Avneesh Chhabra, M.D.
Chief, Musculoskeletal Radiology; Medical Director of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Parkland Health & Hospital System; Director, Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship Program
Associate Professor

Avneesh Chhabra, M.D., is an Associate Professor of Radiology (Clinical Scholar) at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Chief of its Musculoskeletal Radiology Division. He also serves as Chief of the Musculoskeletal Radiology Division at Parkland Memorial Hospital. His clinical interests include magnetic resonance neurography (MRN), sports imaging, rheumatology and sarcoma imaging, and related image-guided interventions.

Contributing to the education, mentoring and coaching of our future generation of physicians and leaders at UTSW Radiology is a privilege, and I aspire, promise, and try to effectively deliver it with an attitude of cheerful expectation.

Originally from India, Dr. Chhabra earned his Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree at Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi. He completed his Diagnostic Radiology residency at Delhi University’s Willington Hospital before receiving additional Diagnostic Radiology residency training at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. He then received advanced training in musculoskeletal radiology through an ACGME-accredited fellowship program at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Prior to joining the UT Southwestern faculty in 2013, Dr. Chhabra was an Assistant Professor of Radiology and Orthopedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, where he facilitated the MRN program and introduced novel technical developments, such as three-dimensional (3D) isotropic MRN with nerve selective reconstructions and advanced diffusion imaging in the realm of peripheral nerve imaging and treatment employing multidisciplinary approaches. While at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Chhabra benefited from the mentorship of John A. Carrino, M.D., M.P.H., and John Eng, M.D.

Research interests

Dr. Chhabra focuses his research on refining musculoskeletal cross-sectional imaging. He is actively involved in grantsmanship with technical developments and novel use of 3D imaging in sports medicine, and 3D and diffusion imaging in MRN, sarcoma, and rheumatology. He is working on new forms of pain management, including minimally invasive image-guided injections and nerve ablations. He is also investigating the impact of MRI in hip and knee sports imaging, and MRN in the management of presurgical patients with peripheral neuropathy, lumbosacral and brachial plexopathy. Additionally, Dr. Chhabra is exploring the use of 3D MRI and 3D CT to evaluate adult hip disorders, functional imaging of bone and soft tissue tumors, and meniscus and cruciate ligament injuries.

New approaches to patient care

Dr. Chhabra translates his research into patient care at the University Hospital Radiology Clinic, deploying novel MRN techniques to map peripheral neuropathy in those who are preparing for surgery, and directing perineural injections. His technical developments with respect to 3D MR and 3D CT imaging for multiple joints, such as knee, hip, and shoulder are also being rapidly translated into clinical practice for the improved diagnosis of meniscus, labrum, and rotator cuff injuries, bone and soft tissue sarcomas, and axial spondyloarthritis.

Global impact

Dr. Chhabra serves as a committee member for numerous national and international professional organizations, including the Scientific Review committees of the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS), International Skeletal Society, and the Society of Skeletal Radiology (SSR). He is also a member of the grant review study section of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), and is a review panelist for the organization's principal publication, RadioGraphics.

Teaching and lecturing

Dr. Chhabra is frequently invited to lecture nationally and internationally at conferences and venues throughout the United States and around the world, and has presented keynote addresses and invited lectures to the ARRS and RSNA, in addition to the Ontario Association of Radiologists and musculoskeletal radiology societies in China, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, and the Arabian Gulf. He has also presented the Tummala Madhusudana Rao Endowment Oration to the Asian Musculoskeletal Society. 

Besides his regular teaching responsibilities at UT Southwestern, Dr. Chhabra also provides virtual education to radiologists in India and China.

Dr. Chabbra has received many scholarly awards, including the Young Investigator Award from the SSR, the GE Radiology Research Academic Fellowship (GERRAF) award from the Association of University Radiologists, the William M.G. Gatewood M.D. Fellowship Award from Johns Hopkins University, and the Stephen B. Milam Research Award from the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation.

The author of more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, two textbooks and 30 book chapters, Dr. Chhabra also serves as a reviewer for numerous scientific journals, and is on the editorial boards of The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, European Radiology, Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography, and BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.

His dedication to the community is demonstrated by his commitment to volunteerism, ranging from judging professional conference events to local science fairs, and organizing medical camps and cultural activities throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Personal note

Dr. Chhabra’s longtime passion for cricket and tennis includes playing the games. He also enjoys watching basketball and football, traveling to different parts of the world, and cooking traditional Indian food.

Medical School

Delhi University/Maulana Azad Medical College, India (1996)

Residency

Willington Hospital-Delhi University (1999), Radiology

Fellowship

Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute (2002), Onco-radiology

Internship

Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center (2003), Internal Medicine

Residency

Drexel University College of Medicine (2007), Diagnostic Radiology

Fellowship

Temple University Dept. of Radiology (2008), Musculoskeletal Radiology

• Image-Guided Injections and Biopsies
• Magnetic Resonance Neurography
• Rheumatology and Whole Body MRI
• Sarcoma Imaging
• Sports Imaging

Featured Publications

Current utilities of imaging in grading musculoskeletal soft tissue sarcomas.

Fisher SM, Joodi R, Madhuranthakam AJ, Öz OK, Sharma R, Chhabra A Eur J Radiol 2016 Jul 85 7 1336-44

MR imaging of skeletal muscle signal alterations: Systematic approach to evaluation.

Kumar Y, Wadhwa V, Phillips L, Pezeshk P, Chhabra A Eur J Radiol 2016 May 85 5 922-35

Cross-sectional imaging of adult crystal and inflammatory arthropathies.

Soldatos T, Pezeshk P, Ezzati F, Karp DR, Taurog JD, Chhabra A Skeletal Radiol. 2016 May

Role of Diffusion Weighted Imaging in Musculoskeletal Infections: Current Perspectives.

Kumar Y, Khaleel M, Boothe E, Awdeh H, Wadhwa V, Chhabra A Eur Radiol 2016 May

Whole-body MR neurography: Prospective feasibility study in polyneuropathy and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Chhabra A, Carrino JA, Farahani SJ, Thawait GK, Sumner CJ, Wadhwa V, Chaudhary V, Lloyd TE J Magn Reson Imaging 2016 Apr

Second-Opinion Subspecialty Consultations in Musculoskeletal Radiology.

Chalian M, Del Grande F, Thakkar RS, Jalali SF, Chhabra A, Carrino JA AJR Am J Roentgenol 2016 Apr 1-5

MR neurographic orthopantomogram: Ultrashort echo-time imaging of mandibular bone and teeth complemented with high-resolution morphological and functional MR neurography.

Manoliu A, Ho M, Nanz D, Dappa E, Boss A, Grodzki DM, Liu W, Chhabra A, Andreisek G, Kuhn FP J Magn Reson Imaging 2016 Feb

Incremental value of magnetic resonance neurography of Lumbosacral plexus over non-contributory lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging in radiculopathy: A prospective study.

Chhabra A, Farahani SJ, Thawait GK, Wadhwa V, Belzberg AJ, Carrino JA World J Radiol 2016 Jan 8 1 109-16

Magnetic resonance neurography in the management of peripheral trigeminal neuropathy: experience in a tertiary care centre.

Cox B, Zuniga JR, Panchal N, Cheng J, Chhabra A Eur Radiol 2016 Jan

ISAKOS classification of meniscal tears-illustration on 2D and 3D isotropic spin echo MR imaging.

Wadhwa V, Omar H, Coyner K, Khazzam M, Robertson W, Chhabra A Eur J Radiol 2016 Jan 85 1 15-24

 Featured Books

Magnetic resonace Neurography

Avneesh Chhabra, Gustav Andreisek (2012).

Musculoskeletal MRI Structured Evaluation: How to Practically Fill the Reporting Checklist

Avneesh Chhabra, Theodoros Soldatos (Ed.) (2014). Wolters

• Stephen B. Milan Award
  Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation (2020)
• Cum Laude Award
  Radiological Society of North America (2019)
• Best Poster
  European Society of Skeletal Radiology (2018)
• Certificate of Merit
  Radiological Society of North America (2017)
• Keynote Speaker
  Ontario Association of Radiologists (2017)
• Keynote Speaker
  International Skeletal Society/Chinese Musculoskeletal Society (2017)
• Keynote Speaker
  Radiological Society of North America (2016)
• Diner Memorial Lecture in Radiology
  University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (2015)
• Keynote Speaker
  American Roentgen Ray Society (2015)
• Marquis Who's Who (Platinum edition)
  (2015)
• Tummula Endowment Oration
  Asian Musculoskeletal Society (2015)
• Certificate of Merit
  Radiological Society of North America (2014)
• Certificate of Merit, Educational Exhibit
  Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (2012)
• Certificate of Merit, Educational Exhibit
  Radiological Society of North America (2012)
• Gatewood Fellowship
  Johns Hopkins University (2012)
• Second Place, Scientific Paper
  Association of University Radiologists (2012)
• Blue Ribbon Lecture
  Philadelphia Roentgen Ray Society (2011)
• Certificate of Merit, Scientific Exhibit
  Radiological Society of North America (2011)
• First Place, Scientific Exhibit
  European Society of Radiology (2011)
• First Place, Scientific Paper
  Association of University Radiologists (2011)
• GE-AUR Radiology Research Academic Fellowship
  General Electric/Association of University Radiologists (2011)
• Trainee Research Prize
  Radiological Society of North America (2011)
• Young Investigator Award
  Society of Skeletal Radiology (2011)
• GE-AUR Radiology Research Academic Fellowship
  General Electric/Association of University Radiologists (2010)
• Outstanding Academic Achievement
  Drexel University (2007)
• Outstanding Academic Achievement
  Drexel University (2006)
• Second Prize, Scientific Exhibit
  Pennsylvania Radiological Society (2006)
• Certificate of Merit, Scientific Exhibit
  Radiological Society of North America (2005)
• First Prize, Scientific Exhibit
  Pennsylvania Radiological Society (2005)
• Outstanding Academic Achievement
  Drexel University (2005)
• Certificate of Merit, Scientific Exhibit
  Radiological Society of North America (2004)
• First Prize, Scientific Exhibit
  Pennsylvania Radiological Society (2004)
• Outstanding Academic Achievement
  Drexel University (2004)
• Outstanding Academic Achievement
  Drexel University (2003)

• American Roentgen Ray Society
• Association of University Radiologists
• Indian Radiological Society
• International Skeletal Society
• International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
• Natonal Magnetic Resnoance Society
• Radiological Society of North America
• Society of Computed Body Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Society of Skeletal Radiology