Meet the Radiologist: A Look Into Musculoskeletal Radiology with Dr. Jack Jennings
Jack W. Jennings, MD, PhD, is a professor of radiology for Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Jenning has served as the chief of musculoskeletal radiology since 2018 and is the director of musculoskeletal and spine interventions and procedures at MIR.
In our Meet the Radiologist series, we get to know the clinicians providing their imaging expertise and often serving as the foundation of treatment planning across all specialties. Jennings talks about exciting developments in interventional oncology and why a multidisciplinary workplace matters to patients.
What do you think differentiates MIR from other radiology providers?
MIR has some of the world’s experts in many of its divisions and is a multidisciplinary, collaborative workplace where different specialties work very closely. I believe this provides the best clinical treatment for patients.
What’s an exciting clinical development in your field?
Musculoskeletal interventional oncology is one of the fastest-growing portions of interventional oncology. I focus on the treatment of bone (including spine) and soft tissue metastatic lesions in patients with cancer using thermal ablation and cement.
What’s your favorite aspect of specializing in musculoskeletal radiology?
Musculoskeletal radiology is great as you get to see all of the sports-related injuries, bone and soft tissue cancers and do a wide variety of procedures including those related to musculoskeletal interventional oncology. It is an excellent specialty for those who love both diagnostic and interventional radiology.
Why did you choose radiology as your specialty?
I initially matched in neurosurgery and my doctoral advisor convinced me to consider radiology. I switched out and it was the best decision ever. The diversity, depth and breadth of what we see and do every day in radiology are different compared to other specialties.
Anything else we should know?
MIR is a great place to work, and I am blessed to work with so many wonderful people and truly enjoy coming to work every day.
