The Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) annual meeting is taking place from May 21 - 23, 2025 in Portland, Oregon.

In order to get an idea of what attendees can expect, and what's been happening in imaging informatics recently, HCB News spoke to Nina Kottler, SIIM's Associate Chief Medical Officer for AI. Here's what she had to say.

HCB News: What inspired you to get into healthcare and more specifically, into imaging informatics?

Nina Kottler: I didn’t originally plan to become a doctor. I started out pursuing a graduate degree in applied mathematics. As part of that work, I built mathematical models of human physiology—creating mathematical representations of the cornea and kidney. In doing so, I had to learn quite a bit of medical science, and to my surprise, I found that content incredibly compelling. Over time, the clinical questions became more interesting to me than the math itself, and that ultimately led me to pivot toward medicine.

Radiology felt like a natural fit—it’s visual, analytical, and deeply tied to technology. Imaging informatics took that a step further, combining my math and engineering background with clinical care. It’s a space where I can solve complex problems, contribute to innovation, and still stay grounded in patient-centered work. I feel lucky to have found a path that connects both sides of my interests so well.

HCB News: How long have you been a member of SIIM?
NK: I’ve been a member of SIIM for over 10 years. In fact, it was the first professional meeting I attended when I set out to learn more about imaging informatics, and I’ve been going to SIIM ever since.

HCB News: In what ways has SIIM supported your career development?
NK: SIIM has played a big role in my career development across several dimensions. First and foremost, the networking has been invaluable—being part of a community of people who are equally passionate about imaging informatics and AI has opened the door to collaborations, mentorship, and friendships that continue to shape my career.

I've also benefited from the cutting-edge content and breadth of educational opportunities SIIM provides. In fact, I recently signed up for a SIIM webinar on agentic AI! While I’ve learned a great deal about radiology informatics, I appreciate how SIIM’s offerings extend across the healthcare enterprise. This broader perspective has deepened my understanding of how imaging informatics fits into the larger healthcare IT landscape.

Another key area is standards development. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in some of this work, which has given me a deeper appreciation for how complex but essential it is to create shared frameworks for interoperability and AI implementation. At the same time, I’ve greatly benefited from the standards that SIIM and other groups are developing—these frameworks provide clarity and consistency in a rapidly evolving field and have help guide my work.

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