Dr. James York Earns Prestigious ACR Fellowship Honor
Dr. James Alan York, medical director for Forrest Health Radiology, has been named a Fellow of the American College of Radiology (ACR), becoming the first physician in the Forrest Health system to receive this distinguished honor. He was recognized May 3 during the ACR Fellowship Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Fellowship in the ACR is one of the most prestigious recognitions awarded to long-standing members, representing exceptional achievement in diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, and medical physics.
Election as a Fellow of the American College of Radiology is awarded to just 15% of ACR members and 10% of all radiologists in the US. Attaining Fellow status reflects a career marked by excellence in service, research, and education beyond the scope of their employment.
Dr. York’s selection as an ACR Fellow reflects a continued commitment to innovation and leadership in radiology — evident in both his clinical advancements and impact on patient care across Forrest Health. He also serves as medical director for Comprehensive Radiology Services (CRS).
Being named an ACR Fellow means a lot to Dr. York and the work he has done. “My clinical practice has focused on rural settings to deliver care to underserved populations, which I believe is vitally important,” he said. “The ACR recognition validates my collaboration with CRS and Forrest Health to deliver the best radiology care to our community through teaching, publishing, and community service.”
One area which is particularly meaningful to Dr. York is the four years of residency training he received at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. “That training taught me to always stay up to date on cancer imaging and treatment, and to bring my knowledge to my local community,” he said. Dr. York graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine (Boston, MA), in 1992.
Initiatives, innovations, and areas of focus he’s especially proud of include setting the tone based on "just culture" principles, advocating for education, personal and professional growth of co-workers, and dedication to patient-centered improvement projects.
Dr. York’s recognition as an ACR Fellow speaks to the level of care and expertise he provides at Forrest Health. “The leadership of Comprehensive Radiology Services, including Steve Cunningham, MD, and Forrest Health, especially President and CEO Jeff Cook, supports all three award domains – service, research, and education. Their encouragement is why I received the award, reflecting our shared commitment to excellence in overall patient care,” he said.
At Forrest Health, Dr. York implemented a new cryo-ablation service that has significantly enhanced patient care. This advanced treatment has improved outcomes, expanded access to minimally-invasive options, and elevated the overall care experience for patients.
One notable example of this impact involved a patient who had been wheelchair-bound for months due to a painful bone cancer mass. Following a specialized bone cryo-ablation procedure performed by Dr. York, the patient regained mobility – walking into their next oncology appointment and ultimately restoring their quality of life. This outcome highlights the transformative power of innovation and collaborative care.
Dr. York has also played a key role in advancing imaging technology at Forrest General Hospital, including the addition of a state-of-the-art fluoroscopy room in the Radiology Department in 2025 and an Interventional Radiology (IR) Suite in 2023. The fluoroscopy imaging suite enhances diagnostic capabilities by combining static and real-time X-ray imaging to support a wide range of clinical applications. The IR suite offers a variety of procedures such as neurological, cancer treatment, OB/GYN, and urology, as well as supporting the needs of the hospital’s Level II Trauma Center.
Most recently, the Radiology Department is playing a key role in identifying lung nodules through advanced AI technology and the use of an Epic-designed program. “Forrest Health is dedicated to bringing the latest technology to rural health, including advanced artificial intelligence that searches radiology reports to identify lung nodules, whether malignant or benign,” said Dr. York.
The Hattiesburg radiologist and physician with Comprehensive Radiology Services (CRS) has more than 34 years of diverse experiences, especially in diagnostic radiology. Dr. York has presented Image Wisely talks for radiation safety to members of the Area Development Partnership (ADP), Forrest General’s Family Medicine Residency Clinic residents and Emergency Room team members. Image Wisely is a collaborative initiative aimed at optimizing radiation use in adult medical imaging to enhance patient safety and reduce unnecessary exposure. It is a joint effort of the American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
He also lectures at the University of Mississippi Medical Center medical school in Jackson and LSU Health New Orleans.
In the fall, Dr. York will begin studies in The Master of Public Health degree program at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, which is a two-year, 45-credit-hour program. Some sessions will be online while others will be in person on campus in Boston, MA.
“The goal is to obtain tools to address the risks associated with increased utilization of ionizing radiation in medicine and its disproportionate effects on rural patients in Mississippi,” Dr. York said. “This will also allow me to bring a national perspective, resources, contacts, and approach not only to this issue, but also to many other health care challenges in our state. The school is considered the number one public health school in the US.”
Through his leadership, innovation, and dedication to advancing patient care, Dr. York continues to elevate radiology services across Forrest Health and improve outcomes for the communities served.
