Historical Review

The New York Breast Imaging Society — from the “Mammo Club” to today.

The New York Breast Imaging Society (NYBIS) was initially founded as the “Mammo Club” by Dr. Suzanne Smith in 1989, at a time when radiology was maturing and breast imaging was emerging as its own discipline. Dr. Smith was inspired to form the Mammo Club after returning from Dr. Laszlo Tabar’s course in Sweden.

The Mammo Club was initially held at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, where Dr. Smith was Director of Mammography. As breast imaging blossomed into a formal subspecialty, the club officially became the “New York Metropolitan Mammography Society,” with expert speakers drawn from across the region.

In approximately 2007, the Society became the New York Breast Imaging Society (NYBIS), reflecting the development of important breast imaging tools beyond mammography. An October meeting was later added to further promote inclusiveness of trainees and to provide more well-rounded programming to all members.

The evolution of lecture topics over the years reflects exciting progress in breast imaging — from advances in MRI to the development of tomosynthesis. As the field continues to evolve, strong local professional networks such as NYBIS remain vital forums for discussion, education, and collaboration.