David H. Ballard, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiology

Clinical Expertise:
Abdominal

David H. Ballard, MD, is an assistant professor of radiology in the abdominal imaging section at WashU Medicine Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR). His clinical and research work focuses on advanced imaging of Crohn’s disease, with emphasis on MRI and PET/MRI biomarkers of inflammation, perianal fistulas, fibrosis and treatment response.

Ballard leads multiple funded prospective studies, including RSNA Research Scholar, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Litwin Pioneers, and Merck Investigator Studies Program awards, centered on quantifying inflammation and fibrosis in both perianal and small bowel Crohn’s disease. His work includes developing perianal Crohn's MRI-based scoring systems, establishing FDG PET/MR workflows, and collaborating with international groups on consensus criteria for radiologic healing in perianal Crohn’s disease.

He is a member of the Society of Abdominal Radiology’s Disease-Focused Panel on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, a member of the perianal Crohn's disease-focused TOPClass international consortium, and serves as section editor for “Diagnosis Please” for the journal Radiology. He has authored more than 170 peer-reviewed publications spanning perianal Crohn's disease, imaging biomarkers, MRI technique optimization and clinical applications of 3D printing in medicine.

Clinical Interests

Abdominal imaging, Crohn’s disease imaging, perianal fistula MRI

Research Interests

Crohn’s disease imaging, perianal Crohn's disease, MRI scoring systems, PET/MR biomarkers, fibrosis assessment, quantitative imaging

Link to Publications

Education History

Fellowship

Abdominal Imaging, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Residency

Diagnostic Radiology (Research Track), Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Medical Degree

Louisiana State University Health School of Medicine

Graduate

McNeese State University

Undergraduate

McNeese State University

Associations

Radiology Research Alliance, Association of University Radiologists
American College of Radiology
American Roentgen Ray Society
Crohn Disease-Focused Panel, Society of Abdominal Radiology
Secretary, 3D Printing Special Interest Group, Radiological Society of North America

Awards

2021 Honored Educator Award, Radiological Society of North America
2021 Distinguished Reviewer, American Journal of Roentgenology
2020 Distinguished Reviewer, American Journal of Roentgenology
2020 Special Distinction Reviewer, RadioGraphics
2019 Distinguished Reviewer, Clinical Imaging
2018 Magna Cum Laude Recognition, RSNA Annual Meeting for Educational Exhibit
2018 Resident Research Grant, RSNA
2017 Research Scholar Program, American College of Radiology (Association of University Radiologists)
2017 Postgraduate Research Award, Alpha Omega Alpha
2017 William W. Olmsted Editorial Fellowship, RSNA
2015 Dr. and Mrs. Adrian F. Reed Memorial Award, Louisiana State University School of Medicine
2015 Louisiana State University School of Medicine Institutional Scholarship
2015 Excellence in Surgery Award for Graduating Student, Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University School of Medicine
2015 John Odita Department of Radiology Outstanding Medical Student Award, Louisiana State University School of Medicine
2015 Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Medical Student, Louisiana State University School of Medicine
2014 Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, Alpha Omega Alpha
2014 Introduction to Academic Radiology RSNA Travel Scholarship Award