Charles (Chuck) Ray, MD, PhD, has been named Interim Chair of the in the at the University of Utah, effective September 8. He will also continue in a clinical role in interventional radiology and in his role as Editor for the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology. Chuck succeeds Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, who led the department over a decade.
Ray is a nationally recognized leader in academic radiology. Since joining U of U Health in 2024, he has been deeply involved in strengthening the department鈥檚 clinical programs, research, and educational mission. Before coming to Utah, Ray served as Chair of Radiology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, where he also held senior leadership roles, including Interim Executive Dean of the College of Medicine and Associate Chief Executive Officer for Strategic Alignment at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System.
Ray is widely respected for his contributions to interventional radiology and academic medicine. He has published extensively, mentored countless trainees, and taken on leadership roles with national and international organizations, including serving as President of the Society of Interventional Radiology. He also brings deep editorial experience, serving as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology and Editor-in-Chief of Seminars in Interventional Radiology. His work has earned him numerous honors, including the Dean鈥檚 Distinguished Service Award and recognition as a 鈥淭op Doctor鈥 for many years. Through all of these roles, Ray has focused on advancing patient care, supporting the growth of his specialty, and strengthening the impact of radiology in academic health systems.
During Minoshima鈥檚 tenure, the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at 麻豆学生精品版 has achieved national and international recognition as a model of academic radiology excellence. Faculty size more than doubled, with members consistently receiving national awards and assuming leadership roles in professional societies. Its pioneering IMAGER, the first fully integrated finance and operations model, has delivered substantial value to the health system, sustaining a CAGR above 14% over the past decade. This success was driven by the expansion of advanced imaging resources and facilities across multiple sites, the creation of new sections and leadership roles, the integration of teleradiology, 24/7 faculty clinical coverage, rapid growth in interventional radiology, support for theranostics, and the establishment of the 鈥淩eading Room of the Future鈥 at U of U Health along with expanded interventional suites at the U鈥檚 Clinical Neurosciences Center and Huntsman Cancer Institute.
The department鈥檚 prominence also extended to research and education. Ranked No. 7 in NIH funding among public university radiology departments in 2019, it is home to several of the nation鈥檚 top-funded investigators and maintains advanced infrastructure, including four research MRI scanners, while leading focused ultrasound, CT, cardiac and vascular imaging, and neuroscience. Faculty have earned premier national teaching awards and developed new education platforms adopted globally. In 2023, the department won the prestigious Association of University Radiologists Vydareny Imaging Interpretation Competition.
Minoshima deeply appreciates the relentless dedication of faculty and staff in pursuing its triple mission. He recently received the 2025 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Gold Medal, the highest global honor in radiology, and will remain on faculty at U of U Health following a period of well-deserved rest and self-care.