OSUMC Radiology Section of Neuroradiology

The section of Neuroradiology at the Ohio State Medical Center has a long history of leadership and innovation in diagnostic imaging of the neurologic system, using the first MRI in Ohio and the first ultra-high-field (8 Tesla) MRI in the world.  The section offers expertise in all aspects of Computed Tomography, diagnostic MRI including perfusion, diffusion tension imaging and spectroscopy.  It also performs interventional procedures in the brain and guided biopsies of the spine and vertebroplasty.

Donald Chakeres who was the chief of the section was born in Columbus, Ohio.  He received his BA degree in Chemistry from Capital University in Columbus in 1972, and his MD degree from Ohio State University in 1975.  He did an internship at Riverside Methodist in Columbus in 1972, and his residency in Radiology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, New Hampshire ending in 1978. His Neuroradiology fellowship was at the University of Oregon Health Science Center in Portland Oregon in 1979.  He returned to Dartmouth Medical Center as an Instructor and he was then appointed the Head of Neuroradiology at the University of Texas in San Antonio as an Associate Professor until 1985.  From 1985 to 2019 he was the Head of Neuroradiology at the Ohio State University Medical Center where the department acquired the second 1.5 Tesla General Electric MRI system in the country.  He was also the director of the 8 Tesla Research Group.  The 8T group led the world in high field MRI for a number of years and established the safety data related to high field MRI that are still utilized. He wrote a book with Petra Schmalbrock and more than 100 papers with many collaborators. He was the President of the American Head and Neck Society. He was also on many Executive Committees of National and International Organizations including the American Society of Neuroradiology and the International Society of Head and Neck Radiology.  He was on the Editorial Boards of many journals including, Radiology, Journal of the American Society of Radiology, and Neuroradiology.  He also began an interest in basic physics and has published a number of papers in that field. He retired in 2019 as a Professor Emeritus. 

Gregory Christoforidis received his medical degree from Ohio State University in 1990.  He did an internship at Mount Carmel Medical Center in 1991 and his residency at the Ohio State University from 1992 to 1995.  He did fellowships in Neuroradiology at Henry Ford in 1997 and the     USZ-Universitats Spital Zurich in 1998. He is board certified in Diagnostic Radiology.  He has expertise in interventional neuroradiology (neuroendovascular surgery), and diagnostic neuroradiology of the brain, head , neck and spine.  He is skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute stroke, aneurysms, arteriovenous fistulas, arteriovenous malformations and other vascular lesions. Dr. Christoforidis has extensive experience with minimally invasive diagnostic and surgical procedures, including thrombolysis, embolectomy, embolisation, aneurysm treatment, AVM treatment, sclerotherapy, spinal augmentation, spinal injections and transcutaneous pain treatment, biopsies, angioplasty, and stenting in the head, neck and spine.  His research focuses on endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke.  He is investigating the formation of collateral vessels in the leptomeningeal tissue surrounding the brain and its role in the acute ischemic stroke.

Eric Bourekas was born in Warren, Ohio.  He did his undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at the Ohio State, and he received his MD degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1989.  He completed a residency at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1993 and a fellowship in Neuroradiology at the University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western in 1995 and fellowship in Interventional Neuroradiology in 1998 at the Cleveland Clinic. He is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology and Neuroradiology.  I hired Eric when I was the Chairman of Radiology and have known him both professionally and personally.  His contributions to Radiology have been immense.  His contributions in the clinical and research aspects of spinal pathology, spinal tumors, and neuroimaging are nationally recognised. He has served as Vice Chair of Radiology/Clinical Operations and Chief of Neuroradiology at OSUMC.  Dr. Bourekas is now the Chief of Staff, a position to which he was elected by his peers at the medical center a recognition of his advocacy for physicians in all departments, and the first radiologist to hold this position. He has served in many positions including President of Faculty Staff Council for the Medical Center and Senator in the Ohio State University Senate.  He has been a recipient of many teaching awards, and he was recently recognized as a Master Clinician by The Mazzaferri-Ellison Society, an Honorary Society which recognizes outstanding clinicians who excel in clinical practice, teaching, mentoring/role modeling, professionalism, leadership and service to the profession and the OSU Medical Center.  He has also received an Honorary Recognition at the University of West Attica in Athens Greece for his contributions to medicine at large. 

This post if dedicated to Dr. Lucy Freedy, who served as the Vice-Chair of the Department of Radiology during my tenure as the Chairman from 1992-2004.  Lucy was a hard working attending who genuinely cared about the education of the students and residents and also for providing exemplary care to our patients.  Her specialty was breast imaging, but she selflessly contributed wherever the department needed support.  Lucy's dedication and compassion made a lasting impact on all members at the medical center.  Lucy died on March 27, 2026 in her sleep. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with her.

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.  

Ohio State Medical Center - Chiefs of Staff

The function of the Chief of Staff at OSUMC is to act as a liaison between the medical staff and administration, lead medical staff self-governance, and oversee quality of care and medical staff operations.  This includes serving on hospital committees, calling and presiding over general staff meetings, and ensuring compliance with accreditation and other regulations. They are also responsible for advising the medical center board and acting as a spokesperson for the medical staff.

2005 - Eric Bourekas, Radiology / Neuroradiology

Dr. Bourekas received his MD from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1989.  He completed a residence at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1993, and a fellowship at the University Hospitals of Cleveland in 1995.  He is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology in Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology.  I hired Eric when I was the Chairman of Radiology and have known him both professionally and personally.  His contributions to Radiology have been immense.  He has been a neuroradiologist since 1995, focusing on clinical and research aspects of spinal pathology, spinal tumors, and neuroimaging.  He has served as Vice Chair of Radiology/Clinical Operations and Chief of Neuroradiology. He is Professor of Radiology, Neurology and Neurosurgery at the OSUMC.  Dr. Bourekas is now the Chief of Staff, a position to which he was elected by his peers at the medical center a recognition of his advocacy for physicians in all departments. 

2023 Eric Adkins / Emergency Medicine

Dr. Adkins completed his MD degree at West Virginia University in 2002. Upon completion he did a five-year residency in both emergency medicine and internal medicine at Christiana Health Services in Delaware in 2007, where he served as Chief Resident. On the academic side, he is an Assistant Professor of Emergency and Critical Care as well as co-creator and Associate Program Director for the Emergency Medicine & Internal Medicine Residency Program.  His focus is on patient safety, quality improvement, critical care and ultrasound in the Emergency Department. 

2021 Lisa Keder / Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Keder is an obstetrician/gynecologist with particular interest in women's reproductive health. She specializes in general obstetrics and gynecology and she provides personal care to her patients.  She is passionate about her field and she is educating tomorrow's health care leaders and.

2019 Minka Schofield / ENT

Dr. Schofield has more than two decades of experience and she a board-certified in Otolaryngology and she is a head and neck surgeon. She was Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at The Ohio State University-College of Medicine.  While at OSU, she held multiple leadership roles including Director of the General Otolaryngology Division, Medical Director of Surgical Operations, and Vice Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  She served as the Chief of Staff at OSUMC during the Covid-19 pandemic, acting as liaison between the senior leadership and the medical staff.

This post is dedicated to all physicians and nurses who served during the critical period of Covid-19 pandemic.  Their dedication transcended borders, languages, and cultures, uniting them in a singular mission: to heal, comfort, and protect humanity. From the big University hospitals to remote clinics in rural communities, doctors worked tirelessly, often at    great personal risk, to save lives and alleviate suffering.

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.