Many physicians have a personal driver behind why they chose their career path. For Dr. Takashi Takahashi, it was his mother’s cancer when he was a child.

“My mother went through cancer treatment when I was in elementary school. This experience was what first interested me in the field of medicine.”

His interest stayed with him through his undergraduate and graduate schooling at the University of Washington.

“Just as I started my PhD program, I felt this might be the last chance to try applying to medical school so I would not have any regrets about what could have been,” said Takahashi.

Soon after, Takahashi was accepted to the Medical College of Wisconsin and began the long journey to become a physician. While exploring specialties in medical school, a speaker from the radiology interest group addressed students at a seminar and something clicked.

“He said radiology is ‘a bridge between technology and medicine.’ This one phrase got me really interested in radiology,” said Takahashi. “As I got to know more about the field, I felt radiology was like detective work. Using all the clues from images and some relevant clinical history, radiologists find the suspect and make a diagnosis. In fact, this diagnosis process of medicine is what I find the most exciting.”

After completing medical school, Takahashi did his residency in radiology at the University of Minnesota and then left for a musculoskeletal fellowship at University of California San Diego. When it came time to begin his career as a radiologist, Minnesota was where he wanted to be.

“I knew how great all of the faculty in were in the radiology department at U of M Medical School. Being away from Minnesota and seeing other places, confirmed and strengthened how important it is to work with people I like, admire and respect.”

Dr. Takahashi has now been an Assistant Professor in the Musculoskeletal Division of the Medical School’s Department of Radiology for four years.

“I’m really grateful to work at the University of Minnesota. I’ve seen the program evolve and it is really exciting to be part of this evolution process.”