Resilience, innovation, and unwavering dedication: this is the story of Dr. Angela Konze, a radiologist working at the Azienda USL Toscana Centro in Florence whose journey from Germany to Italy sparked a revolution in stroke care. Learn how she overcame challenges, embraced AI, and continues to give patients a second chance.
Meet Dr. Angela Konze
My path to medicine wasn't straightforward. During my final high school years, I aspired to study medicine, but limited university spots in Germany and my grades presented a challenge. Should I change my course or venture abroad? Italy became my answer. Despite never having been there (except for skiing in the Dolomites) and lacking any knowledge of the Italian language, I embarked on this adventure. The initial years in Italy were difficult. At 20, I frequently battled homesickness, but my pride kept me from returning. Today, Italy is my cherished home, and I'm deeply grateful for the life I've built here.
Upon completing my specialization in 2000, stroke care in Italy was basic, relying solely on CT scans in the acute phase. However, by 2006, the landscape began to change with the introduction of alteplase treatment, and advancements continued. Even at my small hospital, we were eager to adopt new therapies, necessitating the integration of advanced imaging techniques.
Witnessing patients regain lost abilities fuelled my passion and inspired me to motivate my colleagues. Seeing a patient with aphasia and right-sided hemiplegia regain mobility and speech was immensely rewarding. My primary motivation has always been to provide patients with a second chance, and to foster a collaborative team environment.
A New Standard of Care
In 2015, the demonstration of mechanical thrombectomy's superiority in large vessel occlusion (LVO) cases highlighted the need for precise imaging interpretation, particularly in calculating ASPECTS scores. While seemingly simple, this calculation posed a challenge for general radiologists. In 2017, I discovered Brainomix, an AI tool capable of calculating ASPECTS through a consultant from the Angels Initiative. This was precisely what our general radiology setting required. Initially, convincing my colleagues was difficult. However, after six months of demonstrating the technology's benefits and sharing my experiences, my colleagues were convinced. Following the e-ASPECTS module from Brainomix, we introduced e-CTA and, more recently, e-CTP. The only radiologist who should fear AI is one who doesn't embrace it.
Our partnership with the Angels Initiative in 2017/18 marked a turning point. Within a year of integrating Brainomix, we doubled our treatment numbers and significantly reduced door-to-needle times. In 2019, our hospital became the first in Italy to receive the ESO Angels Diamond award, maintaining our global leadership through collaboration and monitoring.
Angels and Stroke Education
In recent years, I've contributed to the Angels – Train The Trainer Project, conducting workshops in Germany for countries without Angels consultants, focusing on neuroimaging in stroke. I find great joy in working with international colleagues and learning from them. In 2024, we began stroke education in primary schools through the "Fast Heroes" program, teaching children aged 5-9 to recognize stroke symptoms and call emergency services.
Today, my radiology colleagues recognize AI as an integral part of our team, enhancing speed, accuracy, and report standardization. Our specialized Stroke Code CT protocol, incorporating AI, benefits both radiologists and clinicians. The protocol allows for thrombolysis in the CT room, freeing up time for direct communication.
Reflections on the Journey
I'm immensely proud of advocating for a specific stroke pathway, a Code stroke CT protocol with AI, result monitoring, simulations, and continuous education. Receiving the Angels "Spirit of Excellence in Stroke Care Award" in 2022 was a humbling experience. I'm grateful to my mentors, my partner, and my team for their unwavering support.
Today, stroke care offers remarkable results. Women are vital in developing protocols, education, and innovation. I hope to inspire young colleagues in neuroimaging, particularly in time-sensitive diseases, where their contributions are invaluable.
Stay tuned for more editions of Stroke Visionaries – Women at the Forefront.
