The evolution of abdominal progressed from basic x-rays to highly detailed, functional, and real time visualizations. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, abdominal imaging relied on plain radiographs, which could detect bowel obstruction, free air, calcifications and some foreign bodies, but had limited soft-tissue detail. Starting in the mid-1900s, barium allowed for better visualization of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small and large bowel. Additionally, intravenous pyelography improved visualization of the urinary system. In the 1960s, ultrasound, a radiation free modality, became useful for the detection of gallbladder disease, liver pathology, ascites, hydronephrosis, and became the primary diagnostic modality in obstetrical imaging. In the mid-1970s and onward, computed tomography (CT) revolutionised abdominal imaging by provided cross-sectional detail. It became the key tool for trauma, appendicitis, pancreatitis, staging for malignancies, and vascular disease. In the 1880s and onward, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offered superior tissue imaging without ionising radiation. It was found to be useful for lesions of the liver, biliary tree, and for imaging of the pancreas an organ which is difficult to image. In the 1990s, CT angiography, CT and MR enterography, and image-guided biopsies and drainages expanded both diagnosis and treatment. Recently Virtual Colonoscopy, a less invasive method used to check for cancer of the colon has been added to the diagnostic armamentarium.
James Bova was born in 1947 in Cincinnati, OH. Soon after graduating for medical school in Des Moines, Iowa, he joined the Army to complete his medical training, allowing his family to live in many cities across the United States. Jim, who was the chief of abdominal imaging, retired in 2007 after 22 years of service as an Associate Professor of Radiology. When he retired, he and his wife Kathy moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. Jim was a talented musician, having played the banjo for many years. He was staunch supporter of equal rights for all, and his compassion for others led him to form deep relationships with those around him. Jim passed peacefully in 2023.
William Bennett was born in Ohio and received his MD degree from Ohio State in 1977. He completed a transitional year and BrooK Army Medical Center at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas in 1978, followed by a residency in Radiology from 1978 to 1981. He then pursued a fellowship in Diagnostic Imaging at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC from July 1, 1981 to June 30, 1982. Following his fellowship, he joined the Department of Radiology at Ohio State as an Assistant Professor. He became an Associate Professor based on his contributions in digital imaging and teleradiology. Our department was likely the first to connect with a rural hospital in Barnesville, OH and provide consultations to the single practicing radiologist. Dr. Bennett practiced for more than 30 years at OSU. Bill enjoyed teaching residents and fellows, many of who remember him fondly.
Chris Lee was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea and graduated Yonsei University Medical College in 1965. He did his radriology residency at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC and did a fellowship at OSU Medical Center from 1968 to 1970. After the completion of his training he joined Columbus Radiology Corp. After retiring from the group, he joined the staff of the Department of Radiology at the abdominal section and retired after 9 years in 2013. The residents and fellows learned from interacting with an experienced radiologist and he enjoyed working with many good residents. After he retired Chris stayed in Columbus and spends his time traveling and playing golf.
During my years as the Chairman we had three fellows in the abdominal section, Drs. Kenneth Vitellas, Kaldeep Vaswani and Ghassan Hammami. Dr. Vitellas did his residency at OSUMC and did a year of fellowship at the University of North Carolina. Ken joined the Mount Carmel Group of Radiology and has been in practice for nearly 30 years. Dr. Kuldeep Vaswani received his MD in 1992. He did a residency in Diagnostic Radiology between 1994 to 1997. Kuldeep is currently affiliated with many hospitals in Columbus and is practicing for more than 20 years.
Dr. Ghassan Hammami was born in Damascus, Syria. He received his MD from the University of Aleppo Medical School in 1979. He completed his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Cook County Hospital in Chicago in 1995. His fellowship was in abdominal and musculoskeletal imaging in 1995-1996. Upon graduation, he practiced for a year in Logan, WV before starting his own practice in McAllen, TX where he performs CTs, MRIs and other imaging procedures. I visited Ghassan in McAllen and met his wife and their two daughters who followed their father's example - one is a medical student and the other is a Ph.D. student in Psychology.
