Gregory Woodhead, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor
Interventional Radiology
Program Director, Interventional Radiology - Integrated and Independent Residencies

Gregory Woodhead, MD, PhD received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Biology with Honors and Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University. He went on to graduate from the combined MD and PhD program at Northwestern University in 2010. Dr. Woodhead completed Diagnostic Radiology Residency, as well as Nuclear Medicine and Interventional Radiology Fellowships at the University of Arizona in 2016. After completing his training, he joined the Interventional Radiology faculty at University of Arizona, with the majority of his practice focusing on Interventional Oncology at the Cancer Center.

Dr. Woodhead’s career objective is to translate devices and therapies from the development stage into clinical practice. His interest in cancer cell biology draws from his PhD research on the role of the β-Catenin-signaling pathway in cell fate decisions for progenitor and cancer cells. As a resident and fellow at the University of Arizona, he embarked on an analysis of catheter-directed mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), which is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. He is the PI on multiple trials and registries that seek to identify long-term differences in patients who received mechanical thrombectomy for PE in comparison to those who received only anticoagulation alone.

Dr. Woodhead has published over thirty papers and frequently presents at national and international meetings. He is an integral member of multiple institutional programs and a committee member for many professional societies. He is passionate about educating and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows. He previously served as the Chair of the MD/PhD admission committee, and is the Program Director for the Integrated and Independent IR Residency programs at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

Degrees
  • MD: Northwestern University School of Medicine
  • PhD: Northwestern University School of Medicine
  • BA: Stanford University
Honors and Awards
  • Specialty Advisor Award, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, 2023
  • George Barnes Sr. Resident Teaching Award, University of Arizona Department of Medical Imaging, 2022
  • Resident Teaching Award University of Arizona Medical Center, Department of Medical Imaging, 2015
  • University of Arizona College of Medicine GME 2014 Resident Excellence and Leadership Scholarship, 2015
  • Resident Teaching Award University of Arizona Medical Center, Department of Medical Imaging, 2014
  • Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Introduction to Academic Radiology Program, 2012
  • Morton Heller Award for Exemplary Research” by Northwestern University MSTP, 2009
  • Student Research Highlight nomination by The Graduate School of Northwestern University, 2007
  • Best Poster Presentation Northwestern University MSTP Annual Retreat, 2006
  • The Katten Muchin Rosenman Travel Scholarship Northwestern Center for Genetic Medicine, 2005
  • Best Scientific Presentation Northwestern University MSTP Annual Retreat, 2004
  • Best ‘Ethics in Society’ Undergraduate Honors Thesis, Stanford University, 1998
  • Phi Beta Kappa, Stanford University, 1997
Internship
  • Rush University Medical Center, Department of Surgery
Residency
  • The University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
Fellowship
  • The University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Nuclear Imaging
  • The University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Vascular & Interventional Radiology
Board Certifications
  • American Board of Radiology: Interventional Radiology / Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine

Select Publications

In Press

Woodhead, GJ., RA. Avery, and PH. Kuo, Extraosseous Findings and Mechanisms of Uptake in NaF-18 PET/CT, In Press.

2024

Abramyan, A., D. Schaub, S. Kalarn, Z. Fitzgerald, D. Goldberg, J. Hannallah, G. Woodhead, and S. Young, "Including the bowel within the iceball during cryoablation: a retrospective single-center review of adverse events.", J Vasc Interv Radiol, 2024 Oct 28.
Insel, M., T. El Aini, G. Woodhead, R. Wig, S. Kubba, G. Claessen, E. Howden, and F. Rischard, "Post Pulmonary Embolism Phenotypes Described by Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing.", Chest, 2024 Sep 03.
Brunson, C., L. Struycken, D. Schaub, J. Ref, D. Goldberg, J. Hannallah, G. Woodhead, and S. Young, "Comparative outcomes of trans-arterial radioembolization in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis/non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-induced HCC: a retrospective analysis.", Abdom Radiol (NY), 2024 May 06. PMCID: 8527415 

2023

Young, S., J. Hannallah, D. Goldberg, T. Sanghvi, J. Arshad, A. Scott, and G. Woodhead, "Friend or Foe? Locoregional Therapies and Immunotherapies in the Current Hepatocellular Treatment Landscape.", Int J Mol Sci, vol. 24, issue 14, 2023 Jul 14. PMCID: PMC10380625 
Goldberg, D., G. Woodhead, J. Hannallah, and S. Young, "Role of the Interventional Radiologist in the Treatment of Desmoid Tumors.", Life (Basel), vol. 13, issue 3, 2023 Feb 26. PMCID: PMC10057839 
Struycken, L., G. Woodhead, D. Goldberg, J. Hannallah, and S. Young, "Transarterial Radioembolization of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Dose Threshold Study", JVIR, 03/2023.
Brunson, C. P., H. J. McGregor, C. T. Hennemeyer, M. V. Patel, G. J. Woodhead, and S. J. Young, "Measurement of the Tumor to Normal Ratio for Radioembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Prospective Study Comparing 2-D Perfusion Angiography, 99mTc-MAA, and 90Y SPECT/CT.", J Vasc Interv Radiol, 2023 Sep 30.
A, K., K. M, M. L, H. C, and W. G, "QoL and Survival of Catheter-Directed Therapy for Intermediate-Risk PE: A Single-Center, 5-Year Analysis", Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine, vol. 53, issue Supplement, pp. 572, 08/2023.
Young, S., A. Abamyan, D. Goldberg, J. Hannallah, D. Schaub, S. Kalarn, Z. Fitzgerald, and G. Woodhead, "Cryoablation in the liver: how accurately does the iceball predict the ablation zone?", Abdom Radiol (NY), 2023 Nov 30.
Babiker, H. M., M. D. Kay, C. Stuehm, G. Woodhead, and P. H. Kuo, "A Pilot Study of F-18 Fluciclovine-PET/CT as a Diagnostic Tool for Bone Metastases in Patients With Castrate Resistant Prostate Adenocarcinoma and Correlative Analysis of Blood and Bone Molecular Testing (The FACT Study).", Oncologist, 2023 Aug 24. PMID: 37616280

2022

Struycken, L., M. Patel, P. Kuo, C. Hennemeyer, G. Woodhead, and H. McGregor, "Clinical and Dosimetric Implications of Calculating Lung Shunt Fraction for Hepatic Y Radioembolization Using SPECT/CT Versus Planar Scintigraphy.", AJR Am J Roentgenol, vol. 218, issue 4, pp. 728-737, 2022 Apr.
Babiker, H., E. Borazanci, V. Subbiah, S. Agarwala, A. Algazi, J. Schachter, M. Lotem, C. Maurice-Dror, D. Hendler, S. Rahimian, et al., "Tilsotolimod exploits the TLR9 pathway to promote antigen presentation and Type 1 IFN signaling in solid tumors: A Multicenter International Phase I/II trial (ILLUMINATE-101).", Clin Cancer Res, 2022 Aug 02.
McGregor, H., L. Weise, C. Brunson, L. Struycken, G. Woodhead, and D. Celdran, "Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation to Occlude the Thoracic Duct: Preclinical Studies in Swine for a Potential Alternative to Embolization.", J Vasc Interv Radiol, vol. 33, issue 10, pp. 1192-1198, 2022 Oct.

2021

Struycken, L., and et. al, "Planar scintigraphy overestimates hepatopulmonary shunt fractions compared with quantitative SPECT/CT", JVIR, 05/2021.
McNiel, D., C. Hennemeyer, G. Woodhead, and H. McGregor, "Gallbladder Cryoablation: A Novel Option for High-Risk Patients with Gallbladder Disease.", Am J Med, vol. 134, issue 3, pp. 326-331, 2021 03.
Struycken, L., H. McGregor, M. Patel, P. Kuo, C. Hennemeyer, and G. Woodhead, "Abstract No. 34 Planar scintigraphy overestimates hepatopulmonary shunt fractions compared with quantitative SPECT/C", JVIR, vol. 32, issue 5, 2021.

2020

McGregor, H., G. Woodhead, C. Hennemeyer, and M. Patel, "Percutaneous Translumbar Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval", Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology , vol. 31(4), 02/2020.
McGregor, H., C. Brunson, G. Woodhead, M. Patel, and C. Hennemeyer, "Caudal Migration and Endovascular Retrieval of Two VIATORR CX Stent Grafts during Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement", Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology , vol. 31(3), 03/2020.
McGregor, H., G. Woodhead, M. Patel, A. Khan, J. Hannallah, D. Ruiz, M. Conrad, A. Tang, and C. Hennemeyer, "Gallbladder Cryoablation for Chronic Cholecystitis in High-Risk Surgical Patients: 1-Year Clinical Experience with Imaging Follow-up.", J Vasc Interv Radiol, vol. 31, issue 5, pp. 801-807, 2020 May.
McGregor, H., G. Woodhead, M. Patel, A. Khan, and C. Hennemeyer, "Gallbladder Cryoablation for Chronic Cholecystitis in High-Risk Surgical Patients: 1-Year Clinical Experience with Imaging Follow-up", Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, issue 31(5), 04/2020.
Caskey, J. S., M. D. Kay, N. A. McMillan, P. H. Kuo, and G. J. Woodhead, "Miscalculated Lung Shunt Fraction for Planning of Hepatic Radioembolization.", J Nucl Med Technol, vol. 48, issue 2, pp. 184-186, 2020 Jun.

2019

Hennemeyer, C., A. Khan, H. McGregor, C. Moffett, and G. Woodhead, "Outcomes of Catheter-Directed Therapy Plus Anticoagulation Versus Anticoagulation Alone for Submassive and Massive Pulmonary Embolism.", Am J Med, vol. 132, issue 2, pp. 240-246, 2019 02.
McGregor, H., G. Woodhead, M. Conrad, A. Tang, D. Ruiz, A. Khan, and C. Hennemeyer, "First in-Human Gallbladder Cryoablation in a Patient with Acute Calculous Cholecystitis Initially Treated with a Cholecystostomy Tube.", J Vasc Interv Radiol, vol. 30, issue 8, pp. 1229-1232, 2019 Aug.
"Chapter 4: Lines, tubes, and drains", Pocketbook of Clinical IR A Concise Guide to Interventional Radiology, New York, Thieme Medical Publishers, 2019.

2018

C, H., G. Woodhead, and C. Moffet, "Catheter-directed management for pulmonary embolism versus medical management: the new interventional radiology STEMI", J Vasc Interv Radiol, vol. ;29(4):S98-S99, 2018.
Woodhead, G., H. Babiker, C. Miller, and A. Shah, "Right tumor, right time: Systematic methodology for fiducial marker placement to achieve reliable and reproducible image guided (IG) delivery of intratumoral immunotherapy into deep/visceral (D/V) lesions and target-lesion imaging follow-up", Journal of Clinical Oncology, vol. 36, 05/2018.

2017

Woodhead, G. J., R. J. Avery, and P. H. Kuo, "Atlas of Extraosseous Findings Detected by 18F-NaF PET/CT Bone Scan.", Clin Nucl Med, vol. 42, issue 12, pp. 930-938, 2017 Dec.

2014

Emerson, M., G. Woodhead, S. Desoky, and D. Gilbertson-Dahdal, An Introduction to PPB: A Case Report of Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, 05/2014.
Woodhead, G., P. Devis, S. Black, E. Krupinski, R. Jinday, B. Kalb, D. Martin, and CT. Hennemeyer, Oral Presentation - Society of Interventional Radiology 2014 San Diego, CA - Systematic MRI Characterization of Tissue Outcomes Following Irreversible Electroporation of Hepatic Tumors., 2014.

2010

Zhang, J., G. J. Woodhead, S. K. Swaminathan, S. R. Noles, E. R. McQuinn, A. J. Pisarek, A. M. Stocker, C. A. Mutch, N. Funatsu, and A. Chenn, "Cortical neural precursors inhibit their own differentiation via N-cadherin maintenance of beta-catenin signaling.", Dev Cell, vol. 18, issue 3, pp. 472-9, 2010 Mar 16. PMCID: PMC2865854  PMID: 20230753

2006

Woodhead, G. J., C. A. Mutch, E. C. Olson, and A. Chenn, "Cell-autonomous beta-catenin signaling regulates cortical precursor proliferation.", J Neurosci, vol. 26, issue 48, pp. 12620-30, 2006 Nov 29. PMCID: PMC2867669  PMID: 17135424