HEAL & THRIVE by Heike Dadlrup-Link: A Guide to Navigating Workplace Challenges in Academia

Heike Elisabeth Daldrup-Link, MD, PhD, is a tenured Professor of Radiology, Director of the Pediatric Molecular Imaging Program, Co-Director of the Cancer Imaging Program, and Associate Chair for Diversity in the Department of Radiology at Stanford University. Dr. Daldrup-Link is a Pediatric Radiologist with a sub-specialization in cancer imaging. As a physician-scientist, she uncovered basic science principles in a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded basic science lab and brought the most promising medical imaging innovations to her patient’s bedside. Dr. Daldrup-Link has published over 170 peer-reviewed research articles, 20 book chapters and editorials, five edited books, and six patents, pending or granted. Dr. Daldrup-Link is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI, honor society for clinician-scientists) and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE).

Dr. Daldrup-Link serves as a role model of a successful female physician-scientist and an effective ally for minority group members in the biomedical sciences. Dr. Daldrup-Link significantly contributed to the diversification of the biomedical sciences through her advocacy, mentorship, and allyship. Dr. Daldrup-Link is widely known for her powerful reflections and opinion pieces on women in STEM (e.g., https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-017-1124-4, Altmetric 90th percentile of 278,392 tracked articles of similar age in all journals). Among her many activities as Associate Chair for Diversity, she provides training on cultural competence, mentors and sponsors trainees from minority backgrounds, and helps identify diverse candidates for career opportunities. In 2020, she was awarded the Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award from the Stanford Biosciences Program. On a national level, Dr. Daldrup-Link is a member of the diversity initiatives of the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR) and the World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS).