Joshua P. Yung, Ph.D.
Department of Imaging Physics, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
About Dr. Joshua P. Yung
Joshua P. Yung is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Imaging Physics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in the section of magnetic resonance and ultrasound physics.
Dr. Yung completed his Ph.D. in Medical Physics at the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Houston, Texas in 2014. His Ph.D. research focused on computational approaches for improving magnetic resonance temperature imaging for MR-guided thermal therapies. He currently practices medical physics with a focus on improving the magnetic resonance quality control program with automatic image processing and tracking longitudinal data trends.
His research interest continues to lie in the development and use of magnetic resonance imaging for monitoring and verification of ablative therapies. His research aims to further improve the robustness of treatment monitoring and the overall safety and efficacy in MR-guided interventional procedures, using both quantitative data acquisition and processing methods with model-constrained approaches.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Imaging Physics, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Image processing of MRI quality assurance tests | Model constrained approaches for MR guided interventional procedures | Diffusion/Perfusion Imaging
Clinical Interests
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | Image-Guided Interventions | Image-Guided Therapy | Quality Assurance Testing for MRI and Ultrasound
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2014 | The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas, US, Medical Physics, Ph.D |
| 2005 | Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, US, Biomedical/Electrical Engineering, BS |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2018 | American Board of Radiology Diagnostic Medical Physics |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2023
Instructor, Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2016
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Informatics Clinical Coordinator Residency Program, Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2023 - Present
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Diagnostic Imaging AI Advisory Subcommittee, 2025 - Present
Co-Chair, Diagnostic Imaging Informatics Functional Committee, 2024 - Present
Member, Patient Care Informatics, 2024 - Present
Member, Data and Biospecimen Access Committee, 2022 - Present
Member, Medical Records Committee, 2022 - Present
Member, PACS RFP Selection Committee (DI), 2021 - 2023
Senator, Faculty Senate, 2019 - 2021
Member, Diagnostic Imaging Informatics Functional Committee, 2018 - 2024
Member, Focus on Junior Faculty Steering Committee, 2016 - 2017
Invited guest, Diagnostic Imaging Informatics Functional Committee, 2015 - 2016
Member, Diagnostic Imaging Capital Equipment and Long Term Installations, 2015 - 2016
Super User, OneConnect, 2015 - 2016
Honors & Awards
| 2011 | International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Trainee Educational Stipend |
| 2011 - 2013 | GSBS/MDACC Student Travel Award |
| 2010 | MDACC/German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Graduate Student Exchange Fellowship |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2025. MR Protocol / Image Parameter Heterogeneity with Large Clinical Datasets. Invited. Tumor Measurement Initiative Symposium. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Image Quality and Imaging Standardization. Invited. Tumor Measurement Initiative Symposium, US.
- 2021. Artifact Troubleshooting and Image Quality Management - Getting to the Root of the Problem. Invited. Radiation Oncology MRI Educational Seminar, US.
- 2009. Correction of motion for MR temperature imaging. Conference. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2022. Imaging Panel: Quantitative Imaging and AI in Healthcare: Opportunities & Challenges. Invited. AI in Health Conference, US.
- 2021. MR system assessment using MR QC program. Conference. MR system assessment using MR QC program, US.
- 2018. Current and Future Trends in a Digital Radiography Quality Control Program. Conference. Current and Future Trends in a Digital Radiography Quality Control Program. Austin, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2023. PACS and RIS. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
- 2023. Panel discussion on Barriers to AI applications in healthcare. Invited, US.
- 2022. Evaluating the Relationship Between MR Image Quality Measures and Deep Learning-Based Brain Tumor Segmentation Accuracy. Conference, US.
- 2022. Development and Optimization of Multiparametric MRI for Bladder Cancer: Opportunities for Standardization and Quality Improvement. Conference. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2022. MRI Protocol Analysis Tool for Stereotactic Brain Radiotherapy Quality Assurance. Conference. Kissimmee, FL, US.
- 2022. Normalization of Temperature Effects for Quality Assurance of Quantitative Prostate Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) Imaging Across Multiple Sites. Conference, DC, US.
- 2022. An Introduction to the Learning Healthcare System & Tackling the Critical Data Hurdles. Invited. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2022. Protocol Management in MRI. Poster. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2021. Commissioning of Commercial Quantitative R2* Mapping Software for Clinical Use. Conference, US.
- 2021. Comparative Analysis of T2W Contrast for Clinical Prostate Protocols Using a Dedicated MR System Phantom. Conference, US.
- 2021. Normalization of Temperature Effects for Improved Quantitative Prostate Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) Imaging Across Multiple Sites. Conference, US.
- 2020. Quantitative MR Imaging Features Associated with Pathologic Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients. Conference, US.
- 2020. Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes Combined with Quantitative MRI Radiomic Features to Predict Pathologic Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Systemic Chemotherapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients. Conference, US.
- 2019. ABR Exam Prep for Diagnostic/Nuc Med. Invited. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2019. Automated High Contrast Resolution Test Analysis for MRI Daily QC. Conference. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2018. Daily MRI Quality Control for Geometric Accuracy. Conference. Nashville, TN, US.
- 2018. Imaging Physics Quality Management System for MRI. Conference. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2018. MRI Thermal Monitoring of Thermoembolization. Conference. Tucson, AZ, US.
- 2010. Model assisted MR thermometry for laser induced thermal therapy (Poster). Poster. Austin, TX, US.
International Presentations
- 2025. An MRI Quality Assurance Program for Gamma Knife Radiosurgery: A Systematic Approach to Ensure High Spatial Accuracy and Precision. Poster. Honolulu, US.
- 2023. MR Harmonization and QA Workshop: Insights from MD Anderson Cancer Center. Invited. Melbourne, AU.
- 2023. The Use of Quantitative Metrics and Machine Learning to Predict Radiologist Interpretations of Image Quality and Artifacts. Conference. Toronto, CA.
- 2022. Comparison of quick-brain and routine-brain image quality measured via MRQy, an open-source quality-control tool for imaging. Conference. Vienna, AT.
- 2022. Quantitative Study of Movement and Image Quality on ER and Inpatient MRI of the Brain. Conference. Vienna, AT.
- 2021. Normalization of Temperature Effects for Improved Quantitative Prostate Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) Imaging Across Multiple Sites. Conference. London, GB.
- 2017. Assessment of Geometric Distortion in EPI with a SPAMM Tagged Acquisition. Poster. Honolulu, US.
- 2017. Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) with a Multiple Gradient Echo Chemical Shift Imaging (CSI) Sequence. Poster. Honolulu, US.
- 2017. Quantitative evaluation of PROPELLER DWI using QIBA diffusion phantom. Poster. Honolulu, US.
- 2017. Quantitative evaluation of apparent diffusion coefficient in a large multi-unit institution using QIBA diffusion phantom. Poster. Honolulu, US.
- 2014. MR monitoring of thermochemical ablation injections. Poster. Leipzig, DE.
- 2013. Arbitrary region of interest definition for referenceless magnetic resonance temperature imaging. Poster. Salt Lake City, US.
- 2013. Predictive magnetic resonance temperature imaging with machine learning. Poster. Salt Lake City, US.
- 2012. Localization of kalman filtered temperature imaging for MR-guided thermal ablations (. Poster. Melbourne, AU.
- 2011. Model based correction of triggered MR thermometry for LITT. Poster. Montreal, CA.
- 2011. A novel imaging approach employing a +/- 90 degree preparation for fast PRF-based MR thermometry. Poster. Montreal, CA.
- 2011. 3D passive marker tracking for MR-guided interventions. Poster. Montreal, CA.
- 2011. Kalman filtered MR temperature imaging. Poster. Montreal, CA.
- 2009. Comparison of thermal dose models in canine brain using the Dice similarity coefficient. Poster. Honolulu, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Woodland M, Patel N, Castelo A, Taie MA, Eltaher M, Yung JP, Netherton TJ, Calderone TL, Sanchez JI, Cleere DW, Elsaiey A, Gupta N, Victor D, Beretta L, Patel AB, Brock KK. Dimensionality Reduction and Nearest Neighbors for Improving Out-of-Distribution Detection in Medical Image Segmentation. Melba 2, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Muthusivarajan R, Celaya A, Yung JP, Long JP, Viswanath SE, Marcus DS, Chung C, Fuentes D. Evaluating the relationship between magnetic resonance image quality metrics and deep learning-based segmentation accuracy of brain tumors. Medical Physics, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38640464.
- Jimenez JE, Abdelhafez A, Mittendorf EA, Elshafeey N, Yung JP, Litton JK, Adrada BE, Candelaria RP, White J, Thompson AM, Huo L, Wei P, Tripathy D, Valero V, Yam C, Hazle JD, Moulder SL, Yang WT, Rauch GM. A Model Combining Pretreatment MRI Radiomic Features and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes to Predict Response to Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Eur J Radiol 149:110220, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35193025.
- Fahrenholtz S, Guo C, MacLellan C, Yung JP, Hwang KP, Layman R, Stafford RJ, Cressman E. Temperature mapping of exothermic in situ chemistry: imaging of thermoembolization via MR. International Journal of Hyperthermia 36(1):730-738, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31362538.
- Wang J, Yung J, Kadbi M, Hwang K, Ding Y, Ibbott GS. Assessment of image quality and scatter and leakage radiation of an integrated MR-LINAC system. Medical Physics, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29363770.
- Yung JP, Fuentes D, MacLellan CJ, Maier F, Liapis Y, Hazle JD, Stafford R. Referenceless magnetic resonance temperature imaging using Gaussian process modeling. Medical Physics 44(7):3545-3555, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28317125.
- Fuentes D, Yung JP, Hazle JD, Weinberg JS, Stafford RJ. Kalman filtered MR temperature imaging for laser induced thermal therapies. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging 31(4):984-94, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22203706.
- Maier F, Krafft AJ, Yung JP, Stafford RJ, Elliott A, Dillmann R, Semmler W, Bock M. Velocity navigator for motion compensated thermometry. Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine 25(1):15-22, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 21373916.
- Fuentes D, Cardan R, Stafford RJ, Yung JP, Dodd GD, Feng Y. High-fidelity computer models for prospective treatment planning of radiofrequency ablation with in vitro experimental correlation. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology 21(11):1725-32, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20920840.
- Yung JP, Shetty A, Elliott A, Weinberg JS, McNichols RJ, Gowda A, Hazle JD, Stafford RJ. Quantitative comparison of thermal dose models in normal canine brain. Medical Physics 37(10):5313-21, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 21089766.
Professional Educational Materials
- Fuentes D, Oden JT, Diller KR, Yung JP, Feng Y, Hazle JD, Shetty A, Stafford RJ. Computational and MR-guided Patent-Specific Laser Induced Thermal Therapy of Cancer. Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences Report, 2013.
Abstracts
- Lorenzo G, Wu C, Yung JP, Ward JF, Gomez H, Reali A, Yankeelov TE, Venkatesan AM, Hughes TJR. Patient-specific, organ-scale forecasting of prostate cancer growth in active surveillance. AACR, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Lorenzo G, Wu C, Yung JP, Ward JF, Gomez H, Reali A, Yankeelov TE, Venkatesan AM, Hughes TJR. Patient-specific, imaging-informed computational forecasting of prostate cancer growth during active surveillance. USNCCM17, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Fahrenholtz S, Guo C, MacLellan C, Yung JP, Hwang KP, Stafford RJ, Cressman E. MRI characterization of thermoembolization, a novel transarterial intervention. AAPM 45(6):2757, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Fahrenholtz SJ, Guo C, MacLellan CJ, Yung JP, Hwang K, Stafford RJ, Cressman E. Tracking Thermoebolization Via Multiparametric MRI. AAPM 44(6), 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- MacLellan C, Yung JP, Hwang K, Stafford RJ. Evaluation of the Impact of Eddy Current and Excitation Corrections on ADC Map Uniformity. AAPM 44(6), 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Hwang K, Fahrenholtz S, MacLellan C, Yung JP, Stafford RJ. Improved Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) with a Multiple Gradient Echo Sequence. AAPM 44(6), 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Hwang K, Meier J, Yung JP, Stafford RJ. Assessment of Geometric Distortion in EPI with a SPAMM Tagged Acquisition. AAPM 43(6):3775, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Yung JP, Hua A, Liu H, Stafford RJ. Quantitative Evaluation of PROPELLER DWI Using QIBA Diffusion Phantom. AAPM 43(6):3780, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Wang J, Yung JP, Kadbi M, Ding Y, Fuller C, Ibbott G. Initial Assessment of Image Quality of An Integrated MR-Linac System with ACR Phantom. AAPM 43(6):3440, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Steinmann A, Stafford RJ, Yung JP, Followill D. Characterizing Tissue Equivalent Materials for the Development of a Dual MRI-CT Heterogeneous Anthropomorphic Phantom Designed Specifically for MRI Guided Radiotherapy Systems. AAPM 42(6):3313-3314, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26127598.
- Yung JP, Stefan W, Reeve D, Stafford RJ. Semi-Automated, Open Source MRI Quality Assurance and Quality Control Program for Multi-Unit Institution. AAPM 42(6):3647, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26129130.
- Yung JP, Ahrar K, Hazle JD, Stafford RJ. Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Imaging for MR-Guided Cryoablation. AAPM 41(6):378-379, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Yung JP, Fuentes D, Hazle JD, Stafford RJ. A Phantom Validation Study of a 3D Background Phase Model for MR Thermometry. AAPM 39(6):3664, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Shetty A, Schwartz J, Yung JP, McNichols R, Price R, Hazle J, Stafford J. Gold Nanoshell Mediated Heating of Brain Tumors. American Society of Mechanical Engineers - First Global Congress on NanoEngineering for Medicine and Biology:87-88, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
Book Chapters
- Woodland M, Castelo A, Taie MA, Marques Silva JA, Eltaher M, Mohn F, Shieh A, Kundu S, Yung JP, Patel AB, Brock KK. Feature Extraction for Generative Medical Imaging Evaluation: New Evidence Against an Evolving Trend. In: Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention - MICCAI 2024, 87-97, 2024.
- Woodland M, Patel N, Taie MA, Yung JP, Netherton TJ, Patel AB, Brock KK. Dimensionality Reduction for Improving Out-of-Distribution Detection in Medical Image Segmentation. In: Uncertainty for Safe Utilization of Machine Learning in Medical Imaging (UNSURE 2023), 2023.
- Fuentes D, Oden JT, Diller KR, Yung JP, Feng Y, Hazle JD, Shetty A, Stafford RJ. Computational and MR-guided patient-specific laser induced thermal therapy of cancer. In: Data Driven Application Systems. Springer.
Web Publications
- Yung JP, Ding Y, Hwang K, Cardenas CE, Ai H, Fuller CD, Stafford R. Quantitative Evaluation of apparent diffusion coefficient in a large multi-unit institution using the QIBA diffusion phantom, 2020.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 30, 2025