Sunil Kini, M.D.

🏛️ 2025 Texas Legislative Session Wrap-Up The 89th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature has ended. Here is a summary of the bills TxSRT was following:   ✅ Passed SB1084/HB2659 Mammography reports must now include breast density information, enhancing early detection and patient communication.   🕒 Left Pending in Committee SB1487/HB1942 Would have allowed APRNs to participate as preferred providers in HMOs and PPOs. SB3055 Would permit APRNs to practice independently in rural counties under 68,750 population. SB1859/HB3794 Proposed independent licensure and reimbursement for APRNs in certain government health plans.   📄 Never Heard in Committee SB716/HB3677 Proposed a licensure pathway for out-of-state technologists. SB722 Grant for a mobile stroke unit with a CT scanner; TxSRT advocated for licensed radiographers as operators. SB1328/HB4380 Proposed licensure for those practicing magnetic resonance physics; TxSRT sent a letter supporting future MR technologist licensure. SB911/HB1756 Bills addressing the scope of practice for APRNs, including authority to prescribe and treat without physician oversight.   📣 Looking Ahead TxSRT continues to advocate for patient safety, technologist licensure, and professional standards. Your voice matters! Stay engaged and support future legislative efforts. #TXLege #MedicalImaging #RadiationTherapy #RadiologicTechnology #HealthcarePolicy #PatientSafety #TxSRT #ASRT #AdvocateForImaging #Radiographer #MRI #CTScan #ScopeOfPractice #ProfessionalLicensure #RuralHealthcare

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The most shocking sign of the shortage of pathologists I’ve seen- a leading children’s hospital is seeking someone with only 3 years of residency training to fill an open faculty peds path spot. The majority of pediatric pathologists have an extra year of training and board certification. Will scarcity force path fellowships to evolve into on-the-job training?

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Absolutely inspiring data coming out of SABCS 2025! 🌟 The MARRES trial confirms what many of us pioneering minimally invasive breast surgery have long believed: robotic and endoscopic mastectomy can offer safer postoperative outcomes compared with conventional techniques. A major step forward for patient-centered, precision breast surgery — and a strong validation of the global shift toward minimally invasive approaches. Exciting times for our field and for the women who trust us with their care. 💛👏 #SABCS #BreastSurgery #InnovationInSurgery #MinimallyInvasiveMastectomy #RoboticSurgery

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The United States has successfully completed its first fully robotic heart transplant, marking a major breakthrough in modern medicine. The procedure was performed at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center in Houston, using advanced robotic technology without opening the patient's chest in the traditional way. This minimally invasive approach reduces surgical trauma, lowers the risk of infection and bleeding, and allows for faster recovery and improved safety compared to conventional heart transplant surgery. The patient reportedly recovered well and showed strong post-surgery progress

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In this UTHealth Houston Otorhinolaryngology Grand Rounds, Ron Karni, MD, Chief of the Division of Head and Neck Surgery, delivered an insightful presentation on the history and future of laryngectomy. He began by recounting the misdiagnosis of Frederick III, which led to his early death and the onset of World War I. Dr. Karni highlighted the importance of understanding medical history for driving innovation and maintaining ethical standards. He detailed the first total laryngectomy performed by Theodore Billroth in 1873, discussing the technical challenges and postoperative complications faced at the time. The presentation also covered the evolution of surgical techniques and the impact of historical events on current medical practices. Dr. Karni concluded by exploring the promising future of laryngectomy in the era of immunotherapy and advanced medical technologies, suggesting that it may become a rare procedure. This Grand Rounds session underscores the critical role of historical knowledge in shaping the future of medicine. https://lnkd.in/d2vSH_ZZ #UTHealthHouston #ORLGrandRounds

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REPOSTED FROM DOTMED: In win for ISOs, US District Court again upholds medical device exemption from DMCA August 13, 2025 Parts And Service By Robert J. Kerwin On July 21, 2025, the U.S. District Court confirmed again the propriety of the Librarian of Congress granting of a medical device repair exemption from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”). The rule exempts parties accessing copyrighted software for the purpose of diagnosis, maintenance and repair of medical devices from the DMCA proscription barring circumvention of technological protection measures limiting access. In a 60-page decision, U.S. District Court Judge Howell determined that the Librarian of Congress properly followed the procedural steps under, among other things, the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) and the Triennial consideration of Exemption requests from DMCA liability. The U.S. District Court dismissed lawsuits filed by MITA and AdvaMed, finding that the Librarian together with the Registrar of Copyrights had determined properly that there was a need for this exemption. Some medical device original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) had used the DMCA to pursue liability claims against independent service organizations (ISOs) for circumventing the technological protection measures installed (“TPMs”) to preclude access to copyrighted equipment manuals for conducting maintenance of medical devices. In that context, the decision from Judge Howell will be welcome news to ISOs. Last year, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the District Court had failed to fully consider MITA and AdvaMed’s claims that the Librarian had not followed the APA. Judge Howell, with considerable reference to the record of submissions made to the Librarian and the Registrar, has now found otherwise. On June 21, 2024, Suzanne Schwartz, director of the FDA Office of Strategic Partnerships and Technology Innovation, informed the Copyright Office that the FDA stands behind the proposed exemption from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that would apply “to circumvention [of technological protections] that is conducted solely to obtain data access for the purpose of diagnosis, maintenance or repair of devices.” Robert J. Kerwin At the time of publication it is not known whether MITA or AdvaMed may further appeal. About the author: Robert J. Kerwin is general counsel to the International Association of Medical Equipment Remarketers and Servicers (IAMERS).

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Same-day discharge following aneurysm treatment is now a reality on a case-by-case basis. The WEB device is commonly used; being intrasaccular, it obviates the need for dual antiplatelet therapy, making same-day discharge a safe and feasible approach in selected patients.

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𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐁𝐋𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐒𝐂𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡. In the last couple months, we turned on UFE → GAE → PFE for Texas Vascular Institute The very next month? Patient volume 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝. Not just more leads — 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫. And here’s the wild part: Nothing internally changed. Same staff. Same processes. Same office. The only difference? 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭. When direct-to-patient marketing is working, everything downstream improves: 🔥 More procedures 🔥 More throughput 🔥 Fewer empty consult blocks 🔥 The SAME front desk suddenly looks like rockstars. Most clinics don’t have an operations problem. They have an awareness problem. 🎥 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: How This Clinic Doubled New Patients Using Social Media Ads https://lnkd.in/gaTa-9aq If you’re tired of waiting on referrals and ready to scale your embolization program… Comment “GROWTH” and I’ll send you the breakdown. Rachel Beesinger Dev Batra, MD Patient Pro Marketing #obl #asc #interventionalradiology #OBLgrowth #directtopatient #pae #gae #pfe #uae #ufe #healthcaremarketing #scaleyourpractice

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The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) says the new credential is intended to address the growing demand for MRI services.

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🏥💡 On-Premise AI in Radiology Shows Promise for Chest Pain Workups A radiology team at UT Southwestern tested a new on-premise AI solution for coronary CT angiography (CCTA) exams—offering a potential breakthrough in cost savings, faster workflows, and data security. 📊 In a study of 1,041 scans, the AI achieved "substantial to near perfect agreement" with expert readers when ruling out coronary artery disease. While its negative predictive value was high, helping to quickly triage low-risk patients, its positive predictive value was lower, underscoring the need for continued human oversight. 🏁 Key Takeaways: 🚀 Faster turnaround + local data control 🔒 Avoids cloud-related security and cost concerns 👩‍⚕️ Still requires expert review for flagged cases This study highlights how hybrid AI workflows can streamline chest pain evaluations in high-volume settings without sacrificing clinical judgment. https://lnkd.in/ewuKqagE

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