U-M RADIOLOGY RETIREES 2020-25

Richard K. J. Brown, MD

Clinical Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine

Ronald O. Bude, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Abdominal Imaging

Ruth C. Carlos, MD, MS

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Abdominal Imaging

Heang-Ping Chan, PhD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, CAD-AI Radiology Research

Richard H. Cohan, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Abdominal Imaging

Narasimham L. Dasika, MD

Clinical Associate Professor, Radiology, Interventional Radiology

Ben A. Dwamena, MB, ChB

Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine

James H. Ellis, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Abdominal Imaging

Isaac R. Francis, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Abdominal Imaging

Stephen S. Gebarski, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Neuroradiology

Joseph J. Gemmete, MD

Clinical Professor, Radiology, Interventional Radiology

Mitchell M. Goodsitt, PhD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Medical Physics

Milton D. Gross, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine

Mark A. Helvie, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Breast Imaging

Deborah O. Jeffries, MD

Clinical Associate Professor, Radiology, Breast Imaging

Doug L. Miller, PhD

Research Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Basic Radiological Sciences

Morand R. Piert, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine

Douglas J. Quint, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Neuroradiology

Leslie E. Quint, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Cardiothoracic Imaging

Marcian E. Van Dort, PhD

Research Associate Professor Emeritus, Radiology, CMI Radiological Research

David M. Williams, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology, Interventional Radiology

We reached out to our recent retirees to hear their reflections on time spent at U-M Radiology, and to learn what they are doing now. The responses illustrated the depth, creativity and commitment of our faculty, and the respect and admiration of their peers and trainees. Profiles follow for all who chose to participate.

Richard K. J. Brown, MD

Clinical Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Nuclear Medicine

Years of service: 2004–2020

Favorite aspect of working in department: We have an incredible department with amazing people. I love working with the residents and watching them advance in their careers. I also enjoy the esprit de corps among the faculty.

Memorable roles during your career: I have served in numerous roles during my career, including chief of a private practice group and Vice Chair of Operations at a major academic medical center, and I have been involved in several company start-ups. However, the role that has brought me the most joy is that of being an educator. I still keep in contact with many of our former residents and have watched a number of them become leaders in our field.

Advice for our trainees: The best advice I can give is the advice Dr. Dunnick gave me when I joined the faculty. I asked him, “What do I need to do to be successful in academics?” He responded, “Stay curious and be engaged!” The other advice is to always be learning!

Pleasures of retirement: Retirement? Not sure what that means.

Thoughts from colleagues: Dr. Brown is a highly engaged teacher and mentor and has helped many residents through challenging times. He also has helped many residents prepare for boards with insightful case-based teaching. He is optimistic, creative, and always up for a walk!

Ronald O. Bude, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Abdominal Imaging

Years of service: 1990–2022

Favorite aspects of working in department: The presence of Jon Rubin as a mentor in my early career, and the collegiality, friendliness, and helpfulness of the department.

Memorable roles during your career: Institutionally I enjoyed the roles of researcher and teacher. I never aspired to any sort of national role. I could not have cared less about that sort of thing.

Advice for our trainees: Work hard. Long hours are OK. But go to work early when your kids are in bed and go home at 5 PM to spend time with your family.

Pleasures of retirement: I’m researching ancient coins, just having completed an 80,000 GBP grant to study them with muons at the Rutherford Lab in Oxfordshire to determine composition non-invasively. I’m also studying ancient coins and archeological artifacts with the toys available to me on North Campus (electron microscopy and micro-CT) using my self funded research account, leading to publications.

Fulfilling a childhood urge, I obtained an ATF license to legally make display fireworks (the really big kind). I’m also enjoying cycling, getting up and going to bed when I want to, not when I have to, and shaving only when I really need to. Simply put, there is just not enough time in a day.

Thoughts from colleagues: Dr. Bude is intellectually curious, always ready to think, discuss, and learn, and never takes himself too seriously. He is one of the best teachers most of us will ever encounter, with an amazing ability to meet residents right at the edge of their knowledge, and take them further.

Ruth C. Carlos, MD, MS

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Abdominal Imaging

Years of service: 1997–2024

Favorite aspect of working in department: Among clinical days at the U-M, serving at the VA was a highlight. This was a unique clinical population that chose to be there for their care and were respectful of the healthcare team. At the end of the day I always felt like I did good medicine.

Memorable roles during your career: I served on the U-M Senate Advisory Committee for University Affairs (SACUA) at the time of the 2016 election and subsequently, a tumultuous time on campus. I held and represented faculty perspectives even when they diverged from student and administrative perspectives, and gained understanding of the medical center as part of the larger university.

Advice for our trainees: Institutions have culture, find one that fits you.

Pleasures of retirement: I’m not retiring from professional practice, and will be moving to NYC to become Vice Chair of Faculty Development at Columbia Radiology.

Thoughts from colleagues: Dr. Carlos has an expansive view of the big picture in our field and took pleasure in wide ranging talks in the reading room, expanding our trainees’ horizons. She is an accomplished mentor and helped many trainees and faculty further their careers both at Michigan and nationally.

Richard H. Cohan, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Abdominal Imaging

Years of service: 1992–2021

Favorite aspects of working in department: Working with the residents and faculty, banter in the CT reading room.

Memorable roles during your career: President of the Society of Uroradiology (SUR) and Chair of the American College of Radiology (ACR) contrast committee.

Advice for our trainees: Work with people you like. Pay attention to your personal lives and maintain a balance in your work and personal lives.

Pleasures of retirement: Piano lessons, spending time with friends and family.

Thoughts from colleagues: “Cases are piling!” Dr. Cohan’s playful sense of humor makes him such a pleasure to work with. He is a natural teacher and always makes students, residents and fellows feel comfortable, creating an atmosphere where they can learn.

James H. Ellis, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Abdominal Imaging

Years of service: 1984–2022

Favorite part of work: The best part is working with the people. Staff, residents, and faculty have all taught me a lot about radiology and life. Our philosophy of striving for excellence in all we do makes coming to work a pleasure.

Career highlights: It was a special honor to be named to the Board of Directors of the Society of Uroradiology (SUR), leading eventually to a year as president of that organization. (The SUR later merged with the Society of Gastrointestinal Radiologists to become the Society of Abdominal Radiology). The SUR was important to me when I was starting out on an academic career; I made contacts, met some mentors, was invited to give talks (which was a good experience), and it was helpful in focusing my research efforts. I was grateful that I could pay something back by donating my time in administration of the society, and I was honored to be entrusted to do so.

Another special honor was being named the William Martel Collegiate Professor of Radiology for a five-year term. The professorship honored a long-time U-M faculty with whom I had a long and fruitful relationship. Bill Martel taught me when I was a medical student here at U-M and watching him at work confirmed for me my choice of radiology as a specialty. Later, when he was department chair, he recruited me to return to U-M as a faculty member and mentored me early in my career. Without Bill, I likely would have spent my career elsewhere, and I doubt it would have been as fulfilling as my time at U-M.

Advice for our trainees: Question everything and challenge dogma when needed (I wish I had done more of that). Find someone in their mid-career who is dynamic and thoughtful to be a mentor. Find some focus to be enthusiastic about and become a leader in that sphere, whether clinical, research, teaching, or administration – it will be a value to you and to your department. And take what we senior people say with a large grain of salt!

Pleasures of retirement: Retirement is a bit more relaxed than working every day, that’s for sure. We have a place up North and can spend more time there. (However, with the internet, one is never very far away.) I plan to do some catch-up on reading for pleasure.

Thoughts from colleagues: Despite his intellect, erudition, and experience, Dr. Ellis is unfailingly modest and courteous. His optimistic outlook and willingness to help have made him a cherished colleague and teacher. He is one of the most careful and particular readers (of a radiograph or a manuscript) that you will find, and a great role model in so many respects!

Isaac R. Francis, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Abdominal Imaging

Years of service: 1981–2022

Favorite part of work: Outstanding helpful faculty members and other personnel to work with. I appreciated knowing that Division members were always willing to help me.

Career highlights: Membership and leadership roles in Society of Advanced Body Imaging (SABI), Society of Abdominal Radiology (SAR), International Cancer Imaging Society.

Advice for our trainees: Work hard. Treat others as you expect them to treat you.

Pleasures of retirement: Spending time with my wife Marina and our daughters. Visiting my mom in India. Travel.

Thoughts from colleagues: Dr. Francis made it a point to check in on the “late guy” (5-6 pm coverage) in the Body CT reading room before heading home for the night. This was a kind gesture of moral support that everyone appreciated, a small but significant way of fostering a sense of camaraderie and ensuring that no one felt isolated during those quieter, often challenging late shifts. He was always willing to offer advice to younger colleagues and generously helped them navigate tricky situations in research and professional societies. He was a trusted mentor and source of wisdom, making him a well loved and respected figure within the team, someone who could always be counted on for professional advice and personal encouragement.

Mitchell M. Goodsitt, PhD, DABR

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Medical Physics

Years of service: 1992–2023

Favorite aspects of working in our department: Two contributions to the department of radiology that I am especially proud of are establishing a first-class quality control team for testing all of the x-ray equipment in our hospitals and clinics and directing a comprehensive course on the Physics of Diagnostic Radiology for residents and nuclear engineering and radiological sciences (NERS) graduate students.

I trained many post-doctoral fellows in clinical medical physics, two of whom (Manos Christodoulou, PhD, and Sandra Larson, PhD) were hired as Diagnostic Physicists in our department and have remained here for over 20 years. Together, we published the first paper on the accuracies of the synthesized monochromatic CT numbers and effective atomic numbers obtained with a rapid kVp switching dual-energy CT scanner.

I enjoyed working on many research projects. I will highlight three. 1) I worked with Paul Carson, PhD and researchers at GE, to develop and evaluate a prototype combined 3D x-ray (digital breast tomosynthesis(DBT)) and 3D ultrasound (automated whole-breast ultrasound (ABUS)) system for imaging the breast in the same geometry. This system facilitated one-toone correspondences between masses detected with each modality. 2) Heang-Ping Chan, PhD and I experimentally evaluated the effects of DBT acquisition geometry on the perception of masses and detection of microcalcifications in images of the breast. The ability to vary acquisition geometry was a unique feature of the prototype system, not available on commercial units. We found that wide tomosynthesis angles enabled better perception of masses; whereas, narrow tomosynthesis angles enabled improved detection of microcalcifications. 3) One of my graduate students, Crystal Green of the NERS department, and I investigated an alternative to the combined system which involved imaging the breast with DBT and ABUS in their normal geometries (vertical and supine, respectively) and then using deformable mapping to relate corresponding masses in the x-ray and ultrasound images. Her PhD thesis received a ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award in recognition of its exceptional scholarly work.

Memorable roles during my career: I was honored to serve as Imaging Physics editor of the journal Medical Physics for 7 years, scientific program co-director and director for annual American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) meetings (each twice), and as an Expert in Diagnostic Radiology Physics for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). I was the sole Medical Physics member of the Data Safety and Monitoring Committee for the ACR Digital Mammography Imaging Screening trial (DMIST), a member of the National Mammography Quality Assurance Advisory Committee (NMQAAC) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), co-chair of the AAPM Tomosynthesis subcommittee, and co-chair of the AAPM Ultrasound subcommittee and chair of the AAPM Working Group on Quantitative B-mode Ultrasound QC development (first author of “Real-time B-mode ultrasound quality control test procedures; Report of AAPM Ultrasound Task Group No. 1,” which was published in 1998 and remains a standard reference in this field). I am especially proud of being elected a fellow of the AAPM in 2004.

Advice for our trainees: I would stress volunteering in your areas of expertise. It is often possible to attend the meetings of subcommittees, task groups, and working groups of your professional societies initially as a guest. To become better known at these meetings, I would recommend speaking up, and volunteering to help with specific projects. In doing so, it is important that you be meticulous and comprehensive in your work. Societies need volunteers to succeed, and they are always looking for volunteers. There are many opportunities. You just have to seek them out.

Pleasures of retirement: I enjoy continuing to be active in the AAPM Tomosynthesis and Ultrasound subcommittees and task groups. In addition, I am a senior editor of the British Journal of Radiology/Artificial Intelligence and review papers for several journals. I present lectures and assist with a lab in a Medical Technology Management Institute (MTMI) Hands-on Ultrasound Physics Workshop led by Brian Fowlkes, PhD of our department. I have offered to volunteer at the Electric Vehicle Center at the University of Michigan, which is another of my interests. I plan to do other volunteer work to assist refugees and perhaps at the Humane Society. My wife, Barb, and I are also eager to travel more. In retirement, I have more time to spend with our 4 grandchildren, which is wonderful. I also have more time to walk our dog, which is enjoyable.

Thoughts from colleagues: Dr. Goodsitt is friendly and accessible and had a genuine interest in making physics understandable and approachable for diagnostic radiologists. His insights in CT Operations and other department committees were invaluable. He is a meticulous person with intellectual integrity, but his training and scientific rigor are combined with a gentle demeanor that makes people feel comfortable asking questions, seeking more understanding.

Milton D. Gross, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Nuclear Medicine

Years of service: 1974–2019

Favorite aspect of working in department: Although COVID has presented some real challenges for me, I think that my favorite aspect of working in the department is being able to maintain relationships with colleagues and staff.

Memorable roles during your career: I have been fortunate to have participated in nuclear medicine administration at the local level as the Chief, Nuclear Medicine Service at the Ann Arbor VA (1980-2019), as the National Program Director, Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Safety Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C (1990-2016) and throughout that time as a member of the faculty in Radiology and Internal Medicine (Endocrinology). It was an honor and a great privilege to have served in those roles and I was particularly fortunate to have benefited from the support, dedication and expertise of fantastic mentors, friends, colleagues and staff.

Advice for our trainees: Surround yourself with mentors and role models, find colleagues with shared interests, become a contributing/active member of a team(s), accept/seek criticism of your work and try not to let educational debt make decisions for you.

Pleasures of retirement: Having more control over my time has been a real benefit of retirement. Spending more time with family, especially with my grandchildren has been great, and I’m enjoying golf, gardening, concerts, and sports events. Being able to spend more time at our cottage on Lake Michigan has been therapeutic, and now I’m looking forward to finding a warmer place to shelter from Michigan winters.

Thoughts from colleagues: Dr. Gross is always willing to share his expertise on imaging of adrenal and thyroid disorders. He has been a mentor to many, including faculty, staff, and trainees. He took particular interest in ensuring that trainees were able to find faculty positions at the end of their fellowship. His knowledge, work ethic, and good cheer are unforgettable!

Mark A. Helvie, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Breast Imaging

Years of service: 1987–2022

Favorite aspect of working in department: I liked it all! Good colleagues in Radiology and in the Breast Care Center. I enjoyed clinical care and research, and the short 10–15 minute commute to the hospital. It was a good place to be a doctor.

Memorable roles during your career: Working at the National Cancer Care Network (NCCN) for many years developing guidelines for breast cancer care, nationally and internationally. Great group of people at NCCN.

Advice for our trainees: Go with your passion and work hard at what you like.

Pleasures of retirement: It’s been an easy transition. I do the same things I did in my free time before retiring, but have more time to do it. I like having more time! We work hard as doctors so having more free time in retirement is really nice. I’m still involved in the NCCN, which I enjoy. I enjoy my hobbies - gardening, wood working, and biking. I have 4 kids and 5 grandkids to visit, and my mother in law. We travel to Boston, Philadelphia, Virginia, Washington DC, Nebraska, and Florida regularly.

Thoughts from colleagues: Dr. Helvie has an incredible command of the research and statistics supporting breast cancer screening, and actively pursued a mission to save women’s lives by sharing this information. He is an outstanding teacher who had an impact on generations of residents, teaching them to be meticulous, methodical, and evidence based.

Deborah O. Jeffries, MD

Clinical Associate Professor, Radiology

Breast Imaging

Years of service: 2007–2023

Favorite aspects of working in department: I really appreciate the teamwork and camaraderie between faculty and staff, including technologists, clerical staff, nurses, and others. Both the friendship and professional helpfulness with patient care issues were amazing; people were always happy to help. It got me through the stressful days. Working directly with patients and being able to help people when they were facing difficult circumstances was very meaningful. I loved being able to practice breast imaging at the highest level, to provide the best possible care to patients.

Memorable roles during your career: Teaching the residents and fellows. It was gratifying and an honor to be asked to give resident board review.

Advice for our trainees: If things are no longer working for you, in life or career, don’t be afraid to make a change. Advocate for a change in the workplace or make a change for yourself by moving on. Don’t measure yourself by comparing yourself to other peoples’ goals and accomplishments. We all have different gifts and challenges. Be true to yourself.

Pleasures of retirement: More time for travel and family. We spent a month in New Zealand last February. I have time to be with my grandchildren and 89-year-old mother regularly. I reconnected with music after 40 years (clarinet). I played in the Ann Arbor Civic Band this summer (and as an added bonus made a new friend there). I now have regular lunch dates with other retired breast imaging friends I used to rarely see socially. I hope to start reading for fun again soon.

Thoughts from colleagues: Dr. Jeffries is a tireless advocate for her patients, and would always go the extra mile to make sure that everything was done correctly for their care. She is an excellent breast imager and colleague.

Doug L. Miller, PhD

Research Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Basic Radiological Sciences

Years of service: 1998–2022

Favorite aspect of working in department: The Basic Radiological science group was a perfect match. My main interest was ultrasound radiation biology. This group has lots of ultrasound machines I could use and interest in medical ultrasound safety. This was also a nice group with good interactions.

Memorable roles during your career: I enjoyed working with my lab staff who had medical degrees from China, including Chunyan Dou who was particularly skilled in animal research procedures.

I am honored to have worked in Scientific Committee No. 66 of the National Committee on Radiation Protection working on ultrasound physics and bioeffects which was chaired by my former mentor Prof. W. L. Nyborg. In addition, my long term involvement in the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Bioeffects Committee is a satisfying scientific activity and I’m still working on clinical ultrasound safety projects in my retirement.

Advice for our trainees: Young scientists in clinical bioeffects research should assume that all the existing guidelines are not good and just dig deeper to get it right.

Pleasures of retirement: Retirement was a crazy time getting married, moving, wrapping up work and suddenly trying to figure out what’s next. I like traveling (for enjoyment, not to a science meeting) as shown in the photo from a trip to Ireland (and I’ve also been to Peru, Egypt, Portugal, and Italy). I also enjoy having time to garden, golf, and play pickleball.

Thoughts from colleagues: Never have I met a more diligent scientist and kind person. So many years of superb research and dedication to our field of ultrasound, as a major leader in ultrasound safety, to the benefit of all of our patients. These points come as no surprise to anyone who knows him. What many folks don’t know is his lifelong love for riding Harley Davidson hogs!

Morand R. Piert, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Nuclear Medicine

Years of service: 2004–2023

Favorite aspect of working in department: Being part of an innovative group fostering Nuclear Medicine radiotracer development from bench to bedside.

Memorable roles during your career: Leading the clinical implementation of prostate cancer theranostics at the University of Michigan.

Advice for our trainees: Never give up your dreams.

Pleasures of retirement: Being a traveling photographer, digital and physical painting.

Thoughts from colleagues: Dr. Piert is very generous with his time, engaging junior faculty in discussions on research ideas and the current topics of the time. He is always looking for ideas and projects to help them out, and is a great sounding board. Every week, he headed the teaching case correlation morning meetings presenting a wide range of interesting and challenging Nuclear Medicine cases, a tradition that continues to this day. His dry sense of humor is infectious and makes the day’s work fun.

Leslie E. Quint, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Cardiothoracic Imaging

Years of service: 1982–2021

Favorite aspect of working in department: I enjoyed representing Radiology at multidisciplinary patient care conferences, exploring the findings on each individual patient’s imaging studies in the context of the clinical scenario.

Memorable roles during your career: President of SCBT/MR (now called SABI: Society for Advanced Body Imaging).

Advice for our trainees: Find a subspecialty and/or role that you love and that gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I fell in love with chest/body CT scanning and with multidisciplinary patient care conferences as a junior resident and never looked back!

Pleasures of retirement: Traveling with family, volunteering at local charitable organizations, and making new friends in the neighborhood while walking the dog.

Thoughts from colleagues: Going ‘above and beyond’ was the norm for Leslie. She knew (and taught her trainees) that the radiologist’s ‘customers’ were both the patient and the ordering clinician. She always explained the ‘why’ behind her interpretation, and understood the value of talking to the clinician when nuance was important, long before the phrase ‘closing the loop’ was coined. She made me a better doctor.

My favorite quote from Leslie is “Reading lung nodule scans can be like watching the grass grow”. The case examples she shared with us in the division meetings reinforced the importance of always going back to the most remote scans. She has made our division stronger in so many ways.

Douglas J. Quint, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Neuroradiology

Years of service: 1988–2021

Favorite aspect of working in department: Teaching, especially 1-on-1 procedural teaching. Seeing trainee progress from being fearful about performing a myelogram or angiogram to becoming competent and accomplished was always a pleasure. I also enjoyed participating in the interdisciplinary conferences with multiple clinical departments and resident noon conferences.

Another favorite thing was the radiology softball team — I was a team member from my very early days in the department until the team ended in 2005 or 2006 and saw many faculty and trainees come and go. At the end, I was one of the few faculty on the team, with most team members being trainees.

Memorable roles during your career: At the national level, I enjoyed being an oral board examiner for the ABR. I liked being able to make the examinees feel at ease and comfortable, so I could really figure out what they knew. After showing a few cases I was usually able to tell if an examinee would pass or they were going to have difficulty.

At the institutional level I enjoyed serving on the hospital legal committee. I learned a lot about how the system works and how troubles occurred though my work on this committee. Members of the committee were open and honest, even when mistakes were made. The committee tried to get to the bottom of lawsuits and sentinel events and then make improvements to the system, which was gratifying.

Advice for our trainees: Pursue a career path you enjoy, and don’t do something for just financial reasons. Young radiologists should become part of the system in which they work, through their activities at work. They should get to know clinicians in other departments and administrators. Becoming more known at your institution gives you more credibility, rather than just being a name on a report.

Pleasures of retirement: No longer having to carry a pager or worry about worklists! I’ve had the opportunity to make new friends in the neighborhood, with people I wouldn’t necessarily have had contact with when I was working. We’ve enjoyed the opportunity to travel and plan to continue this as long as we are able. Trips have included Easter Island and the Galapagos Islands as well as closer locations, including a recent trip to Saugatuck, MI. I’m active, playing tennis and have become more involved in biking. I plan to live in Ann Arbor indefinitely, and enjoy having time to make the most of U of M, including football, hockey and basketball games, theater events and talks on campus.

Thoughts from colleagues: “This is a great example of whatever it is!” Doug was a quintessential (pun intended) teacher, advisor and friend in the division. He always kept his cool, provided lots of hands-on training opportunities for trainees and junior faculty and encouraged healthy discussions. Doug was always willing to discuss a difficult case or the best approach to a procedure. He was friendly to everyone, a great teacher and the type of colleague everyone hopes to have.

Marcian E. Van Dort, PhD

Research Associate Professor Emeritus, Radiology

CMI Radiological Research

Years of service: 2009–2020

Favorite aspect of working in department: Availability of continuous research funding and state of the art instrumentation. Collaboration opportunities with faculty members.

Memorable roles during your career: Mentoring students and junior faculty.

Advice for our trainees: Find what you enjoy most and work hard at it.

Pleasures of retirement: Spending time with the grandkids, gardening, Reading, listening to music, keeping up with latest advancements in scientific research.

Thoughts from colleagues: As a colleague, Marcian was mild mannered and great to work together with. He was creative, effective and committed to excellence.

David M. Williams, MD

Professor Emeritus, Radiology

Interventional Radiology

Years of service: 1979–2023

Favorite aspect of working in department: Excellent colleagues in IR, vascular surgery, and cardiovascular surgery. I had a wonderful 44 years.

Memorable roles during your career: Dotter lecturer, on the plane when the flight was cancelled on 9/11. Tegtmeyer lecturer, 2021 and Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) gold medalist, 2021.

Advice for our trainees: Ally yourself with clinicians interested in the same medical conditions you are, and work on the frontier together.

Pleasures of retirement: I have half a dozen projects I want to publish before I snip the suture, and then hope to travel with my wife.

Thoughts from colleagues: Dr. Williams’ devotion to patient and physician education is evident. His ability to explain medical complexities in clear terms empowers patients to actively engage in their health decisions, fostering a trusting environment. His impact isn’t limited to his immediate reach; his influence extends to training the next generation of healthcare providers, including surgeons, interventionalists, and medical colleagues. His legacy exponentially enhances patient outcomes, not only within our institution but across the state, nation, and the world.

A recent patient said, “Dr. Williams is not only an exceptional physician but also a remarkable individual. He is a special physician, but an even more special man, leaving a lasting impact on the lives he touches.”