Associate Professor of Radiology
University of Virginia Health System
Charlottesville, VA, United States
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
NAME: JUAN M. OLAZAGASTI, MD
POSITION TITLE: Associate Professor of Radiology
EDUCATION/TRAINING
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION DEGREE Start Date / Completion Date FIELD OF STUDY
Universidad de Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico Bachelor of Science 08/1984 – 06/1988 B.S. Biology
Universidad de Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico Doctor of Medicine 08/1988 – 06/1992 Medicine
Louisiana State University
New Orleans, LA Internship & Residency 07/1992 – 06/1996 Diagnostic Radiology
Emory University / Egleston Children’s Hospital
Atlanta, GA Fellowship 07/1996 – 06/1997 Pediatric Radiology
A. Personal Statement
I am an Associate Professor of Radiology and Medical Imaging at the University of Virginia, where I have had the privilege of working for over 24 years alongside a remarkable team of colleagues. Throughout my tenure, my clinical work has primarily focused on thoracic oncology—specifically, the diagnostic imaging and procedural evaluation (including biopsies) of both primary and metastatic lesions, follow-up of malignancies, and the assessment of treatment-related complications. I routinely interpret a broad spectrum of imaging studies encompassing the chest, abdomen, and pelvis in both inpatient and outpatient settings. As a tertiary referral center with a comprehensive cancer program, UVA also provides care for patients undergoing heart, lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas transplants—areas in which I remain actively engaged. Additionally, I regularly contribute to multidisciplinary discussions in tumor boards and pulmonary micropathology conferences.
I have served as Medical Co-Director of the Thoraco-Abdominal Imaging Division and of the UVA Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) Program. A particular area of focus in recent years has been improving access to LCS among underrepresented minority populations in Charlottesville and surrounding regions of central Virginia.
Clinically, I maintain a high-volume practice that includes interpretation of radiographs, CT, and thoracic MRI. I also participate in pediatric imaging and perform image-guided procedures using ultrasound and CT to conduct soft tissue and lung biopsies, drain fluid collections, and place percutaneous catheters in the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis.
Within the UVA School of Medicine, I am actively involved in medical education. I teach second-year students during the Pulmonary organ system module and mentor medical students in a range of academic and community-based projects. I also serve as the medical director for two electives: Radiology-Pathology and Thoracic Imaging.
B. Positions, Scientific Appointments and Honors
07/2007-2019 Medical Director/Radiology Education, UVA, Charlottesville, VA
08/2018-2024 Entrustment Committee Member, EPA system, UVA SoM
08/2011-07/2013 Interim Medical Director/Thoraco-Abdominal Imaging, UVA
03/2003-05/2011 Co-Director/Thoraco-Abdominal Division, UVA
07/2001-07/2013 Medical Director/Thoracic Imaging, UVA, Charlottesville, VA
08/1999-05/2001 Medical Director/Radiology, Charleston Memorial Hospital, Charleston, SC
05/1998-06/2001 Medical Director/Thoracic Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
05/2007 – Present Associate Professor of Radiology, UVA School of Medicine
06/2007-2019 Medical Director/Medical Student Education in Radiology, UVA
07/2001-04/2007 Assistant Professor/Radiology, UVA
07/1997-06/2001 Clinical Assistant Professor/Radiology, MUSC
Academic Appointments
05/2007–Present: Associate Professor of Radiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine
06/2007–2019: Medical Director/Medical Student Education in Radiology, UVA, Charlottesville, VA
07/2001–04/2007: Assistant Professor/Radiology, UVA, Charlottesville, VA
07/1997–06/2001: Clinical Assistant Professor/Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, SC
Honors, Awards and Recognition
2019: Best Doctors in America
2019: Senior Specialist Consultant with Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders)
2005: Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, UVA School of Medicine
2005: Academy of Distinguished Educators, Inducted August 2005, UVA School of Medicine
2000: Golden Apple Teaching Award, Radiology Residents, Medical University of South Carolina
C. Educational Contributions
1. Lung Cancer Screening (LCS):
- Utilization of Low Dose CT in LCS
- Community Outreach for LCS with Tele-Health – published in the Journal of Thoracic Imaging
- Healthcare disparities in LCS, how it affects the underrepresented
2. Medical Education:
- The 'flipped classroom' model to engage learners through active, case-based interaction
- Effective teaching strategies for Millennials: practical engagement, less text-based learning
3. EPAs in Radiology:
- Oral presentation at 2019 AUR: adapting EPAs into radiology instruction, accountability models
4. Image Guided Ablation:
- Poster presentation at World Congress of Thoracic Imaging, Boston, MA - 2017
D. Scholastic Performance
Peer-reviewed papers, abstracts, posters, and online resources detailed in original document. For full citation list, see the detailed appended records.
PAPERS PUBLISHED OR IN PRESS
A. Peer Reviewed
Chiao D, Hanley M, Olazagasti JM: CT volumetric analysis of pleural effusions: a comparison with thoracentesis volumes. Academic Radiology 22(9): 1122-7, Sep 2015.
Dr. Chiao is a resident whom I supervised.
• Hanley M, Stanley M, Fitzhugh H, Olazagasti J, Flors L, Krishnaraj A: Improving the Geographic Disparity between ACR Designated Lung Cancer Screening Centers in Virginia and County Smoking Rates by Establishing a Satellite of an Existing Program. Electronic presentation at the Annual Meeting (ACR), May 2017.
• Spencer H, Stanley M, Williams C, Olazagasti J, Hanley M: Establishing High Quality Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Services in the Tobacco Footprint of Virginia. Poster Presentation at the Cancer Control and Population Health (CCPH) Research Symposium “Advances in Cancer Population Research in Virginia” October 2016
• Spencer H, Easley G, Reyes J, Olazagasti J, Hanley M: Development of a Comprehensive Lung Cancer Screening Program. Poster presentation at the Annual Dialogue for Action meeting Progress & Prospects in Cancer Screening & Prevention 2016
• M Hanley, GG Easley, CM Gaskin, A. Krishnaraj, JM Bueno, JM Olazagasti: How to Leverage Your Electronic Medical Record (EMR) to Administer a Lung Cancer Screening Program. Presented as an Educational Exhibit at the Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting 2014
• Petraglia A, Olazagasti J, Strong A, Dunn B, Anderson R, Hanley M: Establishing Satellite Lung Cancer Screening Sites with Telehealth to Address Disparities between High Risk Smokers and ACR Approved Centers of Designation. JTI, Oct 9, 2020
• Chiao D, Olazagasti J, Hanley M: How small is small? The utility of the chest radiograph in quantifying the size of a pleural effusion – a 2013 perspective, updated with CT volumetric analysis. Presented as a Poster at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Thoracic Radiology 2014
• Hemp J, Olazagasti J, Wagner CE, Kern JA, Cherry KJ, Hanley M: Imaging Appearance of Complications of Surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Presented as an Educational Exhibit at the Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting 2013
• Bryan J., MD Ramin J., Spencer G., Olazagasti, J., Matthew B. Informatics in Radiology – An inexpensive Distance Learning Solution for Delivering High Quality live Broadcasts (electronic publication 10.1148/rg.2850857010). Radiographics. 28: 00 – 00, 2008. Cited 2 times, IF = 2.791, Rank 32 of 120 Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging Journals.
• Hernandez A, Kahaleh M, Olazagasti J, Jones DR, Daniel T, Stelow E, White GE, Shami VM EUS-FNA as the initial diagnostic modality in centrally located primary lung cancers. J Clin Gastroenterol. 41(7): 657-6, 2007. Cited 10 times, IF = 3.203, Rank 23 of 74 Gastroenterology and Hepatology Journals.
• Stiles, B., Altes, T., Jones, D., Shen, R. Ailawadi, G., Gay, S., Olazagasti, J., Rehm, P., Daniel, T. Clinical Experience With Radiotracer-Guided Thoracoscopic Biopsy of Small, Indeterminate Lung Nodules. Ann Thoracic Surg. 82:1191-7, 2006. Cited 18 times, IF = 3.454, Rank 36 of 124 Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems Journals, Rank 11 of 50 Respiratory Systems Journals, Rank 15 of 199 Surgery Journals. Referenced (34);
• Bassignani, M. J., Dwyer, S. J., Weaver, A. C., Moran, R., Olazagasti, J, Ciambotti J, Moynihan S. Planning for the Development of Telesonography. Journal of Digital Imaging. 17(1):18-27, 2004. Cited 12 times, IF = 1.100. Rank 93 of 120 Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, & Medical Imaging Journals.
• Jones, D.*, Moskaluk, C., Gillenwater, H., Rehm, P., Olazagasti, J., Phillips, J., Kozower, B., Burks, S., Petroni, G., Bao, Y
• Ravenel, J. G.,*, Reed, C. E., Hawes, R. H., Hoffman, B. J., Silvestri, G., Olazagasti, J., Wallace, M. B. Utility of endoscopic ultrasound in the staging of non-small cell lung cancer. American Journal of Radiology. 178:49, 2002.
Presented at ARRS, May 1, 2002 Atlanta GA.*
B. Abstracts/Posters
- Society of Thoracic Radiology Annual Meeting, Charleston, SC
o “Pectus Excavatum and Risk of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: a Retrospective Cohort Study” Battey, T., Yang, J., Olazagasti, J., Ropp, Accepted and presented at STR 2023
- Society of Thoracic Radiology Annual Meeting, Huntington Beach, CA
o Pathways of Lung Metastasis: Mechanisms, Radiologic Features, and Differential Diagnosis
- 94th Scientific Assembly & Annual RSNA Meeting
o Pneumoconioses: Radiologic/Pathophysiologic Reasons Not to Inhale
Educational Exhibit accepted for Presentation at the 2008. K. Derek Kreitel, MD; Brandon Skelton, MD; Asim Choudhri, MD; Michael Huang, MD; Juan Olazagasti, MD
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose.
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