Dr. Loretta Strachowski, who goes by Lori, is a radiologist who specializes in ultrasound and breast imaging with a focus in women's health. She served as chief of ultrasound at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFGH) for 18 years before retiring from the role in 2017. She takes a hands-on approach to ultrasound – often administering scans herself – a practice she advises residents and fellows to emulate.
Over the years, Strachowski has sought to reinforce radiologists' expertise in obstetrical ultrasound by upholding the highest clinical standards and emphasizing compassionate and timely patient care. She is a fierce advocate for obstetric care for underserved, high-risk patients, promulgating the value of exams that can help identify complex fetal abnormalities and complications of pregnancy.
Strachowski's research has looked at ultrasound assessment of acute and cancerous gynecologic processes. Her work has been instrumental in promoting a standardized reporting system for findings in the ovaries to help assess the risk of malignancy and provide management recommendations.
Strachowski co-founded the Avon Comprehensive Breast Care Program at ZSFGH. She served as the program's medical director for 10 years, promoting a variety of high-quality comprehensive services for women, including genetic counseling and testing; educational, outreach and support programs; and bilingual navigators to help every woman feel supported and empowered. She now splits her time doing breast imaging between ZSFGH and UCSF. To optimize patient outcomes, she advocates for an individually tailored approach to breast cancer treatment.
Strachowski earned her medical degree from Rush Medical College. She completed a residency in diagnostic radiology at Stanford Medicine, followed by a fellowship in ultrasound at UCSF.
Strachowski is a dedicated and highly regarded educator. She finds teaching future radiologists the tricks of the trade to be one of the most rewarding aspects of her work. In 2009, she received the Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators' Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2012, residents in the UCSF diagnostic radiology program selected her to receive the Hideyo Minagi Outstanding Teacher Award. In 2014, 2018 and 2020, she was named the ZSFGH consultant of the year by the residents of the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences. She lectures locally, nationally and internationally, and is known for her enthusiastic teaching style, diagnostic pearls and visually impactful presentations.
In her spare time, Strachowski enjoys experimenting with new recipes – saving the tried-and-true meals beloved by her two grown children and new son-in-law to lure them home to visit. She loves to travel and experience new cultures, especially if a breathtaking view, exotic meal or challenging hike is on the itinerary.
