain low membership fees and stabilize independent private radiology practice by enhancing services and product lines for the membership.

Q: What part of the job do you expect to enjoy the most?

Deppman: I know I will enjoy working with the great people who comprise SR, and there are literally thousands of them: For instance, supporting Dr. Bundy and our members to execute our goals as well as working with the top-notch SR staff as they help guide a great organization through the demands of the very complex radiology landscape. I am blessed to work with such caring and technology-forward radiologists and their brilliant administrators and staff.  I truly am humbled to have been selected for this role.