{"id":8159,"date":"2025-08-08T10:24:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T14:24:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/?p=8159"},"modified":"2025-08-08T10:29:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T14:29:36","slug":"meet-dr-blaine-mischen-leading-the-future-of-molecular-imaging-and-radiotheranostics-at-unc-radiology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/2025\/08\/meet-dr-blaine-mischen-leading-the-future-of-molecular-imaging-and-radiotheranostics-at-unc-radiology\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Dr. Blaine Mischen: Leading the Future of Molecular Imaging and Radiotheranostics at UNC Radiology"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AWhen Dr. Blaine Mischen talks about medicine, there\u2019s a spark in his voice \u2014 part curiosity, part passion, and part deep-seated belief in the impact a physician can have on a patient\u2019s life. As the new\u00a0Associate Professor of Radiology<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Chief of the Division of Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics (MIT)<\/strong>\u00a0at UNC, he brings with him not only years of expertise in nuclear medicine and radiotheranostics but also a heartfelt connection to North Carolina and a clear vision for the field\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

For Dr. Mischen, joining UNC Radiology was both a professional opportunity and a homecoming. \u201cI grew up in Asheville, went to Wake Forest for undergrad, and Duke for medical school. My wife went to the University of North Carolina for law school. We were here for close to 10 years \u2014 our first child was born here, and our best friends live here,\u201d he shares. \u201cWhen the position opened, I asked my two family if they wanted to move backto North Carolina. They said, \u2018Yes, absolutely, let\u2019s go!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

That family decision aligned perfectly with his admiration for the culture that\u00a0Chair Maureen Kohi, MD<\/strong>, has cultivated at UNC Radiology. \u201cThe department has such a collaborative, forward-thinking atmosphere, and there\u2019s incredible potential for growth in radiotheranostics,\u201d he says. With resources like the\u00a0Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC)<\/strong>\u00a0producing its own research isotopes, Dr. Mischen sees a fertile environment for innovation.<\/p>\n

A Lifelong Calling<\/strong><\/p>\n

Medicine wasn\u2019t just a career choice for Dr. Mischen \u2014 it was a calling. \u201cI\u2019ve wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember,\u201d he says. With a grandmother who was a World War II nurse, a mother who is a nurse, and a father who is a PA in cardiovascular surgery, his upbringing was steeped in healthcare. But it wasn\u2019t just science that drew him in \u2014 it was the human connection.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember going to the grocery store with my dad and watching patients thank him for his care. I thought, \u2018That\u2019s what I want \u2014 to know my patients and make a difference in their lives.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Discovering Radiology \u2014 and the Puzzle of Nuclear Medicine<\/strong><\/p>\n

While traditional radiology focuses on anatomy \u2014 identifying what\u2019s there and what\u2019s not \u2014 nuclear medicine captured Dr. Mischen\u2019s imagination because it dives deeper into\u00a0physiology<\/strong>.
\n\u201cNuclear medicine is like solving a puzzle every day,\u201d he says. \u201cYou\u2019re looking at how things move in the body, where they go, and whether they\u2019re supposed to be there. You combine the imaging with a patient\u2019s medical history and correlative imaging studies to understand the whole picture.\u201d<\/p>\n

Radiotheranostics, the fusion of targeted imaging and targeted therapy, is one of his greatest professional passions. \u201cIt\u2019s the \u2018see what you treat, treat what you see approach,\u201d he explains. \u201cWe can personalize treatment in ways that were impossible even a few years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead: PET, Radiotheranostics, and AI<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Mischen sees the next wave of breakthroughs coming from\u00a0disease-specific PET tracers<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 from prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors to Alzheimer\u2019s research \u2014 paired with therapeutic applications that directly target what the scans reveal.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also excited about the role\u00a0artificial intelligence<\/strong>\u00a0could play in diagnosing complex neurodegenerative disorders, not to replace radiologists, but to augment their ability to differentiate subtle patterns that shape treatment.<\/p>\n

An Educator at Heart<\/strong><\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one thing that drives Dr. Mischen as much as advancing the field, it\u2019s teaching.
\n\u201cResidents are the reason I get up in the morning,\u201d he says with a smile. \u201cI love watching them go from uncertainty to that moment when it clicks. Academic medicine allows you to shape the next generation of radiologists \u2014 and to make sure the field continues to advance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond the Hospital<\/strong><\/p>\n

Outside of work, Dr. Mischen is \u2014 in his own words \u2014 a \u201cfamily man.\u201d He enjoys movie nights, traveling with his wife and daughters, supporting their athletic and artistic pursuits, and even indoor rock climbing with his eldest. He has a quick sense of humor and a love of connection \u2014 whether it\u2019s with colleagues, patients, or friends.<\/p>\n

Fast Facts About Dr. Mischen<\/strong><\/p>\n