Seth Smith, PhD, Associate Director of the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science (VUIIS), has been promoted to Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences.
Dr. Smith joined Vanderbilt as faculty in the Department of Radiology in 2009, and currently serves as Director of the Human Imaging Core at VUIIS.
“Congratulations to Dr. Smith on his well-deserved promotion to full professor,” said Reed Omary, MD, MS, Carol D. and Henry P. Pendergrass Professor and Chair, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences. “He has made many impactful contributions to our Department and the Medical Center, as well as globally for imaging science.”
“Dr. Smith has emerged as a natural leader, outstanding scientist and institutional citizen,” added John Gore, PhD, Professor of Radiology and Director of VUIIS. “He is responsible for much of the success of our programs, staff and trainees, and he thoroughly deserves this recognition"
Dr. Smith’s research is focused on translation of advanced, quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods into the study of human diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis and Optic Neuropathies, developing advanced, clinically-relevant MRI to evaluate the spinal cord and optic nerves at both high- and low-field strengths. He is currently a Principal and Co- Investigator on four NIH-funded R01 grants, and two foundation grants. In addition, he has published more than 100 articles in leading journals such as the American Journal of Neuroradiology, Radiology and NeuroImage. As a result of his research in spinal cord imaging, Dr. Smith received a 2018 Distinguished Investigator Award by the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research.
“I want to express my deepest appreciation to all who have supported me on this journey,” said Dr. Smith. “I am grateful to so many individuals, as well as the encouragement from colleagues in VUIIS, Radiology, Biomedical Engineering, Ophthalmology.”
Since coming to Vanderbilt, Dr. Smith has been recognized for his contributions in research and education at Vanderbilt University and the Medical Center. He has held secondary faculty appointments in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Physics, and Ophthalmology. And in 2017, was named to the 2017 class of Chancellor Faculty Fellows.
Dr. Smith earned his PhD in Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University in the F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and subsequently joined the faculty in the Johns Hopkins Department of Radiology. He remains actively involved in professional organizations, including the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, the American Academy of Neurology and the Radiological Society of North America.
