Radiology Department History at The Ohio State University

Wilhelm Röntgen discovered x-rays in 1895, and soon after in 1986, Thomas Edison developed the first fluoroscope.  These advancements marked the beginning of medical imaging.  Radiology's timeline has several key milestones such as the introduction of film in 1918, ultrasound in 1955, computed tomography in 1967, and MRI in 1972.

The Department of Radiology at the The Ohio State University has a long history of leadership in imaging.  In the early years it was likely a division of the Department of Surgery.  It formally appeared as a distinct department in the College of Medicine in 1947. 

The first Radiology Chairman was Dr. Hugh Means who took office in 1947, when the department began offering electives to medical students.

A towering figure in the department was Dr. William G. Myers, a pioneer in Nuclear Medicine.  He was known as the "godfather of cyclotron", and he introduced 11 radioisotopes including cobalt-60 for the treatment of cancer.  In 1952, he introduced Gold-198 for permanent brachytherapy seed implantation, contributing to his legacy as a leader in radioactive isotope applications in medicine.

In the 60s Dr. Sidney W. Nelson became the Chairman. He was a prominent radiologist recognized nationally, holding positions such as President of the Association of University Radiologist in 1965-66, and being was an examiner of the American Board of Radiology. A milestone for the department was that it hosted the 16th annual meeting of the Association of University Radiologists in 1968. Progress in the department continued when Dr. A Feimanis, A J Christoforidis and D. G. Spigos were Department Chairmen and Dr. Reinhard Gahbauer, Dr. John Olsen, and Dr. Charles Mueller were Division heads.  Their contributions will be discussed in future posts. 

The 1980s, the 1990s and the early years of the new century it was a period of technological advancements.  The department continued to lead in neuroimaging bringing the first 1.5T MRI in Ohio which was a precursor to the development of the first ultra-high-field 8 Tesla MRI unit in the world. It also was leader in ultrasound and interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation oncology.  In the 1994 and the department was transformed from a film based to a film-less after the introduction of digital imaging and PACS (picture archiving and communication software), first within the department, the intensive care units and the ED. Another important development was the offer of tele-radiology service to rural hospitals.  

This post is dedicated to Drs. Meyers and Nelson, whose hard work and innovations served as the cornerstones for the department's growth in the                                     decades that followed. 

Ohio State Medical Center - Chiefs of Staff

 2009 - Edward Levine / Internal Medicine-gastroenterology

Dr. Levine is a distinguished gastroenterologist with over 40 years of experience in the field. He earned his MD from the Ohio State University School of Medicine in 1981.  Following his graduation, he completed his internship, residency and fellowship in gastroenterology at OSUMC.  He further honed his experience with an additional fellowship at John's Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland.  

Throughout his career, Dr. Levine emphasized effective communication with the patients, attentively listening to their concerns and thoroughly informing them about their health.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Levine has held leadership roles, including serving as the Chief of Staff at the Ohio State University Hospital from 2009 to 2011 and as the Interim Division Director of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition from 2011 to 2013.

I have been fortunate to know and worked with Dr. Levine since I joined Ohio State Medical Center in 1992, and I remain grateful for the compassionate  care he provided to my family.

2007 - Amy Pope Harmon / Internal Medicine 

Dr. Harmon is a Professor Emerita at the Ohio State University. During the years she practiced was know for her expertise in Pulmonary Medicine and critical care. 

2005 - Scott Melvin / General Surgery

Dr. Scott Melvin is a Professor of Surgery and the Vice Chairman of the department at Montefiore Einstein University Hospital in the Bronx, New York City. He is nationally  recognized for the use of minimally invasive approaches to the management of gastrointestinal diseases.  He has published expensively in refereed journals about endoscopic treatment of diseases of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas as well as in patients with renal transplants. 

When I joined OSU, Dr. Melvin was a fellow in gastrointestinal surgery and later an attending. During the years I worked with him, I witnessed firsthand not only his exceptional competence, but also his deep compassion and genuine warmth toward patients and colleagues alike. Patients in the Bronx are truly fortunate to have Dr. Melvin caring for them.

2003 Garth Essig / Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Essig was born in the historic city of Longmont, Colorado, known for its outdoor beauty. He grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and completed his undergraduate studies at DePaul University and earned his MD degree from the Ohio School of Medicine.  He was an Obstetrician and Gynecologist for nearly 50 years at the OSUMC, where he dedicated his life to the medical education and clinical medicine. Over the course of his distinguished career. he taught over 9,000 medical students and delivered almost 10,000 children.  Dr. Essig sadly passed away at the age of 80 in 2016. 

This post is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Garth Essig, a remarkable physician and an even more remarkable human being. Those of us who had the privilege of knowing him admired his wisdom, his kindness, and his unwavering dedication to his patients and colleagues. We were truly fortunate to call him not only a colleague, but a friend. His compassion, integrity, and generosity of spirit left a lasting mark on all of us. Dr. Essig is deeply missed, and his legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched.  

OSUMC Chiefs of Staff

 2017 - Jon Walker / Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology

Dr. Walker joined Ohio Gastroenterology Group, Inc in 2019. He earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati and subsequently completed his residency and fellowship at Ohio University. He completed an Advanced Endoscopy fellowship at the Medical College of South Carolina. 

2015 - Elmahdi Elkhammas - Surgery transplants

Dr. Elkhammas is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Surgery at the Ohio State University, effective September 1, 2020.  Dr. Elkhammas completed his surgery residency at the OSUMC from 1987 to 1991.  He then joint the faculty and became a prominent transplant surgeon, and published research in the field. Upon his retirement he commutes to his home country Libya, and he is involved in quality, ethics, and medical education issues.

2013 - Douglas Sharre - Neurology

Dr. Sharre is a Clinical Professor of Neurology and the Medical Director of the Cognitive and Memory Disorders at the Ohio State University. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal lobar degenerations.  Dr. Sharre is among the experts in his field.  His patients appreciate his concern and his quiet demeanor.

2011 - Patrick Vaccaro - Vascular Surgery

Dr. Vaccaro received his MD degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.  Dr. Vaccaro is affiliated with several hospitals in Columbus, including James Cancer Hospital and Nationwide Children's.

     This post is dedicated to past and future OSUMC Chiefs of Staff