OSUMC Radiology; Section of Chest Imaging

Chest imaging has undergone significant advancements since the discovery of X-rays in 1895. Initially, chest radiographs were the primary tool for diagnosing thoracic abnormalities such as pneumonias, cardiomegaly and pneumothorax.  Over time, the modality evolved, and a new era started with the introduction of Computed Tomography (CT). CT scans offered superior spatial resolution, enabling precise assessment of lung parenchyma, blood vessels, and airways. This advancement significantly improved the detection and characterization of various pulmonary conditions, including pulmonary embolism and interstitial lung disease.

Charles Mueller was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1936.  He attended University of Cincinnati where he earned his undergraduate and medical degrees.  Charles stayed and completed his radiology residency at the University of Cincinnati when the legendary Ben Felson was the Chairman.  Upon completion of his training he practiced radiology at Wright Patterson Air Force base.  He then moved and practiced radiology to New Mexico for 6 years.  Upon his return to his native Ohio he was hired as the program Director of Diagnostic Radiology at the Ohio State University. During his tenure at OSU, Charlie served in numerous leadership roles in our department.  In addition to being the director of the Residency, he started our Thoracic Fellowship program.  He was a pioneer in the field of Emergency Radiology and was a founding member of the Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER).  He served as its third President from 1992 to 1993.  In 1974, he served as the Interim Chair of Radiology and once again in 1991-1992.  Dr. Mueller left a lasting influence of excellence in the practice of radiology and the education of medical students, residents and fellows.

Jerome Cunningham received his B.S. in Chemistry with honors and his M.D. from the University of Florida. He served two years in the U.S. Navy. His training in Diagnostic Radiology was at Stanford University where he was a National Institute of Health Fellow and Chief Resident.  He was then hired as Assistant Professor of Radiology at Wake Forest University and later taught and did research at the University of Rochester and the Medical College of Georgia.  He worked in the chest and ultrasound sections and he retired after serving as Professor of Radiology at the Ohio State University.  After his retirement, he became an avid volunteer in the Columbus community.  He received volunteer awards from the OSUMC, WOSU Public Media, and the Nature Conservancy. 

Mark King received his M.D. degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1986.  He did his internship at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System in 1987 and his residency in Radiology at the Ohio State Hospital in 1998-1992.  His Fellowship was in Cardiac Imaging at the University of California (San Diego) in 1992-1993.  He returned to OSU and was hired as an Assistant Professor.  He became the Director of our Residency Program and several initiatives were implemented during his tenure.  He published several papers in referee journals about emphysema, HIV lung disease and high resolution computed tomography of the chest. Dr. King recently retired as Professor Emeritus.

Anthimos John Christoforidis was born in 1923 in Sille, near Iconio, in Asia Minor.  He received his M.D. degree from the University of Athens where he graduated first in his class in 1949.  He did his Radiology residency training at the Ohio State in 1953.  He was a respected and well-published educator with numerous textbooks and journal articles. He chaired three departments of radiology; the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Medical College of Ohio and Ohio State University.  He directed the first cancer hospital in Greece and was inducted into the Academy of Athens in 1990.  He retired for Ohio State in 2007 after serving the University, its students and patients for 54 years.

I am dedicating this post to Dr. Charles Mueller, whose mentorship, transformed our residency program highly sought after as medical students across the Nation recognized that an experienced and compassionate leader was at the helm, ensuring a nurturing and educational environment.  His contributions inspire and guide us in our pursuit of excellence in patient care and education.

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 College of Medicine

 The Ohio State University College of Medicine lineage goes back to the Willoughby University of Lake Erie, founded in 1834 in Willoughby, Ohio a small settlement by Lake Erie. Dr. Westel Willoughby (1798-1844) was the school's founder and first president.  It is noteworthy that Ohio was a new State at that time with a population of about 937,000.  In 1846, the institution moved to Columbus an was chartered as Willoughby Medical College of Columbus in 1847 and in 1876 to Columbus Medical University . 

In 1907, it merged with Starling Medical College to form Starling-Ohio Medical College.  Almost immediately upon opening, the school was contacted by a wealthy business owner Lyne Starling, who offered $35,000 to construct a new hospital and school complex in Columbus.  The concept of a hospital dedicated to teaching medical students was groundbreaking at that time.  This institution transferred all its assets to the Ohio State University in 1914, forming the modern Ohio State College of Medicine.  In 1916, the Columbus Children's Hospital (now Nationwide Children's Hospital) affiliated with the Ohio State College of Medicine.

Early in the 20th century the college establishes its presence on the OSU campus by including Hamilton and Kinsman Halls, and the Starling-Loving University Hospital.

During WWII the college introduced a two-year pathway to a medical degree in order to address wartime needs.  In 1970, the college launched an independent study program in medical education which was extended to three years , and then four years in 1980s.  In the 20th and 21st centuries the College of Medicine expanded its research and education by hiring well known scholars. Today, the Ohio State College of Medicine continues to be a leader in medical education, research, and patient care, with a focus on cutting edge advancements and innovative programs.

Walking through the doors of the old hospital at OSUMC in the spring of 1992, as a visiting professor, I felt both excited and overwhelmed. My first impression was that it was massive.  Clinics, hospitals, research buildings, staff, resident and student traffic.  Later in the fall when I was hired to become the chairman of radiology, I felt like stepping into both the future and the familiar.  The future because the technology here was world-class from a high field 1.5 Tesla magnet built in a new outpatient suite, and the familiar because from day one, the people reminded me why I chose academic medicine in the first place.  In my first few weeks at OSUMC, I realized that the department doesn't just interpret images, but we were deeply embedded in patient care, education and innovation. One of my first impressions was how collaborative this place was when in our noon conference, my lecture about "Splenic Embolization", a treatment I had developed at the University of Illinois in the 70s, the staff of the department and those of other departments had an open mind and were willing to try it in order to benefit their patients.  I came to OSUCM for the opportunity to assist in the further advancement of imaging, intervention and research and the chance to shape the next generation of radiologists.  I stayed until I retired because of the people - the culture of excellence                            and the commitment to patient care.

                Authored by D. G. Spigos M.D, Professor Emeritus, 

             at the Ohio State University and West Attica University.

This post is dedicated to the faculty, the residents, the fellows and students during my tenure as the Chairman of the Department of Radiology from 1992 to 2004.  I would like to mention and thank two individuals in particular; the late Dr. Charles Mueller who was the Acting Chairman and the person who invited me as a visiting professor and Dr. Manuel Tzagournis who was the Dean and the person who recruited, and guided me when he appointed me as the Chairman of Radiology.