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. 

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

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.