Donald Benson, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Radiology

Clinical Expertise:
Cardiothoracic

Donald Benson, MD, PhD, is an associate professor of radiology in the cardiothoracic imaging section at WashU Medicine Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR). His clinical interests include cardiovascular disease, interstitial lung disease and lung cancer.

Benson has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and earned numerous teaching honors throughout his career. He previously served as the director of the cardiopulmonary imaging fellowship and the combined cardiopulmonary and body imaging fellowship programs at University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine.

Benson completed fellowships in cardiothoracic imaging and clinical magnetic resonance imaging at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He completed his diagnostic radiology residency and earned his medical degree from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he also served as chief resident. He holds a doctorate in physics from the University of Notre Dame.

Clinical Interests

Cardiovascular disease, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer

Link to Publications

Education History

Fellowship

Cardiothoracic Imaging, Clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Residency

Diagnostic Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Medical Degree

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Doctorate

Physics, University of Notre Dame

Undergraduate

University of Central Arkansas

Associations

Education Committee, North American Society for Cardiovascular Imaging
Membership Committee, Society of Thoracic Radiology
American College of Radiology
American Roentgen Ray Society
Radiological Society of North America

Awards

2024, 2025 Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award for Excellence in Resident Education, Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine
2024 Best Cardiothoracic Imaging Article, American Journal of Roentgenology
2022 Hounsfield Award (Best Oral Presentation for CT), Society for Advanced Body Imaging Annual Meeting