Hildegard B. Toth, MD

I was attracted to the medical profession, and radiology in particular, because it provides an opportunity to work toward improving the lives of others. The field of radiology is uniquely positioned to use new technologies and innovations to serve patients and closely engage with their referring clinicians. As a breast imaging specialist, I am able to have a positive impact on saving the lives of women through the early detection of breast cancer.

At NYU Langone, I am section chief of breast imaging in the Department of Radiology and am the lead interpreting physician for mammography throughout the institution. I completed my residency in radiology at NYU School of Medicine and at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. I have been a faculty member of the radiology department for more than 20 years and am proud of my strong ties to NYU Langone.

My team and I work hard to provide excellent, compassionate, and timely patient care. We believe that a collaborative patient–doctor relationship is essential for successful outcomes. My section of 16 fellowship-trained breast imaging specialists offers a full range of breast healthcare—from routine annual screening to evaluations for people at high risk of cancer, and caring for women who have a known cancer diagnosis.

During my career, I have also worked to serve the diverse and underserved populations in New York City. I take immense pride in our distinguished record of being one of the first Breast Imaging Centers of Excellence recognized by the American College of Radiology.

As part of my academic mission, I mentor residents and breast imaging fellows and am passionate about educating the next generation of doctors. Their training is rigorous and includes the practice of evidence-based medicine with emphasis on the importance of understanding each person’s health situation.

My research has focused on innovative approaches to image-guided biopsy procedures, such as fine-needle aspiration, and using the latest technology to precisely mark tumors or lesions before surgery. I am part of a multidisciplinary team at Perlmutter Cancer Center that is seeking a novel method to improve treatment processes.

As a researcher, I have also assessed the role of MRI as a diagnostic and screening tool. I am part of a collaborative research team that is using artificial intelligence for the early detection of breast cancer and recently coauthored a paper on this subject.

I am a member of the American College of Radiology, the Society of Breast Imaging, and the New York Roentgen Society. I have served as the president of the New York Breast Imaging Society and serve on the oversight committee of the Beatrice W. Welters Breast Health Outreach and Navigation Program. I am also honored to serve on NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s executive admissions committee.

I have lectured at more than 60 regional and national conferences, and I frequently speak on behalf of NYU Langone to local communities.