Introducing Successful Iranian Americans : Dr. Abbas Alavi

Abass Alavi is Professor of Radiology and Neurology. He is currently the Director of Research Education in the Division of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Abass Alavi is a pioneer in nuclear medicine having a CV comprising over 660 peer-reviewed publications.
He is recipient of many awards and distinctions, among which are the highest distinction in nuclear medicine, the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award given by the Society of Nuclear Medicine, the Cassen Prize of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, and honorary degrees from the University of Bologna, the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and the University of Shiraz in Iran. In 2004, Alavi was awarded the Georg Charles von Hevesy Award from the Society of Nuclear Medicine for his pioneering work in the development of positron emission tomography. He is an internationally renowned expert in the modern imaging sciences and in the clinical applications of PET imaging for the detection of cancer as well as neurological, cardiovascular, and infectious disorders.
Biography Prof. Alavi received his medical degree from the University of Tehran and joined the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1971 as a research fellow in nuclear medicine after completing his education in internal medicine, hematology and radiology. He soon thereafter was appointed to U Penn faculty where he currently holds appointments as Professor and Director of Research Education, Department of Radiology. He is also Medical Director of the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Alavi began his work in PET in the 1970’s, and is recognized as an innovator in this field. He has made contributions to the field of modern medical imaging, including the introduction of 18FDG-Positron_emission_tomography (PET) with his colleagues. He and his colleagues have conducted pioneering research in modern imaging techniques including PET, SPECT, CT and MRI. He is an expert in modern imaging techniques and the clinical applications of PET imaging for the detection of cancer and other disorders including dementia, seizures, cardiovascular disease, and infection. He served as a member and chairman of scientific study sections at the NIH and American Cancer Society. He has published numerous scientific papers, and is the most cited faculty member at U Penn. He is a educator, and his former students and research fellows now occupy positions in Nuclear Medicine worldwide. He has been a long-time supporter of educational and research opportunities for students in nuclear medicine. While his name is associated with the Alavi-Mandell Awards, which recognize trainees and young scientists who publish articles as senior authors in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, his generosity also supports the Pilot Research Grants and the Bradley-Alavi Student Fellowship Awards funded by the Education and Research Foundation of the Society of Nuclear Medicine.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abass_Alavi