2018 Outstanding Researcher
2018 Outstanding Researcher Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD An internationally recognized neuroradiologist and nuclear physician with a special interest in late-life neuropsychiatric disorders, Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD, has significantly influenced the field with her research work.
Dr. Meltzer is the William P. Timmie professor and chair of radiology and imaging sciences and associate dean for research at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta. She also serves as director of the Innovation Catalyst Program for the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance. She established the Emory Center for Systems Imaging to broadly support the advance of imaging capabilities in basic and translational research.
“Carolyn is a passionate and accomplished researcher, mentor and leader,” RSNA President Vijay M. Rao, MD, said. “She is also a tremendous role model for women in academia.” Having maintained 22 years of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding as principal or co-investigator for research into the study and detection of aging-related brain conditions and diseases and the development and validation of imaging technology, Dr. Meltzer has published more than 200 papers.
Dr. Meltzer is an advocate for thoughtful professional development and has individually mentored more than 60 pre- and post-doctoral trainees and junior faculty. Under her leadership as department chair, the Emory Radiology Leadership Academy was created and has now graduated over 100 professionals. She is a highly sought-after national and international lecturer on brain disorders and clinical neuroscience as well as novel research program development and biomedical research advocacy.
After receiving her medical degree from The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, Dr. Meltzer completed her fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She began her career at the University of Pittsburgh, PA, and was named medical director of the PET Facility in 1998 and chief of neuroradiology and vice chair of research in the Department of Radiology in 2002. While there, she was engaged in neuroscience and oncologic imaging research and oversaw the clinical evaluation of the world’s first combined human PET/CT scanner.
Dr. Meltzer is a former president of both the American Society of Neuroradiology and the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research. Reflective of her commitment to academic medicine, Dr. Meltzer has served in numerous national leadership roles and professional and advisory boards including the advisory council for the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, the American College of Radiology’s board of chancellors and the executive committee of the International Society of Strategic Studies in Radiology.
At RSNA, Dr. Meltzer currently serves as third vice president and on the board of trustees for the RSNA Research and Education (R&E) Foundation. She is also a member of the R&E Foundation’s Evaluation Committee and serves as a board liaison to the R&E Public Relations Committee. She is a former chair of the task force on Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA) and of the Research Development Committee.
Her numerous accolades include the Outstanding Contributions in Research Award from the American Society of Neuroradiology in 2016 and the 2018 gold medal from the Association of University Radiologists.