Cardiac MRI
Our Staff
Robert W. W. Biederman, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSGC, FASA
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Drexel University, College of Medicine
Gerald McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute
Dr. Robert Biederman, recognized worldwide for his expertise in cardiac MRI technology and research, is Director of Cardiovascular MRI at Allegheny General Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Biederman is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease and is an NIH/NHLBI certified cardiovascular MRI specialist.
Dr. Biederman received his medical degree from Medical University of South Carolina. He completed his internship and residency at Penn-State University - Hershey Medical Center. Subsequently, he was a National Institute of Health/University of Alabama at Birmingham Cardiovascular MRI Research Fellow and Chief Cardiology Fellow at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Dr. Biederman has received numerous awards and acknowledgments for his excellence and expertise in cardiovascular MRI. He is the recipient of a coveted National Scientist Development Grant from the American Heart Institute and has been, and currently is, funded by the NIH/NHLBI, as well as several investigator initiated industry proposals. His clinical and research interests cover a wide range of topics, including:
- Valvular heart disease, especially aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation
- Mechanical myocardial performance using radio-frequency tissue-tagging
- Non-traditional uses of cardiac MRI for assessment of diastolic function;
intramyocardial perfusion; and chest pain in patients (particularly women)
with normal or near normal coronary artery vessels - Clinical and cost-effectiveness of cardiac MRI compared to other imaging modalities
Dr. Biederman is an avid contributor to the medical literature, publishing in prestigious journals such as The Journal of Clinical Investigation, Circulation, and JACC. His work has been presented in over 100 scientific and professional manuscripts, abstracts, and textbook chapters. He is currently the author of a comprehensive cardiac MRI textbook entitled, " Cardiovascular MRI Tutorial: Lectures and Learning" along with Mark Doyle, Ph. D. and June Yamrozik, being released in November 2007. Dr. Biederman lectures locally, nationally, and internationally on cardiovascular MRI and cardiac physiology. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and serves as a reviewer for four additional journals in cardiology including Circulation and JACC. He is the Co-chair for the American Heart Association Peer-review Grant Study Section Group 1A
Dr. Biederman holds many active memberships including: Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (Founding Member); Heart Valve Society of America (Founding Member); American College of Cardiology; American Society of Angiology; American Society of Chest Physicians; American Heart Association; and American Medical Association. He is a recognized Fellow in the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Angiology.
Dr. Biederman has made major contributions to the field of cardiac MRI through his research, teaching, and prolific writing. His position further elevates the Gerald McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute as a leading center for cardiovascular care.
Dr. Biederman relaxes on occasion by running, reading about early explorers or great survival stories, and traveling with his wife and three children.
Mark Doyle, Ph.D.
A native of Wales, Dr. Doyle completed his undergraduate work in Pure Physics at University College London where he graduated with honors. He completed graduate study with distinction at Nottingham University, Nottingham, England with a dissertation titled “Real-Time NMR Imaging.” As a Postdoctoral Fellow there, he studied under Peter Mansfield, the 2003 Nobel Prize winner for his discoveries concerning magnetic resonance imaging.
Since 2002, he has been an Imaging Physicist in the Division of Cardiology at Allegheny General Hospital where he also holds the title Professor of Medicine, Drexel College of Medicine. Dr. Doyle’s work focuses on research in rapid MRI, seeking to make the scan time shorter, while providing excellent image quality. This research has led to the development of rapid flow imaging, where blood flow in the heart can be seen using a breath hold scan. Dr. Doyle also possesses a high level of programming proficiency with Matlab, C and Assembler for MRI image and data processing and control programs. Prior to coming to Allegheny General Hospital, he was with the University of Alabama at Birmingham as an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Disease.
Dr. Doyle has won numerous awards for his research and collaborates worldwide with scientists at other academic institutions and in the imaging industry. He has received federal funding for this research. Dr. Doyle is the author or co-author of over 100 scientific articles and conference papers and has presented his papers at both national and international venues. His work also appears as book chapters.
Dr. Doyle currently serves as a Primary Reviewer for both NIH Grant Applications and the British Heart Foundation. He also serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Current Cardiology Reviews. He was a founding member of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and continues to actively participate in its programs.
Dr. Doyle has taught many students and postdoctoral fellows. He knows how to enthuse his students with his mastery of the subject matter and incredible enthusiasm.
Outside of work, Dr. Doyle’s interests include philosophical considerations of the nature and measurement of noise, gardening, and church organization.
Vikas K. Rathi, MD, FACC
Associate Professor of Medicine
Associate Director, Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Drexel University, College of Medicine
Gerald McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute
After receiving his medical degree, Dr. Vikas Rathi enrolled into the American Board of Internal Medicine 7 Year Clinical Investigator Pathway in the year 2000. Under this 7-year program (2000-2007), he completed an Internal Medicine residency and Cardiology Fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital and a Fellowship in Cardiovascular MR Imaging and Spectroscopy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He obtained certification in cardiovascular MRI (Core Cardiology Training Symposium Level III) in 2001, became certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in 2004, and obtained special certification in advanced cardiac imaging in 2007. He was appointed attending Cardiologist at Allegheny General Hospital in 2007 and named Associate Director of Cardiovascular MRI and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Drexel College of Medicine.
Dr. Rathi’s primary research interest focuses on the role of cardiovascular MRI in the assessment of the diastolic function of the heart. As a result of his research, cardiovascular MRI is increasingly being used for routine evaluation of the diastolic function of the heart. He is also intrigued by the complex anatomy of the right heart and evaluation of its function by MRI in patients with pulmonary hypertension and sleep apnea. Dr. Rathi also has active research interests in evaluation of the coronaries and coronary artery disease; user-friendly tools for working with complex MRI sequences such as phase velocity mapping; valvular heart disease; and myocardial metabolism. Dr. Rathi’s seven years’ work on the evaluation of anomalous coronaries by MRI has culminated in a database which was recently cited by the American College of Cardiology and Society of Cardiovascular MRI as being the largest research database of its type.
Dr. Rathi has authored or co-authored numerous articles and contributed book chapters on the assessment of cardiovascular disease using MRI. He has presented his research at scientific conferences worldwide. His research has won awards in Fellows’ competition.
Dr. Rathi’s professional memberships include: Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance; American Heart Association; AHA Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; American College of Cardiology; and Society of Cardiovascular CT (Founding Associate Member).
Dr. Rathi is admired by his colleagues as a role model and mentor to younger investigators.
Outside of work, Dr. Rathi enjoys worldwide travel and exploring nature and wildlife.
June Yamrozik, B.S, RT(R) (MR)
June Yamrozik has been a member of The Cardiac MRI Center community since 2000 and is the lead MRI technologist. She is certified as a Registered Technologist, Radiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. More than 20 years of MRI experience provide her the impetus for her interest in cardiac imaging research. She is the author or co-author of over 25 scientific articles and is a co-author of the book The Cardiovascular MRI Tutorial: Lectures and Learning (to be released in November 2007). She is admired as a teacher who can clearly explain the principles of MRI scanning to her fellow technologists. June is a member of the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.
Outside of work, June Yamrozik is an avid fiction reader, gourmet cook, and shopper!
Ronald B. Williams, B.A, RT(R) (MR)
Ronald Williams joined the Cardiac MRI Center in 2003. He is certified in both Radiology and Magnetic Resonance through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. After many years as a Technologist in medical imaging, his enthusiasm for learning and growth led him to focus on Cardiac MRI. As a result, he now actively participates in clinical research and has co-authored several papers and abstracts for scientific journals. Ron is a member of the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, and the Society of Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Outside of work, Ron Williams enjoys looking for great places to eat, photography, and mind stimulating activities!
Saundra Grant, R.N., B.S.N.
Saundra Grant is an experienced Advanced Registered Nurse who specializes in cardiovascular MRI and is currently Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator at the Cardiac MRI Center. In this role, she is responsible for the management, coordination and conduct of single and multi-center clinical trials using cardiac MRI. She serves as an excellent resource for faculty and staff on guidelines and regulations that govern our clinical research.
Saundra Grant earned her BSN from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She has extensive experience in many areas of nursing with a special interest in cardiology and drug research. She is the co-author of several articles in professional journals and has lectured and taught a variety of courses for peers. She is a member of the A.A.C.N.
Outside of work, Saundra enjoys spending time with family, community involvement, and outdoor sports.
Geetha Rayarao, M.S.
Geetha Rayarao is a software engineer specializing in processing and development of new ideas for magnetic resonance images. She has developed advanced software packages for visualizing and measuring blood flow through the heart and blood vessels.
Outside of work, Geetha enjoys reading English literature, touring the US, and map reading.
Diane Vido, M.S.
Diane Vido currently serves as Cardiovascular Statistician at The Cardiac MRI Center. She graduated from Bates College and earned her Master of Science degree from the University of Maryland. Diane Vido’s work focuses on data analysis, data management, and report and manuscript writing. She is also involved in lecturing physicians and medical students.
Diane Vido has co-authored over 50 scientific articles. Her primary interests include innovative analysis of cardiac MRI and transplant data and the creation of clinical databases. She is also involved in website development.
Outside of work, Diane enjoys listening to classical music, reading about current events, and gourmet cooking.
Jan Meister
Jan Meister has been with the Cardiac MRI Department since 2001 as an Administrative Assistant, working closely with Dr. Biederman, staff, and patients. She handles office administration for the department and also assists with research related activities. Jan is often the person that you will speak with from the Cardiac MRI Center to schedule your appointment. She enjoys her contact with patients immensely!
Outside of work, Jan enjoys cats, gardening, and is an avid reader.
