“The people here are dedicated. They are intelligent and caring and are people I am proud to work alongside,” says Dr. David Sopko when discussing his Raleigh Radiology (RR) colleagues. “They are always looking to improve themselves and the practice,” he continues, “Always improving their skill sets for the benefit of patients, first and foremost, but also to improve the quality of what we provide as a practice.” Growing up in Ohio, he bucked local football fan trends and attended Notre Dame as an undergraduate but returned to Ohio for medical school. David and his family have lived in Raleigh since 2008, and he loves the weather and the proximity to different ‘environments’ where he can enjoy golf, hiking, and running. “There are plenty of ‘green spaces’ in the area; the lakes, greenways, and hiking trails are a great asset,” he says, “plus Raleigh is well-connected to US and International travel.” The ease of travel is valuable to him, as David and his family look forward to future trips to Ireland and Florence, Italy, where his son will study abroad. David fits easily into his role at Raleigh Radiology because, as he said of his colleagues, he always puts the patient’s needs first. “It is important when my patients leave a consult that they don’t feel dictated to; I want them to feel educated about the condition they are dealing with and the procedure offered,” says David, adding, “I want them to understand what I, and potentially other specialties, have to offer and how one option may be superior.” He knows that sometimes the procedure he offers as an interventional radiologist is the best option, but sometimes, the patient may have a better medical option for their particular situation. “The goal,” David emphasizes, “is for the patient to leave educated about their condition and know all the options at their disposal.” Dr. Sopko relies on an extensive network of colleagues inside and outside of RR and isn't afraid to draw on them for additional knowledge, expertise, and opinions to improve his ability to provide the best care. “I am proud of our vision at Raleigh Radiology of providing excellent service to our patients and the referring doctors we partner with in the community.”