David A. Bluemke, MD, PhD, Named New Editor of Radiology

The Board of Directors of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) announced today that David A. Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D., Ms.B., FAHA, FACR, will become editor of the journal Radiology in January 2018.

Dr. Bluemke is the radiologist-in-chief of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center and senior investigator at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) in Bethesda, Md. He also is adjunct investigator for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Effective July 1, 2017, Dr. Bluemke will become professor of radiology in the Department of Radiology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Medicine and Public Health (UW – Madison).

“Radiology is the premier journal in our field, with a strong focus on innovation in imaging,” Dr. Bluemke said. “In order to lead the field, the journal needs to publish cutting edge research articles in radiological imaging. Such topics are often highly specialized. Therefore, the journal will provide increased editorial content to explain the significance of novel research findings. In this way, we can all benefit by a better shared understanding of new research results and their impact on our clinical practices.”

Dr. Bluemke’s research interests lie in cardiovascular disease and its complications, with his primary focus on atherosclerosis imaging and the use of traditional and molecular imaging techniques to evaluate myocardial tissue. The aim of Dr. Bluemke’s work is to employ imaging modalities to detect, quantify and monitor subclinical disease. He received an RSNA R&E Foundation Research Seed Grant in 1995 for his study “Prevention of Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head Using MR Imaging and Spectroscopy.”

“As editor of Radiology, David will provide visionary leadership. He brings to the position a wealth of knowledge and experience, coupled with innovative ideas that will enhance appeal for the readers and further elevate the journal’s impact factor,” said Vijay M. Rao, M.D., chair of the RSNA Board of Directors. “It is an exciting time for Radiology.”

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Dr. Bluemke earned his medical degree and a Ph.D. in biophysics from the University of Chicago. He completed a diagnostic radiology residency and a cross-sectional fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) School of Medicine in Baltimore. He received a Master of Science in Business from JHU, as well as a Certificate in Business of Medicine. He has completed the Executive Leader Program at JHU and the NIH Executive Leadership program.

After completing his residency in 1993, Dr. Bluemke became an instructor and later an assistant professor of radiology at JHU School of Medicine. After serving as an associate professor in the departments of Radiology and Cardiology, in 2006 he became a professor in the departments of Radiology and Medicine.

In 1997, he became the clinical director in the MRI division of the Department of Radiology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. In 2008, he became a tenured senior investigator for the NIH and radiologist-in-chief at the NIH Clinical Center, a position he still holds.

Dr. Bluemke served as deputy editor of Radiology from 1993 to 1997. He has served on the editorial boards of several journals, including the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Journal of Computed Axial Tomography, Applied Radiology and the International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging. Dr. Bluemke has co-authored more than 600 peer-reviewed publications, 540 scientific abstracts, and 38 book chapters and monographs. He has been a reviewer for more than 35 scientific journals, including Radiology, RadioGraphics, Journal of the American Medical Association and New England Journal of Medicine.

Among Dr. Bluemke’s many awards and honors are the outstanding teacher award in cardiovascular imaging from the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), the elite reviewer award from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, two Executive Council awards and a silver medal from the American Roentgen Ray Society, Cum Laude and contrast agent awards from the Society of Computed Body Tomography and Magnetic Resonance, two NIH Director’s awards and the NIH Clinical Center Director’s award. In 2014, Dr. Bluemke was the recipient of the Alexander R. Margulis Award for Scientific Excellence, which recognizes the best original scientific article published in the journal Radiology.

In 2007, Dr. Bluemke was named among the top 10 radiologists by Medical Imaging. He has been listed multiple times among America’s Top Doctors by Castle Connolly. In 2015, AuntMinnie.com named Dr. Bluemke the year’s Most Influential Radiology Researcher.

“David Bluemke is an experienced scholar and leader in radiology,” said Mary C. Mahoney, M.D., RSNA Board Liaison for Publications and Communications. “He has the vision to guide the journal through the changes on the horizon with the digital age and keep the journal relevant and vital to our readers and our researchers.”

A longtime member of RSNA, Dr. Bluemke served on the Scientific Awards Committee and the Research and Education Seed Grant Review Panel from 1999 to 2003. He served on the Scientific Program Committee from 2007 to 2010. He has served on the Task Force on Quantitative Imaging and Imaging Biomarkers since 2011. He has delivered more than 20 lectures at RSNA annual meetings since 1991.

Dr. Bluemke also has served in many capacities with a number of other professional societies, including the American College of Radiology (ACR), the American Roentgen Ray Society, the Association of University Radiologists, the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association (AHA), the Society of Computed Body Tomography and Magnetic Resonance (SCBTMR), the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, and ISMRM. He is a fellow of the ACR, AHA, ISMRM, SCBTMR and the North American Society of Cardiovascular Imaging.

“We are delighted that Dr. Bluemke will be joining the Department of Radiology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Medicine and Public Health,” said Thomas M. Grist, M.D., chair of the Department of Radiology at UW – Madison. “While David’s editorial duties will undoubtedly be his primary focus, our department will partner with the RSNA to ensure that Dr. Bluemke has the opportunity to continue his strong connection to clinical and academic radiology at a local level. We are looking forward to learning from his unique insight, and we are excited for him to return to his Wisconsin roots.”

Dr. Bluemke will succeed Herbert Y. Kressel, M.D., as Radiology editor. Dr. Kressel has served the journal since 2007 and will retire as editor at the end of 2017. During his tenure, Dr. Kressel introduced new journal innovations and features, such as the Radiology Select collections of essential modality articles, and various online enhancements, such as Radiology podcasts with study authors. Dr. Kressel also instituted operational efficiencies, improved the scientific rigor of the journal through the institution of author and reviewer checklists, and increased author recognition through the development of the Alexander R. Margulis Award for Scientific Excellence.

Web Extras

• Access Radiology at RSNA.org/Journals