Quality and Patient Safety in Medical Imaging

Dr. Jie Zhang is a Professor and Chief of the Diagnostic & Nuclear Medical Physics Division in the Department of Radiology at the University of Kentucky. He also serves as the Director of the Diagnostic Imaging Physics Residency Program. He is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) in both Diagnostic and Nuclear Medical Physics.

With over 20 years of hands-on experience, Dr. Zhang specializes in the evaluation, integration, and safe use of diagnostic imaging technologies, including radiography, fluoroscopy, CT, ultrasound, MRI, and nuclear medicine. He developed a comprehensive quality control program from the ground up, advancing the department's safety and imaging optimization practices.

Dr. Zhang is also an experienced educator, having taught medical imaging and imaging physics to graduate students, radiology residents, technologists, and hospital staff. He introduced the first week-long physics rotation for radiology residents, an innovation in physics education that led to his receipt of a two-year RSNA Education Scholar Grant for curriculum development in hands-on physics education. In 2024, he launched Kentucky's first diagnostic imaging physics residency program at the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Zhang's research focus is to improve patient care through high-quality imaging technology. He has led and contributed to clinical imaging research, dosimetric characterization, and image analysis. Dr. Zhang has authored or co-authored over 90 peer-reviewed publications, 8 book chapters, 4 AAPM Task Group reports, 2 RSNA/AAPM physics modules, and more than 150 conference abstracts and presentations at regional, national, and international meetings. He serves as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigator (Co-I) on multiple research projects funded by the NIH, RSNA, the state of Kentucky, and industry partners.

Dr. Zhang is actively involved in professional committees and task groups, shaping the field of medical physics education. He currently chairs the AAPM Diagnostic Radiology Resident Physics Curriculum Working Group and the AAPM Medical Physics Education of Physicians. He serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics (JACMP), has contributed to the ABR Core Examination Physics Committee, and currently chairs the ABR Certifying Examination Physics Committee. He is recognized as a Fellow of the AAPM for his contributions to the field.