We’re excited to welcome Dr. Jeremy Jose to the Department of Radiology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Abdominal Imaging. Warm, thoughtful, and deeply grounded in his values, Jeremy brings not only clinical expertise and a passion for teaching but also a compelling personal journey that led him from engineering to medicine—and ultimately to radiology.
A Life-Changing Moment
Originally a student at Georgia Tech pursuing engineering, Jeremy didn’t find a spark in his early academic track. But a traumatic personal event changed everything: his father was attacked at work and taken to Grady Hospital in Atlanta. Standing in the trauma bay, Jeremy witnessed a team of doctors spring into action with calm precision. That moment didn’t just inspire admiration—it reshaped his future. “They seemed to know exactly what to do,” he recalls. “I wanted to go into a field where I could help others, including my family, with knowledge I worked hard to gain.”
Discovering a Hidden Passion
While medicine became his new goal, radiology wasn’t initially on Jeremy’s radar. It wasn’t until he was immersed in anatomy during medical school that something clicked. “As soon as we opened the abdominal cavity in dissection, I knew that area would be of particular interest to me.” It was the beauty of internal systems—visceral organs working in harmony—that fascinated him. Paired with growing insight into the pivotal, problem-solving role radiologists play across disciplines, abdominal imaging emerged as his true calling.
“I love that in radiology, we often get to the root of the problem quickly. We touch more patients in a day through our interpretations than many clinicians can one-on-one. I get to use anatomy, imaging physics, and clinical collaboration all in one.”
Why UNC?
A native of Georgia and a first-generation American, Jeremy always imagined returning to the South. When he and his wife were ready to leave Illinois, Chapel Hill and the Triangle had a natural draw—both for proximity to family and the lifestyle. “We’d vacationed in western North Carolina and loved the outdoors here.”
But what sealed the deal was UNC Radiology itself. “The tripartite mission—the strong emphasis on clinical excellence, research, and especially education—was a perfect fit. I was drawn to academic medicine because of the opportunity to teach. Once I met the faculty and saw how collaborative and family-friendly the environment was, I knew this was where I wanted to be.”
Looking Ahead: Radiology and Innovation
Jeremy is especially excited about how AI will evolve in radiology. “The volume of imaging we do is only increasing. I’m hopeful for truly functional AI tools that can help us sift through massive datasets to surface clinically relevant findings that guide care. It’s not just about efficiency—it’s about helping our colleagues and patients in smarter, faster ways.”
A Radiologist with Heart
Despite his intense commitment to education and excellence, Jeremy is refreshingly down-to-earth. When he’s not reading scans or teaching residents, you’ll likely find him with his wife Leigh and their three-year-old son Julian. Their family also includes a dog and two cats—plus a shared love of outdoor adventures. “We recently went to Asheville, hiked, and played in the creek. Time outdoors with my family is where I’m happiest.”
He jokes that if he had a superpower, it would be time control—”especially if you ask my son, who always wants more play time with water guns.”
Words to Live By
Jeremy’s journey has shaped a unique perspective: “Don’t focus so much on the next step in education that you neglect your relationships. You have to tend to them, so they grow and flourish.”
When asked about his favorite thing about himself, he answers without hesitation: “The people I surround myself with. My close friends and family—they’re everything.”
Fun Facts
- Former Dream Job: Pilot (until motion sickness had other plans)
- Last Gift Given: A hanging planter of petunias for his wife—Plant cultivation is a new passion of her’s
- Dream Dinner: A high-quality bagel with lox
- Actor to Play Him in a Movie: Kumail Nanjiani
- Communication Style: Face-to-face, always—“There’s so much that gets lost otherwise.”
With a vibrant mix of clinical passion, intellectual curiosity, and personal warmth, Dr. Jeremy Jose is a welcome addition to UNC Radiology—and we can’t wait to see the impact he’ll make.