Flavio Duarte Silva, M.D., Ph.D.

Flavio Duarte Silva, M.D., Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Radiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of its Musculoskeletal Radiology Division. His clinical interests include advanced accelerated 3D-MRI, sports imaging, diabetic foot imaging, rheumatology, sarcoma imaging, and related image-guided interventions.

Originally from Brazil, Dr. Duarte Silva earned his medical degree, radiology residency training, and advanced musculoskeletal fellowship training from Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. He then completed two research fellowships, one at Universite Paris Descartes, the other at the University of Miami. He also completed a second musculoskeletal fellowship program at UT Southwestern. Recently, he earned his doctoral degree from the Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo.

Prior to joining the UT Southwestern faculty in 2023, Dr. Duarte Silva was an Attending Physician at Oswaldo Cruz German Hospital and Fleury Health and Medicine in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Research interests

Dr. Duarte Silva focuses his research on the novel use of 3D MRI for joint imaging in sports medicine, multiparametric bone and soft tissue sarcoma imaging, diabetic foot and rheumatology imaging. He is working on new forms of image-guided tendon pathology management.

Dr. Flavio Duarte Silva is actively involved in 3D MRI research on ankle and foot tendinous injuries, functional bone and soft tissue tumor assessment, and 3D knee MRI research with respect to meniscus.

Dr. Duarte Silva provides patient care at the Clements University Hospital where his technical developments with respect to 3D MRI are being translated into the clinical practices for the improved diagnosis of posterior tibialis tendon pathology and acquired flat foot deformity, lateral ankle instability and peroneal tendons injuries, plantar plate, meniscus, rotator cuff injuries, bone and soft tissue sarcoma, morphea, and axial spondyloarthritis.

Global impact

Dr. Duarte Silva served as coordinator of the musculoskeletal radiology section of the Paulista Society of Radiology in Brazil. He is also an active member of the International Skeletal Society and American Roentgen Ray Society.

Teaching and lecturing

Dr. Duarte Silva was an active member of the Paulista Society of Radiology and was invited to lecture on several radiological, orthopedic and rheumatological Brazilian conferences. After moving to the United States, he has been an engaged member of American Roentgen Ray Society lecturing in multiple conferences.

Personal note

Dr. Duarte Silva’s longtime passion for sports comes from playing street soccer in his childhood, then field soccer in his adolescence, followed by being part of the track and field team at university. He still likes to play soccer and run in his leisure time. Per Dr. Duarte Silva, “It has been a great journey watching the most popular American sports and learning about their team’s history and players.”