Georgetown First and Only Imaging Center in DC with COE Designation

The breast imaging center at Georgetown University Hospital has been named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR), making it the only breast imaging center in the Washington, DC/Maryland area to receive the designation. This national recognition is given to a select few number of centers that have been accredited in comprehensive breast imaging that includes mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound, and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. The Center of Excellence designation indicates that breast imaging in the Betty Lou Ourisman Center has the mandatory accreditation and has voluntarily participated in a vigorous review process to ensure it has met and exceeded nationally accepted patient care standards.

This Center of Excellence status has only been granted to 177 of the more than 8800 certified breast imaging centers in the United States, or roughly two-percent.

Breast imaging takes place within the Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center under the direction of Shawna Willey, MD and co-director, Robert Warren, MD.

“This is great news for our patients and the community as a whole, “ said Erini Makariou, MD, chief and director of Breast Imaging at Georgetown University Hospital. “It means that patients have access to the highest quality of diagnostic care here at Georgetown. It means they can rely on us to have a variety of state-of-the-art equipment, the best people to help them through the process and get the most accurate results possible.“

In order to receive the ACR’s Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designation, Georgetown’s imaging center is fully accredited by ACR in mammography (also accredited by an FDA-approved state accrediting body), stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound guided breast biopsy.

“We are very proud to have received this recognition from the ACR. Being named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence shows that the center is the premier provider of breast imaging services in the Washington, DC area. We have an excellent team of radiologists, technologists and support staff dedicated to providing women with highly specialized breast imaging services and advice in a comfortable setting designed around the needs of the patient,” said Dr. Makariou.

This past year approximately 14,000 screening / diagnostic mammograms and almost 1,300 breast ultrasounds, MRI’s and interventional procedures (biopsies) were performed at the Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center.

The American College of Radiology, headquartered in Reston, VA is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology as well as the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

Media Contact: Marianne Worley
Phone: 703-558-1287
Email: WorleyM@gunet.georgetown.edu

Patient Contact: 202-342-2400