January 2017 - Appointment of Ashok Panigrahy, M.D. to the newly created role of Vice Chair, Clinical & Translational Imaging Research

As Vice Chair, Dr. Panigrahy will develop and implement a strategic plan for building a successful clinical and translational research program, while aligning the imaging research goals and initiatives with the Department’s overall mission and vision.  In light of the changing healthcare landscape, this role will be pivotal in bridging our clinical and research objectives as we look towards the future. Since joining our Department in 2009 as an Associate Professor, Dr. Panigrahy has been an accomplished and invaluable clinician, researcher, educator, and physician leader.  He currently serves as Chief of Pediatric Radiology, Radiologist-in-Chief of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, and as Medical Director of Pediatric Imaging Quality. 
The Pediatric Radiology Division has thrived under Dr. Panigrahy’s strategic leadership, and he will continue to serve in these administrative roles while taking on the responsibilities of Vice Chair. 

Dr. Panigrahy’s research group harnesses the power of advanced neuroimaging biomarkers to enhance our understanding of cumulative and synergistic risk factors for poor neurodevelopment in neonatal populations including those with prematurity and congenital heart disease.  He is presently serving as the Principal Investigator on a multi-center brain connectome R01 grant in collaboration with the NHLBI Pediatric Heart Network, in addition to serving as the Co-Investigator on 6 current NIH grants. He is currently overseeing the neuroimaging harmonization of four current U01 grants with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, the ADAPT pediatric neurotrauma study, the HEAL (High-Dose Erythropoietin for Asphyxia and Encephalopathy) neonatal brain injury study and the POCCA (Personalizing Outcomes after Child Cardiac Arrest) study.  He was recently awarded in 2016, a  $1.8 million Department of Defense grant, a UPP Foundation grant and a SPR Multi-Institutional Pilot Grant to support his research.   Dr. Panigrahy is also the author of more than 130-refereed publications, and the recipient of numerous awards from Society of Pediatric Radiology, RSNA and the American Society of Neuroradiology (Cornelius G. Dyke Memorial Award for best original research contribution in Neuroradiology). 

 

Dr. Panigrahy’s extensive pediatric imaging experience is recognized both nationally and internationally.  He has also been involved in the mentoring of research trainees from the high school to junior faculty levels, both within and outside of radiology.  The Department of Radiology has been fortunate to have been provided with significant resources, which will ensure Dr. Panigrahy’s success in building a world class translational imaging research program consistent with the research vision of UPMC.  These successes will undoubtedly advance medical science as well as support the development and advancement of clinical care and delivery to our patients.