Rethink Imaging

In this episode of Rethink Imaging, host Chris St. John sits down with Dr. Aaron Sodickson, Division Chief of Emergency Radiology at Mass General Brigham and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, to pull back the curtain on how advanced CT technology is transforming patient care. Moving from standard grayscale imaging to full-body photon counting scanner operations, Dr. Sodickson reveals what it takes to bring cutting-edge clinical technology out of the development lab and onto the front lines of emergency medicine. From slicing patient radiation dose in half to wiping out diagnostic uncertainty, this conversation explores the massive leap forward in clinical radiology.

In this episode of Rethink Imaging, host Chris St. John sits down with Dr. M. Mahesh, a world-renowned medical physicist from Johns Hopkins, to deconstruct the myths and misinformation surrounding medical radiation. Dr. Mahesh reveals how sensationalist headlines, like the "600% increase" in population radiation, often lack the scientific context necessary for patient safety. From the hidden dangers of lead shielding to how AI is changing the way we find health information, this conversation bridges the gap between academic "ivory towers" and the public’s need for clear, comforting, and accurate answers.

In the first of a two-part series, host Chris St. John sits down with Dr. Mina Makary, a dual board-certified radiologist at The Ohio State University, to explore the rapidly evolving world of Interventional Radiology (IR). Dr. Makary clarifies the vital distinction between burnout and "moral injury" the psychological toll of being prevented from doing what is ethically right by systemic barriers, and advocates for a patient-centered approach that prioritizes transparency and minimally invasive options.

In this episode of Rethink Imaging, host Chris St. John speaks with Chalonda Jones-Thomas, founder of the Thomas Institute of Health Professions, about the urgent need to modernize medical imaging education. As technology outpaces traditional textbooks, Chalonda discusses her pioneering work in creating fully online, simulation-based training programs that serve working parents, rural communities, and active-duty military members.

In this episode of Rethink Imaging, host Chris St. John sits down with Dr. Francesco Ria to explore a critical but often misunderstood concept in CT imaging: total risk. While radiation dose often dominates conversations around CT safety, Dr. Ria explains why clinical risk including missed diagnoses, delayed treatment, and underutilized imaging — frequently outweighs radiation risk when exams are not properly justified or optimized. The conversation reframes how imaging professionals, clinicians, and leaders should think about safety, appropriateness, and value in modern CT practice. Rather than focusing narrowly on dose reduction, Dr. Ria advocates for a more balanced approach that prioritizes diagnostic quality, patient outcomes, and evidence-based decision-making across the imaging pathway.

Medical imaging faces a workforce crisis that cannot be solved with short-term staffing fixes. In this episode of Rethink Imaging, Chris St. John speaks with Geoffrey Roche, SVP of Healthcare at RizePoint, about why imaging remains a hidden profession, why more than 20,000 students sit on waiting lists every year, and how outdated accreditation models are limiting access to care. Geoffrey shares a systems-level view of workforce development, drawing from his experience across hospital systems, higher education, Siemens Healthineers, and global health education. The conversation explores apprenticeships, imaging assistants, retention challenges, and why imaging must evolve its training pathways if it wants a sustainable future.

In this episode of Rethink Imaging, Chris St. John sits down with Dr. Ali Tejani, a neuroradiology fellow at UCSF and a national leader in radiology education, imaging informatics, and AI literacy. Ali shares why radiology training programs must evolve now to prepare trainees for a future where AI is embedded in everyday clinical workflows. From launching an imaging informatics and business intelligence track during residency to co-directing national informatics education initiatives, Ali explains how radiologists learn best, why traditional didactics are no longer enough, and how podcasts, social media, and hands-on AI experiences are reshaping education. The conversation explores generational learning differences, the risk of deskilling, ethical AI use, and why being a critical, informed AI user matters more than knowing how to code.

In this episode of Frame by Frame: Rethink Imaging, Chris St. John speaks with Dr. Ian Weissman, a nationally recognized radiology leader and advocate for clinician wellness, patient-centered care, and workforce strategies. Ian breaks down how the U.S. shortage of 1,500 radiologists is reshaping imaging workloads, delaying critical studies, and putting pressure on a system that is already stretched thin. Ian shares why increasing imaging volumes, an aging population, burnout, and limited residency funding have collided to create unprecedented strain and how patients are now starting to feel the impact. He also offers practical, human-centered strategies that healthcare organizations and leaders can use today to retain clinicians while long-term solutions like AI and expanded training pipelines evolve.

In this episode of Frame by Frame: Rethink Imaging, host Chris St. John sits down with Dr. Kristin Beinschroth, a radiologic technologist and researcher, to explore how moral courage shapes student success, why confidence does not always predict achievement, and what it really takes to prepare the next generation of technologists for the ethical dilemmas they will face in practice. From navigating scope of practice boundaries to standing up to physicians when patient safety is at risk, this episode reveals why moral courage matters in imaging and how educators can cultivate it long before students enter the clinical environment.

In this episode of Frame by Frame: Rethink Imaging, host Chris St. John sits down with Dr. Andrew Callen, Associate Professor of Radiology and Neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Director of the CU CSF Leak Program, to explore how advanced imaging is transforming the diagnosis and treatment of spinal CSF leaks. From understanding cerebrospinal fluid’s vital role to uncovering invisible leak types like CSF–venous fistulas, Dr. Callen shares how innovations such as dynamic CT myelography and the Myelovator positioning device are pushing radiology beyond its limits to help patients once considered “undiagnosable.”

In this episode of Frame by Frame: Rethink Imaging, host Chris St John sits down with Dr. David Larson, Founding Director of the AI Development and Evaluation Lab at Stanford University School of Medicine, to explore the shift from traditional peer review to peer learning in radiology. By replacing numerical scoring with collaborative learning, Dr. Larson highlights how radiologists can improve performance, foster psychological safety, and deliver better patient care. Whether in a major academic center or a community hospital, this episode provides actionable insights for building a growth-focused culture in radiology.

In Part 1 of this two-part episode of Frame by Frame: Rethink Imaging, host Chris St. John sits down with Brad Lofton, CEO of Colorado Associates in Medical Physics, to examine how the field of medical physics must evolve beyond a compliance-only mindset. They explore the dangers of commodification, the need for physicists to reclaim their role as quality managers, and how shifting toward patient-centered care can make physics an indispensable part of radiology departments. Whether you are a medical physicist, healthcare administrator, or imaging professional, this conversation offers a practical vision for making medical physics the “central nervous system” of imaging quality.

In this episode of Frame by Frame: Rethink Imaging, host Chris St John sits down with Dr. Madan Rehani, Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of Radiation Protection Outreach at Mass General, to explore the risks and realities of cumulative radiation exposure in medical imaging. Drawing from his global leadership experience at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Dr. Rehani shares evidence-based insights on dose tracking, the limitations of CT safety, and why patient protection must evolve alongside technology. Whether you’re a radiologist, medical physicist, or healthcare leader, this episode offers a timely conversation on rethinking radiation safety in the modern age.