Neil Rofsky, M.D.
Chair, Department of Radiology
Professor & Chair

Neil M. Rofsky, M.D., M.H.A., is Professor and Chair of Radiology at UT Southwestern and the Effie and Wofford Cain Distinguished Chair in Diagnostic Imaging. Dr. Rofsky also serves as Co-Director of Translational Research for the Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC), a collaboration of UT Southwestern and the University of Texas at Dallas. As Chair of Radiology, he also leads efforts to rapidly bring the benefits of new technologies, including some developed at the AIRC, into clinical practice.

By actively recruiting and cultivating clinicians and residents with the same passion, the same dedication to excellence, the same intellectual vibrancy, we are creating a unique department and stimulating our colleagues.

A native of New York, Dr. Rofsky received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Maryland and his medical degree from New York Medical College. He then completed an internship in internal medicine at Middlesex University Hospital; a fellowship in nuclear medicine at the University of Utah Medical Center; a residency in radiology at the New York University Medical Center; and fellowships in abdominal imaging and magnetic resonance imaging at New York University Medical Center, where he was mentored by Morton Bosniak, Alec Megibow, and Jeffrey Weinreb.

Before joining the faculty of UT Southwestern, Dr. Rofsky served as Chief of MRI at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Rofsky concentrates his research on translating innovations in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy into clinical practice. His current studies emphasize developing MRI techniques to improve detection and evaluation of prostate cancer and to better guide treatment.

In his research, Dr. Rofsky seeks to apply MRI techniques such as arterial spin labeling (ASL) to measure blood flow in prostate and renal cell carcinomas. Since blood flow can reflect the viability of a tumor, these measurements can offer valuable insights into the potential aggressiveness of tumors and the effectiveness of treatments.

Dr. Rofsky and his collaborators have also pioneered the use of rapid contrast-agent-enhanced three-dimensional diagnostic imaging of the abdomen. Such rapid imaging is important because it enables clinicians to obtain high-resolution 3-D images during the brief time that a patient can hold a single breath, reducing the artifacts from respiratory and other motions.

Dr. Rofsky serves as an active member of the Board of Trustees of the Society for Advanced Body Imaging (SABI) and recently finished serving on the Board of Trustees of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM). He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, several textbooks, and presents regularly at such medical societies as the Radiological Society of North America, the ISMRM and the SABI.

Personal note

Trained as a classical musician, Dr. Rofsky is an oboist who appreciates the art and science of shaping the instrument’s reeds, which give it its unique sound. He also enjoys playing guitar, including numerous acoustic and electric instruments, and is the proud owner of a Steinway Model A Grand Piano built in 1884.

Medical School

New York Medical College (1985)

Internship

Middlesex Univ. Hosp.-Int. Med. Internship (1986), Internal Medicine

Fellowship

University of UTAH School of Medicine (1987), Nuclear Medicine

Residency

New York Univ. School of Medicine (1991), Diagnostic Radiology

Fellowship

New York University Med. Ctr. - MRI Fellowship (1992), Mri

• MRI Techniques for Body Imaging
• Prostate Cancer
• Radiology-Pathology Correlations

Featured Publications

Prediction of prostate cancer extracapsular extension with high spatial resolution dynamic contrast-enhanced 3-T MRI.

Bloch BN, Genega EM, Costa DN, Pedrosa I, Smith MP, Kressel HY, Ngo L, Sanda MG, Dewolf WC, Rofsky NM European radiology 2012 Jun

Automated computer-derived prostate volumes from MR imaging data: comparison with radiologist-derived MR imaging and pathologic specimen volumes.

Bulman JC, Toth R, Patel AD, Bloch BN, McMahon CJ, Ngo L, Madabhushi A, Rofsky NM Radiology 2012 Jan 262 1 144-51

Accurate prostate volume estimation using multifeature active shape models on T2-weighted MRI.

Toth R, Bloch BN, Genega EM, Rofsky NM, Lenkinski RE, Rosen MA, Kalyanpur A, Pungavkar S, Madabhushi A Acad Radiol 2011 Jun 18 6 745-54

Time-resolved vessel-selective digital subtraction MR angiography of the cerebral vasculature with arterial spin labeling.

Robson PM, Dai W, Shankaranarayanan A, Rofsky NM, Alsop DC Radiology 2010 Nov 257 2 507-15

Prevalence of incidental pancreatic cysts in the adult population on MR imaging.

Lee KS, Sekhar A, Rofsky NM, Pedrosa I Am. J. Gastroenterol. 2010 Sep 105 9 2079-84

Time-resolved Vessel-selective Digital Subtraction MR Angiography of the Cerebral Vasculature with Arterial Spin Labeling.

Robson PM, Dai W, Shankaranarayanan A, Rofsky NM, Alsop DC Radiology 2010 Sep

T(2)-weighted 3D fast spin echo imaging with water-fat separation in a single acquisition.

Madhuranthakam AJ, Yu H, Shimakawa A, Busse RF, Smith MP, Reeder SB, Rofsky NM, Brittain JH, McKenzie CA J Magn Reson Imaging 2010 Sep 32 3 745-51

Lymphatic metastases from pelvic tumors: anatomic classification, characterization, and staging.

McMahon CJ, Rofsky NM, Pedrosa I Radiology 2010 Jan 254 1 31-46

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging in the evaluation of patients with prostate cancer.

McMahon CJ, Bloch BN, Lenkinski RE, Rofsky NM Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 2009 May 17 2 363-83

Renal cell carcinoma: dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging for differentiation of tumor subtypes--correlation with pathologic findings.

Sun MR, Ngo L, Genega EM, Atkins MB, Finn ME, Rofsky NM, Pedrosa I Radiology 2009 Mar 250 3 793-802

 Featured Books

CT and MR Angiography: Comprehensive Vascular Diagnosis, 1st Edition

Rubin GD and Rofsky NM (Ed.) (2009). Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins

• Appreciation Award
  Texas Radiological Society, TRS 98th Annual Scientific Mtg (2011)
• Moreton Lecture
  Texas Radiological Society (2011)
• The Robert Lenkinski Mentorship Award
  Teaching Award from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Ctr (2010)
• Cum Laude Research Award - SCBT/MR
  MR Prompted Biopsies: Increased Positive Yield in Men with Prior Negavive Biopsy Hist (2008)
• Editor’s Recognition for Special Distinction in Reviewing
  Radiolology Reviewer award (2008)
• Outstanding Teacher Award
  ISMRM 2006 14th Annual Meeting (2006)
• Mortan A. Bosniak Lecture
  Angiogenesis and Imaging of Renal Masses (2004)

• American Board of Radiology
• American College of Radiology
• Association of University Radiologists
• International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
• Radiological Society of North America
• Society for Advanced Body Imaging
• Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments
• Texas Radiological Society