UNC Department of Radiology is pleased to announce that Mauricio Castillo, MD, FACR, has been named the first Matthew A. Mauro, M.D. Distinguished Professor of Radiology, as approved by the University’s Board of Trustees. Castillo’s appointment culminates UNC Radiology’s five-year campaign toward endowing and selecting a highly esteemed faculty member with the field and institutional expertise to advance UNC Radiology’s tripartite mission of advancing patient care, education and research.
Dr. Mauro responded: “I am absolutely delighted for Dr. Castillo to be the first individual to hold a professorship in my name. Mauricio is the consummate triple threat academic physician; a superb clinical diagnostic neuroradiologist, an exceptional educator and a truly amazing scholar. He is most worthy of this distinction.”
In 2016, Dr. Castillo was named the James H. Scatliff Distinguished Professor of Radiology. His selection befits Dr. Castillo’s 25+-year record in high-volume publishing across a wide-reaching scope of research, building a sought-after fellowship program, and leading top-tier patient care in neuroradiology at UNC Medical Center. Castillo’s natural leadership abilities give heed to the style of Dr. Scatliff, the Department’s second Chair and a beloved leader and educator at UNC School of Medicine for 50+ years. Now named to a second distinguished professorship honoring a Department of Radiology Chair, Dr. Castillo stands unquestionably among UNC Radiology’s top faculty radiologists over its almost 70-year history.
Recruited to UNC Radiology in 1992 by the Department’s third Chair, Dr. Joseph K.T. Lee, Dr. Castillo took the helm as UNC’s Neuroradiology Division Chief on Day 1, serving in this role for the next 28 years. Over three decades, his approach to academic radiology established Dr. Castillo within the institution and his field, earning him numerous top leadership posts and honors, among them: 1) UNC Neuroradiology Division Chief; 2) UNC Neuroradiology Fellowship Program Director; 3) two-time Charles A. Bream Teaching Award recipient; 4) President and Gold Medalist – American Society of Neuroradiology; 5) President and Gold Medalist – American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS); 6) Emeritus Editor in Chief – American Journal of Neuroradiology; 7) American College of Radiology – Fellow; 8) first Jackson Education Fellow; 9) ARRS Figley Editorial Fellow; and 10) Co-founder – American Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology (ASPNR).
Sheer numbers tied to education, patient care and research set Dr. Castillo apart as one of UNC Radiology’s most accomplished faculty members. He has published nearly 700 articles and 30 books, held visiting professorships at more than 50 institutions, and delivered 1200 invited lectures. Under Dr. Castillo’s division leadership, UNC Neuroradiology trained over 70 ACGME-approved fellows as a highly sought-after subspecialty program and hosted over 100 visiting scholars.
Mauricio Castillo shows no signs of slowing down. He has been named President of the 2022 Symposium Neuroradiologicum (XXII) to be held in May 2022 in New York City, NY. A February 2021 interview with the Italian Society of Neuroradiology (AINR) sheds some light on the motivations and compassion that drive him to strive for excellence, both professionally and personally.
To a question regarding the geopolitical future of the U.S. and other countries, he responded: “When you look at us as radiologists and humans, these differences are non-existing. In my experience, we all get [along fine together] and respect each other, have the best interests of our patients in mind, and want to be as knowledgeable as possible. … Radiology is indeed: one world.”