25 Oct CME issues sink merger between ACR, ARRS

AuntMinnie.com | October 25 – The devil is in the details. That could be said about the failed merger between the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS): the two radiology groups called off their strategic integration after they were unable to resolve issues regarding the ACR’s continuing medical education (CME) business.

The outcome of the unsuccessful merger was seen October 19 at the ACR headquarters in Reston, VA. Moving vans rolled away with the boxed files, office furniture, and computers from the administrative operations of the ARRS. Unpacking began later the same day 20 miles away in Leesburg, VA, where nine staff members moved back into the same office building, owned by the ARRS, that it left in August 2009 at the start of strategic integration with the ACR. The rest of the staff will move back to Leesburg by the end of the year.

Disappointment … but relief

The agreement was dissolved September 29 with a unanimous vote of the ARRS executive council. In interviews, ACR and ARRS leaders expressed disappointment about the annulment, but relief at the amicable way the two organizations were separated.

“Once we realized the merge was not meeting the needs of either organization, the leadership had the maturity and trust in one another to unwind it in a fashion that good feeling remain between the organizations,” said James Thrall, MD, chairman of the ACR’s Board of Chancellors.

James Brink, MD, president of ARRS, characterized the actions as a positive step for both societies.

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