We are excited to introduce this newsletter to highlight our department’s educational achievements, groundbreaking research, and clinical breakthroughs. This report will serve as a hub for our faculty, staff, residents, and students to stay informed, celebrated, and connected. Our goal is to foster an environment of collaboration and excellence. We encourage you to share your own successes, research breakthroughs, or news with us for future editions. Thank you for your dedication to patient care, education, and innovative research. We hope you find this newsletter informative and inspiring.

_{Christopher Whitlow, MD, PhD, MHA
Chair, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging}

Eighteen faculty members of the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging are among the “Top Doctors,” according to Connecticut Magazine’s 2026 list. The yearly list is created with the health research firm Castle Connolly and recognizes top physicians in Connecticut in many specialties, as nominated by other doctors.

The Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging welcomed 20 new residents on Match Day 2026. Our residents come from a wide range of backgrounds and bring their own unique experiences and perspectives to Yale School of Medicine.

The Department of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering was awarded $32 million in grants in fiscal year 2025, a 24% increase over the previous year. It marked the third consecutive year the department has seen a substantial increase in grants awarded.

In FY 2023, the department was awarded $21,493,107 in grants. Fiscal year 2024 saw that number grown to $26,290,958, a 22% increase. Then in FY 2025, awarded grants rose to by another 24% to $32,707,023.

The American Society of Spine Radiology (ASSR) recognized Michele H. Johnson, MD, professor of radiology and biomedical imaging and of neurosurgery, with its Gold Medal Professor Award. The award is the society's highest honor.

Liane Philpotts, MD, FACR, professor of radiology and biomedical imaging, has been chosen for the American Roentgen Ray Society AJR Silver Reviewer Lifetime Achievement Award for completing over 50 high-quality reviews with an average reviewer score of equal to or greater than 3.5. She was honored April 13 at the Journal Luncheon of the AARS Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh.

Reni Butler, MD, professor of radiology and biomedical imaging, was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Radiology at their annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in early May. One of ACR's highest honors, it recognizes achievements in radiology, radiation oncology, or medical physics.

How should we be teaching Hospital Residents in 2026? Mahan Mathur, MD, associate professor of radiology and biomedical imaging, and Billy Chien, MD, radiology resident, spoke with Maddi Wulfeck, MD, and Jeff Waltz, MD, of the Contrast and Clarity Podcast of the Journal of the American College of Radiology. They unpacked what the future of training could look like, including: social media as a legitimate educational tool; AI-powered feedback platforms and “precision education”; peer learning models reshaping safety culture; and, flipped classrooms and spaced-repetition learning.

Luca Pasquini, MD, PhD, assistant professor of radiology and biomedical imaging, was the scheduled keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Japan Society of Neuroradiology on Feb. 20 in Nagoya. His topic was, “Clinical Applications of fMRI: Mapping Function, Guiding Treatment, and Shaping Outcomes.” The invitation stemmed from Pasquini’s ongoing collaboration with the Japanese neuroscience community to foster fMRI education and explore avenues for shared research on neuroplasticity.

Jason Johnson, MD, MBA, DABR, associate professor of radiology and biomedical imaging, and section chief, Neuroradiology, recently presented research at the European Society of Radiology from his IRB-approved protocol "Retrospective Analysis of Fetal Imaging: Ultrasound and MRI Utilization Patterns, Demographic Features, and Diagnostic Accuracy.” In addition, Johnson and Luca Pasquini, MD, PhD, are recipients of a three-year, $900,000 grant from the NIH’s SBIR Development Center

Saeed Rahmani, MD, clinical fellow, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, presented at the American Roentgen Ray Society annual meeting in Pittsburgh in April. His topic was, “Non-Contrast Resting-State fMRI for Mapping Language Dysfunction and Compensation in Brain Tumor Patients.”

Erika Bustos is now serving as the chief of staff/supervisor. In this role, Erika will serve as a senior aide to the chair, managing the flow of information and overseeing the daily administrative operations of the chair’s office, among other responsibilities.

Andrea Duarte is retiring from her position as senior administrative assistant after 27 years of dedication and excellence. She has been a cornerstone of our department, and her knowledge, consistency, and commitment have made a lasting impact. We also said goodbye to senior administrative assistants Linda Borer and Angela Thigpen who each retired after providing many years of dedicated service to radiology. The three were feted at a May 6 retirement breakfast at The Anlyan Center. We wish them well in the next chapter of their lives.

_{In photo, Angela Thigpen, left, and Linda Borer, at their retirement celebration.}