Carina Yang, MD is an Associate Professor of Radiology and Vice Chair of Diversity & Inclusion for the department. She is also the Director of Pediatric Neuroradiology, and served as the Director of the Neuroradiology Fellowship for 8 years. She is the inaugural Faculty Director of Fellowship Accreditation in the Graduate Medical Education Office. Dr. Yang is an expert in interpretation of neuroradiological CT and MR examinations, and promotes techniques for pediatric patients to minimize radiation exposure and performing testing without the need for extended sedation.
She was selected to serve on the research program team for the Margaret Hackett Family Center Foundation, and is an elected member of the American Syringomyelia & Chiari Alliance Project Board as well as the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Board. She was also elected by peers to be a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee to the Deans in 2022. She was chosen to participate in the Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments (SCARD)-GE Leading Empowering and Disrupting (LEAD) Program in 2022, for rising female leaders in the field.
Dr. Yang’s devotion to educating medical students, residents, fellows and radiologists has enhanced our radiology department. She was the recipient of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Medical Education Research, Innovation, Teaching and Scholarship (MERITS) in 2016-2017. She most recently was selected as a Senior Faculty Scholar in the Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence.
She has a vested interested in medical simulation in radiology. She instituted a simulation program designed to prevent knowledge gaps with interactive educational tools that improve radiologists’ clinical skills and increase retention in the diagnosis and management of contrast reactions. Her intramural course has expanded to the annual University of Chicago Radiology Review Course, and she also co-directed a similar, very popular, larger scale hands-on workshop at the Radiological Society of North America for two years. She has also explored image-guided spine procedures using a lumbar task trainer and ImmersiveTouch virtual reality and haptic simulator. Dr. Yang has authored several peer-reviewed articles on the use of simulation in radiology.
Dr. Yang co-founded the Chicagoland Radiology Expo, now renewed in its 7th year as RadExpo, which provides medical students an opportunity to learn about the field of radiology through a series of interactive panels, hands-on activities, speed advising, and keynote speakers. In particular, sessions on underrepresented minorities and women in radiology help to promote diversity in this specialty. She has refreshed the diversity program for the department, leading an active D&I Council, continuing dialogue across department members. Under her guidance, a new Women in Radiology program has been initiated, and a dedicated D&I Grand Rounds series has been introduced.
She also has great interest in promoting neuroradiology education to trainees and practicing radiologists on a global arena, with past visiting professorships to locations such as Newfoundland, Canada, Hong Kong, as well as Gwalior and New Delhi, India, in part with funding from two University of Chicago Provost's Global Faculty Awards. She was selected as the 2019 Anne G. Osborn American Society of North America International Outreach Professor to Ethiopia, and most recently traveled to Trinidad for additional volunteer pediatric neuroradiology teaching. She hopes to continue to further her worldwide educational endeavors at new upcoming sites.