April 12, 2002

Juan M. Taveras, MD, MGH radiologist-in-chief emeritus, died March 28, in his native Dominican Republic. He was 82. An authority in the field of neuroradiology, Taveras helped revolutionize the practice within the United States. Before the subspecialty was formally established, all neuroradiologic procedures were conducted by neurosurgeons. Taveras was able to show that these procedures could be done safely and interpreted more accurately when conducted by radiologists.

"Under Dr. Taveras' leadership," says James Thrall, MD, MGH radiologist-in-chief, "the hospital's Department of Radiology grew to become the largest and one of the most comprehensive departments of its kind in the world."

Taveras, who also was professor emeritus at Harvard Medical School (HMS), retired as chief in 1988. At that time, HMS created the Juan M. Taveras chair in Diagnostic Radiology, which is occupied by the chief of MGH Radiology. Taveras wrote numerous articles, papers and books, and established the American Journal of Radiology.