Vamsi R. Narra, MD

Vamsi R. Narra, MD, professor of radiology at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR), is honored for his considerable achievements as an outstanding clinician and administrator.

Since joining the Washington University faculty in 1997, Narra has become recognized as a compassionate physician wholly dedicated to continual improvement of efficiency and patient care quality. Credited with successfully developing a world-class body MRI program at MIR, Narra has initiated many other key advancements in care, including: establishing a comprehensive multi-subspecialty radiology service at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, establishing MRI as the preferred imaging method for evaluating the liver, fostering consolidation of cardiac imaging into a cardiac MR/CT service, and revamping the multidisciplinary case conferences for review of liver and pancreas cases — a contribution considered critical for advancement of Washington University’s liver transplant program.

Recently, he successfully led the creation of a system for storing and accessing radiology images that are submitted for second opinion from outside of MIR. The system currently has more than 2,800 users. This monumental task is credited with saving money and greatly improving efficiency and patient care.

Narra currently is chief of the abdominal imaging section, which encompasses MR, CT, ultrasound and various barium and genitourinary studies. His own area of greatest expertise is MRI. Narra also serves as chief of radiology at Barnes-Jewish West County, chief of clinical MRI, medical director for MRI at the Center for Clinical Imaging Research, and co-director for the body MRI fellowship.

Narra received his medical degree from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, in 1990. He completed residency at Michigan State University and a body MRI fellowship at MIR. Narra is currently enrolled in Washington University’s executive MBA program. He is also a fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists and a fellow of the American College of Radiology.