Avneesh Chhabra, M.D., is an Associate Professor of Radiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Chief of its Musculoskeletal Radiology Division. He also serves as Chief of Musculoskeletal Radiology Division at Parkland Hospital. His clinical interests include magnetic resonance neurography (MRN), sports imaging, rheumatology and sarcoma imaging, and related image-guided interventions.

Originally from India, Dr. Chhabra earned his Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree at Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi. He completed his residency in Diagnostic radiology at Delhi University’s Willington Hospital before receiving additional Diagnostic Radiology residency training at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. He received ACGME accredited fellowship training in musculoskeletal radiology at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Prior to joining the UT Southwestern faculty in 2013, Dr. Chhabra was an Assistant Professor of Radiology and Orthopedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, where he facilitated the MRN program and introduced novel technical developments, such as three-dimensional (3-D) isotropic MRN with nerve selective reconstructions and advanced diffusion imaging in the realm of peripheral nerve imaging and treatment employing multidisciplinary approaches. While at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Chhabra benefited from the mentorship of John A. Carrino, M.D., M.P.H., and John Eng, M.D.

Research interests

Dr. Chhabra focuses his research on refining musculoskeletal cross-sectional imaging. He is actively involved in grantsmanship with technical developments and novel use of 3-D imaging in the realm of sports imaging, and 3-D and diffusion imaging in the domains of MR neurography (MRN), sarcoma imaging, and rheumatology imaging. He is working on new forms of image-guided pain management, including minimally invasive image-guided injections and nerve ablations. He is currently investigating the impact of MRI in hip and knee sports imaging, and MRN in the management of pre-surgical patients with peripheral neuropathy, lumbosacral and brachial plexopathy and outcomes of image-guided pain injections. Dr. Chhabra is actively involved in 3D MRI and 3D CT research on adult painful hip disorders, functional bone and soft tissue tumor assessment, and 3D knee MRI research with respect to meniscus and cruciate ligament injuries.

Dr. Chhabra actively runs a patient care clinic at UT Southwestern Medical center and translates his research into clinical practices by deploying novel MRN techniques to map peripheral neuropathy in patients preparing for surgery, and to direct perineural injections in patients with neuropathies. His technical developments with respect to 3D MR and 3D CT imaging for multiple joints, such as knee, hip and shoulder, are also being rapidly translated into the clinical practices for the improved diagnosis of meniscus, labrum and rotator cuff injuries, bone and soft tissue sarcoma, and axial spondyloarthritis.

Global impact

Dr. Chhabra serves as a committee member on national and international societies including the Scientific Review committees of the American Roentgen Ray Society, International Skeletal Society, and the the Society of Skeletal Radiology. He is also a committee member of RSNA grant review study section and review panel of Radiographics. Dr. Chhabra is frequently invited to lecture nationally and internationally at conferences and venues throughout the United States and around the world, including presenting the keynote addresses and invited lectures to the American Roentgen Ray Society and the Radiological Society of North America, Ontario association of Radiologists, Chinese, Korean, South American, Indian, Australian, NewZealand, and Gulf MSK societies, and the Tummala Madhusudana Rao Endowment Oration to the Asian Musculoskeletal Society. He has also received many scholarly awards, including the SSR young investigator award, GERRAF fellow, Gatewood award, and the Stephen B. Milam Award. He teaches radiologists in India and China via the Internet.

He has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, two textbooks and 30 book chapters. Dr. Chhabra is a reviewer for many scientific journals, and is on the editorial boards of The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, European Radiology, JCAT, and BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.

His dedication to the community is demonstrated by his commitment to volunteerism, ranging from judging professional conference events to local science fairs, and organizing medical camps as well as cultural activities DFW area.

Personal note

Dr. Chhabra’s longtime passion for cricket and tennis includes playing the games. He also enjoys watching basketball and football, traveling to different parts of the world, and cooking traditional Indian food.