The Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences recently welcomed faculty with secondary appointments from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Vanderbilt University departments of Anesthesiology and Biomedical Engineering (BME).
Anesthesiology faculty Dr. Jason Lane and BME faculty Drs. Michael King and Matthew Walker III received secondary appointments as a result of their ongoing academic and research collaboration with Radiology.
“Secondary appointments are an important symbol of partnership and commitment to working together,” said Reed Omary, M.D., M.S., Carol D. and Henry P. Pendergrass Professor and Chair, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences. “It’s a great way to bring more diversity and expertise to all that we do across VUMC.”
Jason Lane, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, is the medical director for non-operating room anesthesia services at VUMC. In his role, he works closely with Radiology department and faculty, including Interventional Radiology (IR) section chief Filip Banovac, M.D., to provide anesthesia support for patients undergoing radiology procedures.
“As new interventional radiologic procedures have been created, we have found a need to establish a closer working relationship between the departments of Radiology and Anesthesiology,” said Dr. Lane. “A joint appointment in the Department of Radiology will allow me to better understand the issues, needs and trajectory of Radiology with regards to needs for anesthesia support and novel procedures coming down the IR pipeline.”
Michael King, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of BME and J. Lawrence Wilson Professor of Engineering, collaborates with faculty in VUMC and the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science (VUIIS) on research around preclinical imaging of cancer metastasis and nanoparticle-based theranostics to locate and treat disseminated tumor cells and micrometastases.
“There are so many synergistic areas of interest between biomedical engineering and radiology – from the design and innovation of new imaging technologies to translation and implementation in the clinical setting,” said Dr. King. “Together with our shared faculty in VUIIS, we have a world class assembly of leaders in the imaging technology field. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Radiology to help make new breakthroughs in medicine and train the next generation of researchers and medical practitioners.”
In his role as Associate Professor of the Practice of BME, Matthew Walker III, Ph.D., works across departments in VUMC, the university and biotechnology/medical device industries to develop and implement innovative biotech design curriculum. His research includes the development of nano- and micro-particle delivery systems and biomedical imaging devices.
“I am delighted to be appointed to Radiology and Radiological Sciences, and appreciate the opportunity to help VUMC broaden its innovation stroke with an industry-academic hybrid design-thinking that becomes weaved into the fabric of care standards,” said Dr. Walker. “I look forward to working with Radiology faculty and trainees as they lead the way to a new educational model of an innovation activism ecosystem at VUMC and beyond.”
“Drs. Lane, King and Walker contribute so much to their respective departments,” added Dr. Omary. “I am excited that they will be sharing their tremendous expertise with Radiology faculty and trainees in the future.”
