Chuck Lanzieri, XX President of the ASHNR

William P. Dillon

American Journal of Neuroradiology

Chuck Lanzieri was born and grew up in Wolcott, Connecticut, and attended Boston College, graduating in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He went to New York Medical College, where his interest in neuroanatomy initially led him to consider neurology as a speciality. During medical school, Chuck was secretly drawn to radiology by then department chairman Richard Friedenberg and chief resident Larry Boxt. As an impressionable medical student, Chuck found himself in awe of them. Years later, Chuck, Richard, and Larry would attend a Louisville Redbirds game together when all three were board examiners, one of the thrills of his life.

New York Medical College leased dormitory space from neighboring Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart, and at it was there that Chuck met his future wife Shirley. They were fast friends and good dancers, and the memories of those years fuel many parties to this day. He considers himself fortunate to have not matched in obstetrics and gynecology in 1978 and eventually chose radiology, entering the program at Mount Sinai, in New York City, after serving his intership at Metropolitan Hospital, in Manhattan. Shirley entered the banking industry and by the age of 23 controlled a ridiculously large line of credit. Shirley, however, handled it with a maturity and skill that impressed her new husband. Even though she was in the cross-border leasing division of a large New York bank, Chuck no longer blames her for the bad loans to South America that led to the stock market collapse in 1987. At Sinai, Chuck was mentored by Peter Som, who has remained a good friend and collegue to this day. Peter, along with Michael Sacher, revived Chuck’s old interest in neuroanatomy, and he decided on neuroradiology as a career.

Chuck completed his neuroradiology fellowship with Sadek Hilal at Columbia Presbytarian’s Neurologic Institute. Along with Peter Som, Dr. Hillal taught him most of what he still uses in daily practice but also inspired him to become involved in radiology at the national level. Chuck returned to Sinai for three years on staff, where he cultivated his interest in head and neck imaging and is proud to have published extensively with Dr. Som during that time.

In 1985, Chuck was recruited to the Cleveland Clinic, where he became the local authority in head and neck radiology. In 1989, Chuck became director of neuroradiology at University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, where he continues to work. In 1994, he receive and MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve. He later became program director and is currently vice-chair of academic and corporate affairs under John Haaga, with whom he has coedited the fourth edition of CT and MR Imaging of the Entire Body.

Chuck has two teenage children, Christina and Charlie, and lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He is an avid, but average, golfer and a born-again skier. Although he misses New York, he loves his 12-minute drive to work each day. He remains active in the Radiological Society of North America and currently serves on the program committee as subcommittee chair for neuroradiology. He was elected as a fellow of the American College of Radiology in 1999.

Chuck approaches the role of president of the ASHNR as the highlight of his academic life and with reverence and respect for all those who have led the society before him. His goals is to leave the society financially healthy and with a plan to thrive in the years ahead.