ASNR Member Spotlight: Dr. Marc Benayoun
Dr. Marc Benayoun is an Associate Professor of Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine at Atrium Health Wake Forest Medical Center. He completed his nuclear medicine training at Emory University Hospital and his neuroradiology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. He obtained his MD and PhD from the University of Chicago. He is currently the Co-Chief of Nuclear Medicine and the Medical Director of MRI and Nuclear Medicine and PET.
Dr. Benayoun was nominated by Dr. Paul Bunch because he “expertly bridges the disciplines of neuroradiology, molecular imaging, theranostics, and machine learning.“
How did you become interested in neuroradiology, nuclear medicine, and theranostics?
My path to neuroradiology was very atypical. I almost didn’t even go into medicine at all. Growing up, I had a hard time reconciling a personal love of math and physics with an equally strong calling to help others as a physician. In fact, I started my college career at the California Institute of Technology with full plans to become a biomedical engineer, where I hoped to help patients from afar by developing life-saving medical devices. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I wanted more, and I transferred to the University of Chicago as a premedical student.
This dichotomous interest continued through college where I did research in quantum mechanics while studying for my MCATs. It also motivated me to do a combined MD and PhD in Computational Neuroscience, where I studied applications of mathematical and computer simulated models of neural network dynamics to try and better understand epilepsy. It was during the latter part of my PhD, spending hours in front of a computer screen writing code when I first realized neuroradiology might be a good fit for my future career and growing interests in brain health and disease. The decision was finalized during my clinical rotations as a senior medical student, where I saw the profound effect neuroimaging had on patient care and how the act of image interpretation itself felt like solving a visual math problem. My penchant for molecular brain imaging and theranostics came later.
During my residency, I was introduced to nuclear medicine as a method to image brain function in addition to brain anatomy typically seen on CT and MRI. The complimentary information gained by imaging brain metabolism with radioactive sugars or amino acids, brain perfusion, and even receptor expression gave a much more complete assessment of neuropathology. With the mentorship of several faculty, I was the first at Emory to complete a combined residency in Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. I went on to further hone those skills as a neuroradiology fellow, where I took a special interest in advanced neuroimaging including molecular brain imaging.
My passion for theranostics has developed much more recently, as this budding field has continued to mature. For those unaware, theranostics is a port manteau for “thera”-py and diag-”nostics”. It encapsulates the idea that we now can use a molecular targeting radioactive agent to first diagnose that a certain tumor, for example, expresses a key receptor, and to subsequently treat it by exchanging the radioactive imaging component for one capable of killing local tumor cells. As a current faculty member at Wake Forest, I am fortunate enough to have the support of an amazing group of colleagues in both neuroradiology and nuclear medicine, which has allowed me to spend half of my time in neuroradiology and to continue to develop my diagnostic acumen while spending the rest of my time in nuclear medicine, where we run a theranostics clinic, seeing and treating patients with cancer. I’m hopeful our continued work will lead to new treatment options for patients with brain tumors.
Why did you join ASNR?
Joining the ASNR was really an affirmation of my commitment to the field and my commitment as a physician to the patients I serve. Members of the ASNR are united in a common interest in upholding the highest standards of neuroradiology practice, education, and research. On a more personal note, it is also a great way to meet truly wonderful people that share a common passion. I have developed friendships and mentorships and seen professional growth thanks to my participation in the ASNR.
Who has inspired you?
I am inspired every day by my amazing colleagues at Wake Forest. The high level of clinical excellence, kindness, humility, and work ethic evidenced by my co-attendings in neuroradiology and nuclear medicine challenge me to be the best physician I can be every day. Also, the professionalism, intellectual curiosity, and perseverance of the residents and fellows gives me hope for the future of the field.
