ASNR Member Spotlight: Dr. Brent D. Weinberg
Dr. Brent D. Weinberg has an MD and PhD in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University and is currently an associate professor at Emory University. At Emory, he serves as the section chief of neuroradiology and director of Emory’s radiology resident research track.
Dr. Weinberg was nominated by Dr. Ryan Peterson for the Member Spotlight because “I nominated Brent because he has been an outstanding leader in education and mentorship within our program and on the national stage. He has a unique ability to balance high clinical productivity with thoughtful, individualized teaching, and he consistently goes out of his way to support both residents and colleagues. He is well known nationally through his work on RadDiscord. He has a website dedicated to Neuroradiology and it is always referenced by residents, medical students and faculty wherever I go. His dedication has had a tremendous impact on the growth and success of our trainees, and he exemplifies the values of our Neuroradiology community overall. ”
How did you become interested in neuroradiology?
I became interested in neuroradiology during residency. I was first interested in interventional radiology because my research had introduced me to interventional procedures. During my residency in Dallas I had outstanding mentors in neuroradiology who helped me see the wide range of diseases and imaging abnormalities in neuroradiology. I also I saw for the first time that I could continue to do procedures as a neuroradiologist in a really focused manner. Once I realized that neuroradiology impacted almost every patient in some way, I was hooked. My wife, who is a neurologist, would argue that it was all her idea though!
Why did you join ASNR?
At first I joined ASNR because everyone else was a member, but I soon realized that it was the most impactful way to learn and share information on the forefront of our field. ASNR has played a key role in helping me build friendships, find mentors, and coach the next generation of neuroradiologists.
How has your life experiences shaped your approach to your career?
My career has been most influenced by research. I stumbled into medicine by accident. I always thought I would be a scientist, and only late in my undergraduate experience did I learn about what a physician scientist was, which inspired me to go to medical school. It ended up being one of the most fortuitous accidents ever, as I discovered imaging research and how it could impact patient care and the future direction of medicine. Now, I am motivated by how we can care for our patients the best, both through our clinical imaging and research efforts.
Who/what has inspired you?
I’m inspired by the previous generations of radiologists who were not lucky enough to have all the tools that we have to image patients, discover new techniques, and teach the next generation. I don’t want to call out anyone in particular because I don’t want to make people feel old, but when you think about the innovation it took to develop techniques we take for granted, I am in awe. Every day I use diffusion weighted imaging, but it wasn’t that long ago that they didn’t have it! Blazing that trail must have been an amazing time.
Can you talk more your teaching and mentoring style, particularly your approach to mentoring the next generation of radiologists?
My teaching style is to try not to forget what it is like to be a learner hearing about something for the first time. Sometimes that means breaking things down to a fundamental level, or even explaining things in a way that seems to us too basic. However, a lot of times that is because we forget what it is like to not know anything about a field. You can’t tell a student to go read a paper in Neurographics when they don’t even know what the words mean. I’ve tried to make it approachable to all levels, making it in small pieces, and putting out there in novel methods like short videos, websites, and flash cards.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I think people underestimate the role of luck in their success. Yes, I’ve worked hard, but it also took a lot of breaks to get here. I stumbled upon great mentors who took an interest in my career, chose a career path that I love, and have found a place where I’m surrounded by people who love it too. Most of them are part of ASNR!
