Division of Breast Imaging

Division Chief

Katja Pinker-Domenig, MD, PHD
Chief, Division of Breast Imaging

The Division of Breast Imaging in the Department of Radiology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art breast imaging services across the full spectrum of breast health. The division integrates clinical excellence, advanced imaging technologies, multidisciplinary collaboration, and cutting-edge research to deliver the highest standard of care for patients while shaping the future of breast imaging.

Mission and Vision

The mission of the Division of Breast Imaging is to deliver exceptional, patient-centered breast imaging care grounded in clinical rigor, innovation, and compassion. The division is committed to providing accurate, timely, and evidence-based imaging services that support early cancer detection, precise diagnosis, treatment planning, therapy monitoring, and long-term survivorship. Imaging is seamlessly integrated into individualized patient care pathways through close collaboration with multidisciplinary breast care teams.

Our vision is to be a global leader in breast imaging, recognized for excellence in clinical care, education, and research. The division aims to define best practices in breast imaging, pioneer innovative imaging strategies, and advance personalized, risk-adapted breast care. A core aspiration is to responsibly and equitably deploy advanced imaging technologies, artificial intelligence, and integrated biomarkers to improve outcomes across diverse populations.

Core Values

Clinical Excellence: Commitment to the highest standards of diagnostic accuracy, procedural quality, and safety.
Patient-Centered Care: Compassionate, individualized care emphasizing communication, respect, and shared decision-making.
Innovation and Discovery: Advancement of breast imaging through research, technology development, and early adoption of validated innovations.
Collaboration: Close partnership with surgical, medical, and radiation oncology, pathology, genetics, and primary care.
Equity, Access, and Inclusion: Dedication to reducing disparities and improving access to high-quality breast imaging.
Education and Mentorship: Support for trainees and faculty at all career stages, fostering future leaders.

Leadership

Under the leadership of Katja Pinker-Domenig,MD, PhD, our nationally and internationally recognized team of fellowship-trained breast imaging specialists are dedicated to advancing the field through breast cancer research, education, and patient care. Leadership provides strategic oversight across clinical quality and safety, faculty development, education, research strategy, and innovation. Faculty hold prominent leadership roles in professional societies, guideline committees, editorial boards, and research consortia, contributing to advancement of the field worldwide.

Two female radiologists look at images on screen — Katja Pinker-Domenig, MD, PhD, chief of breast imaging (seated) and Janice Sung, MD, associate chief of breast imaging.

Clinical Services

The division delivers high-volume, comprehensive breast imaging services at multiple sites across New York City and Westchester County, ensuring broad access to high-quality breast imaging care and supporting both population-based screening and complex diagnostic care. Collectively, the division performs over 35,000 mammograms and more than 3,500 breast MRI examinations annually, reflecting the scale, expertise, and clinical depth of the program. Services include screening and diagnostic mammography with digital breast tomosynthesis, contrast-enhanced mammography, breast ultrasound, standard and abbreviated breast MRI, advanced multiparametric MRI techniques, and image-guided biopsies and localizations. In northern Manhattan, breast MRI examinations are performed in the newly expanded Columbia MRI Center, one of the largest academic MRI centers in the country, providing state-of-the-art infrastructure to support advanced breast MRI, high-risk screening, and treatment response assessment.

In 2025, the division launched a contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) screening program, expanding access to functional breast imaging for selected patients and reflecting the division’s leadership in innovation and evidence-based adoption of emerging technologies.

Mammography suite — Digital breast tomosynthesis suite at Columbia's northern Manhattan breast imaging center.

Locations

Core clinical operations are based at the Herbert Irving Pavilion Breast Imaging Center in northern Manhattan. Breast imaging radiologists interpret screening mammograms performed at the nearby Avon Foundation Breast Imaging Center and both screening and diagnostic mammograms performed at Herbert Irving Pavilion.

In addition, breast imaging and screening services are offered at the following ColumbiaDoctors and NewYork-Presbyterian locations:

Through its extensive clinical network, high procedural volume, and subspecialty expertise, the division delivers timely, accurate, and patient-centered breast imaging care across the full continuum of breast health.

Education and Training

Education is a core pillar of the division. Training programs provide rigorous subspecialty education for radiology residents and breast imaging fellows in the in the Breast Imaging Fellowship, including high-volume clinical exposure, structured didactics, case-based learning, procedural training, and multidisciplinary conferences. Faculty are actively engaged in national and international educational initiatives.

Two female radiologists demonstrating breast ultrasound — Celin Chacko, MD (left) teaches breast ultrasound to a resident.

Research and Innovation

The division is a center of excellence for translational, clinical, and population-based research. Key areas include advanced and non-contrast breast MRI, diffusion-weighted imaging, contrast-enhanced mammography, imaging biomarkers, integration of imaging with liquid biopsy and molecular data, artificial intelligence, and health equity research. Faculty lead NIH-funded, foundation-funded, and industry-partnered studies and multicenter collaborations.

Commitment to Excellence

Through clinical scale, national leadership, and continuous innovation, the Division of Breast Imaging at Columbia University Irving Medical Center advances excellence in patient care while shaping the future of breast imaging locally, nationally, and globally.