5 Minutes With Daniel R. Karolyi, M.D., Ph.D.

Current area of focus…
I am the co-chair of the department of Radiology. As a member of the Radiology senior leadership team, I help oversee the Radiology services (both acquisition and reporting) for the imaging facilities throughout our organization.

When I’m not at work, I enjoy…
Spending time with my family and traveling to national parks throughout the country.

One thing I do for my health or to re-energize is…
I relive my childhood by playing games with my children.

What most people don’t know about me is…
I play the saxophone. Many years ago, I played on stage with Jimmy Buffett. 

My first job, ever, was…
I started my own computer consulting business when I was a freshman in college. I did basic computer services and basic website development for health care offices.

As a child, when I grew up, I wanted to be…
An astronaut.

My favorite part of my current job is…
The great people that I get to work with every day. Their talents and commitment to our patients is amazing.

If I had to choose just one of our five Carilion values (CommUNITY, Courage, Commitment, Compassion or Curiosity) that best represents me, it would be...
Courage. Working in health care is very rewarding, but certainly not easy. We all must have the courage to innovate, change and adapt in an effort to provide the best health care for the patients that we serve. We must also have the courage to support every team member and help them realize their goals.

My leadership style or philosophy is…
I have drawn upon my engineering background to develop my strategic leadership style by using all available information to drive change toward best practices and best outcomes (but never fall victim to “analysis paralysis”). I try to effect change through individual motivation and clear communication of the most important and visionary goals.

Someone who had a tremendous impact on me was…
R. Wayne Gandee, M.D., my first boss at Carilion Clinic. His coaching style of leadership was enormously effective in growing the Radiology Department during a time of great volatility. He used his West Virginia charm to ensure that everyone in the Radiology Department felt welcome and appreciated. I attempt to incorporate many of his leadership traits into my everyday work.

Something I learned that a new employee might find interesting or valuable about Carilion or our community is...
Carilion embraces the idea that everyone has something to teach and learn.

Favorite quote or other guiding principle you follow that you’d like to share with our employees…
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” – Albert Einstein

Photos (from top left, clockwise):

• Dr. Karolyi with his wife, Carrie, and daughters, Amelia, Katherine and Julia.
• The family at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va.
• Dr. Karolyi with his children on Halloween.
• Dr. Karolyi's twin daughters, Amelia and Katherine, celebrating the installation of the new MRI machine (suspended by the crane) at Riverside 3.