Meet the Education Team at Columbia Radiology

Radiology is one of the most rapidly evolving medical specialties today, posing unique challenges and opportunities for those who are tasked with educating future specialists in the field. Led by Phillip Boiselle, MD, Columbia Radiology’s new education team is meeting those challenges by reimagining what a radiology education program looks like in an era of constant technological change—and innovating collaboratively to meet that vision.

Boiselle joined Columbia Radiology in 2025 as vice chair of education, bringing vast medical education experience to the department from his tenure as dean of two medical schools. In his first year at Columbia, he has comprehensively restructured the department’s education team, bringing in new leadership across undergraduate medical education, residency training, and eight fellowship programs. He has done this with a belief that radiology education is a continuum rather than a collection of individual programs.

“My goal from the beginning has been to create what I call a community of learners,” says Boiselle. “Medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty are all part of the same learning community, and every single day we learn from and with one another.”

Boiselle has also overseen significant expansion of the department’s educational footprint at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) and its affiliated hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian. The team has increased the number of residency positions, introduced a new Musculoskeletal Imaging Fellowship, and launched a medical student selective designed to broaden early exposure to radiology. The team has also strengthened engagement with learners through research mentorship, student programming, and new pathways that connect trainees across all stages.

“We're really fortunate to have such a venerable training program with such a solid foundation,” says Boiselle, noting that Columbia is home to one of the first neuroradiology training programs in the country and has a strong legacy of radiology education pioneers. “We're building layer upon layer of innovation on that foundation.”

Educational innovation is also emerging  from the trainees themselves, says Boiselle, including the formation of a resident-led and faculty-mentored artificial intelligence interest group that reflects a collaborative, forward-looking approach to curriculum design. “The best curricula—the ones that really meet the individual needs of the learners—are often co-created,” says Boiselle.

“The one thing that you can count on is change,” he says. “And we make sure our trainees have an evidence-based approach to whatever is coming their way, and that they're ready to embrace lifelong learning, which is such a vital part of being a radiologist.”

Meet our Education Leadership

Phillip Boiselle, MD

Professor of Radiology
Vice Chair of Education

Phillip Boiselle is a nationally recognized education leader in academic medicine. A graduate of the Rabkin Fellowship in Medical Education at Harvard Medical School, he has three decades of educational leadership experience. Prior to joining Columbia in 2025, he served as dean at two medical schools, bringing a broad perspective on medical education across the continuum. At Columbia, Dr. Boiselle oversees all educational programs, from medical student education to residency, fellowship, and continuing education. He is focused on fostering collaboration across programs, advancing innovation in curriculum design, and cultivating a “community of learners” in which trainees and faculty learn from one another at every stage of their careers. Boiselle also serves as senior advisor to the vice dean of education at VP&S.

Pallavi Utukuri, MD

Associate Professor of Radiology
Program Director, Diagnostic Radiology Residency

Pallavi Utukuri oversees diagnostic radiology residency training for 33 diagnostic and interventional radiology residents. A neuroradiologist who joined Columbia Radiology in 2010, Utukuri has been recognized at Columbia for her innovations and efforts to incorporate medical imaging into all levels of the medical school curriculum at VP&S. In 2020, she successfully launched a hybrid flipped classroom module for the medical school’s radiology rotation, which has been recognized as the most high-yield rotation at VP&S. In 2022, Utukuri became the first member of the Department of Radiology to be inducted into the Virginia Apgar Academy of Medical Educators, honoring her excellence as an educator.

Sidney Brejt, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Program Director, Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency and Interventional Radiology Independent Residency

Sidney Brejt is an interventional radiologist and an alumnus of Columbia’s Diagnostic Radiology Residency and Interventional Radiology Independent Residency. As faculty, Brejt has served in multiple education roles in the department, most recently as associate program director for the IR Integrated Residency. He also serves as the director of pediatric interventional radiology for the department. He is a graduate of the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center.

Nahill Matari, MD, MS

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Associate Program Director, Diagnostic Radiology Residency

Nahill Matari specializes in both breast imaging and neuroradiology. He is an active contributor to the residency’s curriculum development. His strong background in medical education includes the development of curriculums at both the medical student and resident level. Matari received his medical degree from New York Medical College, followed by a diagnostic radiology residency at Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, where he served as chief resident. He then completed a neuroradiology fellowship at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and a breast imaging fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. 

Sonali Lala, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Associate Program Director, Diagnostic Radiology Residency

Sonali Lala is a musculoskeletal radiologist with a strong background in education. Shereceived her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University, followed by a Diagnostic Radiology Residency at Montefiore Medical Center. Lala completed her fellowship training in musculoskeletal radiology at NYU Langone Medical Center.

Hannah Bae, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Associate Program Director, Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency

Hannah Bae is an interventional radiologist and an alumnus of Columbia Radiology’s Interventional Radiology Fellowship. Bae earned her medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, followed by a radiology residency at Northwell Health, where she served as chief resident. Bae has contributed to numerous scientific research articles in esteemed medical journals, covering a broad spectrum of topics ranging from the management of deep venous thrombosis to addressing healthcare disparities.

William “Rocky” Walter, MD

Associate Professor of Radiology
Director, Medical Student Education

Rocky Walter is a musculoskeletal radiologist and dedicated teacher, committed to integrating radiology and imaging into medical education at all levels and across disciplines. Walter received his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School, followed by diagnostic radiology residency training, where he served as chief resident, at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed fellowship training in musculoskeletal imaging and interventions at NYU Langone Health.

Zohaib Ahmad, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Associate Director, Medical Student Education

Zohaib Ahmad is musculoskeletal radiologist and leader in medical student education and global health initiatives within the department. He has been instrumental in developing new educational opportunities, including the department’s recently launched medical student selective. He received his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine and went on to complete his residency in diagnostic radiology at Boston University Medical Center. He then completed a fellowship in musculoskeletal radiology at Johns Hopkins University.

Sam Payabvash, MD

Professor of Radiology
Assistant Director, Medical Student Education

Sam Payabvash is a physician-scientist with subspecialty expertise in neuroradiology. He serves as director of clinical translation and innovation for Columbia's Center for Innovation in Imaging Biomarkers and Integrated Diagnostics (CIMBID), a multidisciplinary center dedicated to developing and integrating quantitative imaging and non-imaging biomarkers for disease prediction. Payabvash’s extensive body of research is primarily focused on the development of tools to guide treatment for cerebrovascular diseases. Among his many contributions to the field are multiple machine learning models designed to risk-stratify and provide treatment guidance for patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. A graduate of the medical school at Tehran University, Payabvash subsequently joined Massachusetts General Hospital for a postdoctoral research fellowship, followed by a radiology residency at University of Minnesota. He completed a neuroradiology fellowship at University of California, San Francisco.

Pei-Kang “Ken” Wei, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Program Director, Abdominal Radiology Fellowship

Ken Wei is an abdominal radiologist and passionate educator who is deeply involved in the daily education of radiology residents and medical students, in addition to his role as fellowship director.  Wei earned his medical degree at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He completed a diagnostic radiology residency and abdominal MRI fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School.

Panagiotis Sideras, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Program Director, Neuroradiology Fellowship

Panagiotis Sideras is a neuroradiologist with a passion for resident, fellow, and medical student education. His other academic interests include non-invasive vascular imaging, neuro-oncologic imaging, imaging techniques, and incorporation of artificial intelligence in imaging. After receiving his medical degree from Semmelweis University in Budapest, Sideras subsequently pursued his PhD at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. He completed his diagnostic radiology residency at Robert Wood Johnson/Rutgers University at Newark Beth Israel Hospital in NJ, followed by a fellowship in neuroradiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Roberto Lo Gullo, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Program Director, Breast Imaging Fellowship

Roberto Lo Gullo is a breast imaging radiologist with a research focus is on artificial intelligence and machine learning for personalized breast cancer screening. He received his medical degree from the University of Messina in Italy and completed his diagnostic radiology residency training at the University of Milano. He completed a breast/body imaging fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Matthew Moy, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Program Director, Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship

Matthew Moy is the chief of the Division of Musculoskeletal Radiology. He received his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, followed by a diagnostic radiology residency with subspecialty training in abdominal imaging (gastrointestinal/genitourinary) at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he served as chief resident. He completed his fellowship training in musculoskeletal imaging and intervention at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Jay Leb, MD

Associate Professor of Radiology
Program Director, Cardiothoracic Fellowship

Jay Leb serves as director of cardiothoracic imaging for the Department of Radiology. He received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, and completed his residency at Jacobi Medical Center-Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he served as chief resident. He received further training in cardiac and thoracic imaging during his fellowship at University of Maryland Medical Center. Leb has a passion for teaching and has been awarded resident teacher of the year and fellow of the year during his training.

Mikhail Dubrovin, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Radiology
Program Director, Nuclear Medicine Fellowship

Mikhail Dubrovin is the chief of the Division of Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics. Doubrovin’s clinical and research interests are focused on the use of radiopharmaceuticals in diagnosis and treatment of cancer. He is also involved in development of and monitoring of immune cell therapy for cancer and allied diseases. Doubrovin began his career with an research fellowship in nuclear medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), followed by residency training in nuclear medicine at MSKCC and pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian. He later served at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where he combined pediatric care with nuclear medicine expertise.

Jorge Delgado, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Program Director, Pediatric Radiology Fellowship

Jorge Delgado is a pediatric radiologist whose research interests have most recently included diffusion tensor imaging of the developing physis in children, optimized pediatric radiology education techniques, and management of intussusception in pediatric radiology. He received his medical degree from the Universidad CES Medical School in Colombia, followed by diagnostic radiology residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)/Harvard Medical School. After a focused year in musculoskeletal radiology at MGH, he completed a Pediatric Radiology Fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia/Perelman School of Medicine.

Designated Educators

• Dwight Aberle, MD
• Ritu Gill, MD, MPH
• Jonathan Goldstein, MD
• Mariya Kobi, MD
• Sherelle Laifer-Narin, MD
• Hong “Linda” Li, MD
• Tarub Mabud, MD
• Jasnit Makkar, MD
• Hiram Shaish, MD
• Priya Shoor, MD
• Eitan Sosner, MD
• Lindsay Young, MD

Administrative Team

• Sheik Amin, MHA
• Elizabeth Moreno
• Ashley Diodonet
• Rosemary Garcia