Interventional Radiology Division Enhances Minimally Invasive Care at WashU Medicine
Jack W. Jennings, MD, PhD, serves as senior vice chair and division director of interventional radiology.
WashU Medicine Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) has established a new Division of Interventional Radiology to support one of the largest and most comprehensive service centers in the country. Since its formal inception at MIR in the 1980s, interventional radiology (IR) has evolved from a clinical section specializing in angiography and select diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to a robust clinical specialty encompassing a wide range of image-guided, minimally invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
The growth and expansion of this subspeciality led to a need for increased infrastructure, both operationally and clinically — including the new 16-story Plaza West Tower that features streamlined, state-of-the-art IR suites. Creating a divisional structure aims to improve patient care, expand support for referring physicians and strengthen relationships with BJC Health partner hospitals.
Jack W. Jennings, MD, PhD, will lead these efforts, serving as senior vice chair and division director of interventional radiology. Jennings is known for his innovation in the IR field and has been involved with co-leading the landmark Society of Interventional Oncology TRIBUTE Trial, creating a multidisciplinary metastatic spine disease working group that led to published recommendations for treating metastatic spine disease and leading a prospective study on the efficacy of cryoablation in bone metastasis. He has served as chief of musculoskeletal radiology since 2018 and as vice chair for procedural and clinical quality since 2024. He succeeds Daniel D. Picus, MD, who served as interim IR chief and previously served in the role as the section’s first head from 1987 to 2000.
Jennings’ many accomplishments include several leadership positions and honors from professional organizations, including the 2025-2026 president-elect of the Society of Interventional Oncology and the 2022-2023 president of the American Society of Spine Radiology. He is also a fellow of the American College of Radiology, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe and Society of Interventional Radiology.
An MIR alumnus, Jennings completed his residency and a musculoskeletal radiology fellowship before joining the faculty. He earned his medical and doctoral degrees from the University of South Florida College of Medicine.
To support the new division, four faculty members have been appointed associate directors overseeing specific service lines or locations:
- James R. Duncan, MD, PhD: St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- Resten Imaoka, MD: Musculoskeletal Interventions
- Pavan K. Kavali, MD: Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital and Missouri Baptist Medical Center
- Alexander “Sasha” Ushinsky, MD: Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Jonathan C. Baker, MD, professor of radiology, will serve as chief of diagnostic musculoskeletal radiology. He currently serves as program director of the musculoskeletal imaging and interventions fellowship and has received the Distinguished Teaching Award several times for his dedication to educating the next generation of radiologists. Baker’s clinical interests include musculoskeletal trauma, sports medicine, arthritis, bone and soft tissue tumors, musculoskeletal ultrasound, imaging-guided percutaneous procedures, peripheral nerve imaging and metabolic bone disease.
Baker completed his diagnostic radiology residency and musculoskeletal fellowship at MIR, where he was named chief resident and Fellow of the Year. He earned his medical degree from WashU Medicine and his bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University.
