Ralph Drosten, MD

Professor
Cardiothoracic Radiology

Ralph Drosten, MD, joined the faculty at the University of Arizona Department of Medical Imaging and Banner University Medical Center Tucson. An expert in the field of Cardiothoracic Imaging, Dr. Drosten joins the department as a Professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Radiology.

Dr. Drosten completed Medical School and Radiology Residency at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. He worked in academic radiology at the Johannesburg General Hospital and in private radiology practice in South Africa. He then moved to the United States and completed an initial Fellowship in Thoracic Imaging at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Dr. Drosten completed a second Fellowship in Oncologic and PET Imaging at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Dr. Drosten serves on multiple national committees and is an active member of numerous professional societies. He was selected to serve on American College of Radiology (ACR) President Howard Fleishon MD’s Commission on International Relations. Dr. Drosten also offers his expertise working as a member of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Lung Cancer Screening 2.0 Steering Committee and contributes to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) Radiology Work Group.

Prior to joining the UArizona and Banner – University Medicine, Dr. Drosten was the Chair of Radiology at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Radiology Department in Phoenix, Arizona. A practicing radiologist for more than twenty years, Dr. Drosten specializes in Cardiothoracic, Oncologic, and PET/CT Imaging.

Degrees
  • MD, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Advanced Management Diploma, University of Manchester Business School, Manchester, United Kingdom
Honors and Awards
  • Silver Reviewer Lifetime Achievement Award, American Journal of Radiology AJR, 2023
  • Distinguished Reviewer, American Journal of Radiology AJR, 2020
  • Dignity Diamond Award, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, 2013
Internship
  • Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto and Medical School of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Residency
  • Diagnostic Radiology, Medical School of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Fellowship
  • Oncologic and PET Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
  • Thoracic Imaging, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Board Certifications
  • American Board of Radiology

Select Publications

2021

Hobbs, S., "Practical Imaging Interpretation in Patients Suspected of Having Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Official Recommendations from the Radiology Working Group of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation", Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging, vol. 3, issue 1, 2021.
Solsi, A., R. Bies, and R. Drosten, "Quantification of Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease in the Pre/Peri-Menopausal Female Using Cardiac CTA", Journal of the American Heart Association, 2021.

2018

Ross, M., S. Biswas Roy, P. D. Patil, J. Huang, N. Thawani, R. Drosten, and T. S. Panchabhai, "Coexistent Non–Small Cell Carcinoma and Small Cell Carcinoma in a Patient Presenting with Hyponatremia", Case Reports in Pulmonology, vol. 2018, issue 1718326, 2018.

2009

Scheuba, C., K. Kaserer, A. Moritz, R. Drosten, H. Vierhapper, C. Bieglmayer, O. A. Haas, and B. Niederle, "Sporadic hypercalcitoninemia: clinical and therapeutic consequences.", Endocr Relat Cancer, vol. 16, issue 1, pp. 243-53, 2009 Mar.

2007

MD, K. A. Morton, and R. Drosten MD, "Diagnostic Imaging: Nuclear Medicine 1st Edition", AMIRSYS textbook “Nuclear Medicine”, 2007.
Scheuba, C., K. Kaserer, C. Bieglmayer, R. Asari, P. Riss, R. Drosten, and B. Niederle, "Medullary thyroid microcarcinoma recommendations for treatment - a single-center experience.", Surgery, vol. 142, issue 6, pp. 1003-10; discussion 1010.e1-3, 2007 Dec.

2004

Szot, A., F. L. Jacobson, S. Munn, D. Jazayeri, E. Nardell, D. Harrison, R. Drosten, L. Ohno-Machado, L. M. Smeaton, and H. S. F. Fraser, "Diagnostic accuracy of chest X-rays acquired using a digital camera for low-cost teleradiology.", Int J Med Inform, vol. 73, issue 1, pp. 65-73, 2004 Feb. PMID: 15036080

2002

R, D., "An Unusual Renal Cyst", South African Journal of Radiology, SAJR, vol. 6, issue 1, 2002.
R, D., "Normal Variant Striate Calcification Perpendicular to the Lateral Ventricles", South African Journal of Radiology, SAJR, vol. 6, issue 1, 2002.

2001

R, D., "A Classical Presentation of Peyronie’s Disease", South African Journal of Radiology, SAJR, vol. 5, issue 2, pp. 42-43, 2001.
R, D., "Thornwaldt’s Cyst", South African Journal of Radiology, SAJR, vol. 5, issue 2, pp. 40-41, 2001.
R, D., "Intertrochanteric Stress Fracture Following the Comrades Marathon", African Journal of Radiology, SAJR, vol. 5, issue 2, 2001.