Behrooz Masuodi, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Cardiothoracic Imaging Division. Dr. Masuodi attended medical school at Kashan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services in IRAN. He attended Johns Hopkins for a Nuclear Medicine Residency and then completed a Diagnostic Radiology Residency at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma. Dr. Masuodi sat to discuss what inspired him to become a radiologist, why he chose Cardiothoracic Imaging, and the advice he would give to his younger self.
What attracted you to the Department of Radiology at UNC?
I had the pleasure of working at UNC around seven years ago. I was a postdoc researcher then and participated in observership in the Department of Radiology. I got to know the culture, the campus, and the atmosphere of UNC. When I saw the opportunity to return, I jumped at the chance, knowing it would be an excellent fit for my career at this stage. I love North Carolina.
What inspired you to become a radiologist?
I’ve always been interested in cardiothoracic medicine. During my studies, I had the opportunity to pursue research in surgery as part of a lung transplant team. That experience exposed me to Radiology, specifically lung transplants. I realized I found more joy and satisfaction in Radiology than in Surgery.
One of the factors that influenced my decision was the realization that, as a Radiologist, I could help more people in a shorter period of time each day. That was a draw for me. The advancements in technology and innovations in the field, not to mention the enormous potential of it to support patient care, were another factor for me.
How did you decide to pursue cardiothoracic?
This goes back to the first or second year of medical school when I started having courses in different systems. Since starting anatomy and physiology, I have been much more interested in cardiac physiology and pathology than any other organ system in the body. When I had my rotations, I liked cardiopulmonary medicine, and because of that, my love and interest in cardiothoracic never got away from me. When I started my career in Radiology, I knew from day one that I wanted to be involved in cardiopulmonary Imaging.
Has it met your expectations?
Absolutely. It can sometimes be overwhelming because of the very wide range of pathologies and diseases that we are involved in and the high volume of the cases. We now are using dual source energy and photon-content imaging. Everything is becoming technologically more advanced. Cardiac imaging is an entirely different world. So, it has met and exceeded my expectations.
Are there any medical advances you’d like to see within CT in the next five years?
I would like to see the expansion of lung cancer screening programs.
What drew you to academic medicine?
Besides caring for patients, one of my passions for my career is teaching. For that purpose, I must be somewhere where there are researchers, medical students, or residents. Even where I am now, as a fellow, I’m teaching medical students in my free time. It’s something that I love to do. The joy I get from teaching the next generation of physicians is one of the main factors that brought me to academic medicine.
What’s one piece of advice you would give people who want to become radiologists?
It’s an arduous journey. It feels like it lasts forever. But you learn as you go along. You make mistakes and you learn from them. So, you need to be patient, keep working hard, and enjoy your life.
What’s a piece of advice you would give your younger self?
It’s the same with the addition of, stressing less. Everything is going to be okay. Our lives are full of exams and long shifts. You get very upset by missing a small thing and think that’s the end of the world, or you think the exam is everything in your life. Because it’s a long journey, not a sprint; it’s a marathon. So, you have to pace yourself. You must take care of yourself, your family, your soul. So, if I could go back and tell my younger self something, it would be to take the time to enjoy life more along the way.
Is there anything that you would want your co-workers or colleagues to know about you before they meet you?
In addition to focusing on my work as a radiologist, I definitely enjoy being part of a family of co-workers. I am a very social person. I always enjoy hanging out with my peers and colleagues and gathering outside of work. I enjoy talking with people and learning from their experiences.
What do you do when you aren’t working?
When I’m not working, I find nature walks away from my cell phone, away from other people’s cell phones, somewhere disconnected, enjoying the peace and quiet. I enjoy traveling. I also enjoy cooking since it takes my mind completely off anything else, and at the end of the experience, I hope to have a delicious meal to enjoy.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
My dream of becoming a physician started early. I have an older sister who began medical school a few years ahead of me, and it was always a significant influence, and she has been an inspiration for me. Besides that, I was very interested in crafts and building things, which I still pursue today as a hobby.
How would you describe yourself in one word?
Persistent.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
Time travel. I want to experience living in the past and the future.