March 5, 2021
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was developed at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and medicine. Overcoming some of the limitations of x-ray imaging to provide detailed views of soft tissues, MRI of the human body found many valuable applications in medical diagnosis of cancer, neurological diseases and disorders, and joint injuries. Clinical adoption has been hampered by limitations such as high cost and slow scanning, and emerging technology addresses these limitations in ways that continue to open up new options for physicians and patients. At the forefront of medical care and research, MRI is being performed at extremely high speeds to screen patients for breast cancer; providing quantitative in vivo measurements in addition to images; and fusing with surgical, radiation therapy, and other minimally-invasive techniques to provide MRI-guided precision therapies. These applications continue to advance through research, development, and clinical partnerships between scientists, engineers, and doctors.
David Jordan is a medical physicist who works with physicians and other healthcare professionals to educate them about physics and technology and improve the quality and safety of patient care. Having spent nearly a decade as a consultant in private practice followed by a staff appointment in an academic medical center, he understands the needs and concerns of patients and medical professionals. He is skilled at distilling data and jargon into understandable and actionable recommendations. He revived a defunct hands-on MRI workshop for physicists in 2012 and redesigned the curriculum, training nearly two hundred colleagues over the next six years.
David is certified in physics and safety of diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine, and MRI by five national boards and is a six-time Teacher of the Year honoree for his work with radiology residents.
David holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences from the University of Michigan. He resides with his family in Shaker Heights, Ohio.