Nicholas A. Koontz, MD

Bio

Dr. Nicholas Koontz is a Neuroradiologist and Head and Neck Imager in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, where he also serves as Director of Radiology Fellowship Programs and is the Dean D.T. Maglinte Scholar in Radiology Education.

He completed his undergraduate degrees in Biology and Chemistry at Anderson University in Indiana (2004) then attended Indiana University School of Medicine, where he graduated AOA (2008). Following medical school, Dr. Koontz completed the IUSM Transitional Year Residency program at IU Health Methodist Hospital (2009) followed by a Diagnostic Radiology Residency at Indiana University School of Medicine (2013). After residency, he completed a two-year Neuroradiology Fellowship at the University of Utah (2015), where he continues to hold an adjunct faculty appointment.

Dr. Koontz splits his clinical time between general adult Neuroradiology (brain and spine imaging) and a dedicated Head & Neck Imaging service, which is his particular clinical passion. His clinical interests in Head and Neck oncologic imaging (including PET/MRI), high resolution temporal bone and sinonasal imaging, and imaging-guided procedures (including head and neck biopsies) are strongly aligned with the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, where he holds an adjunct faculty appointment. This clinical focus is also strongly aligned with his research, which focuses on advanced neuroimaging applications and outcomes-based research. He is the author multiple peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, and has had numerous invited speakerships at national and international medical meetings.

His greatest passion is resident and fellow medical education, which has been an integral part of his practice since joining the IU School of Medicine faculty. In addition to serving in education leadership positions in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, including Director of Radiology Fellowships and interim Program Director of the MRI fellowship, Dr. Koontz has established a long-running Social Media and Web-based Radiology Education curriculum, which attracts thousands of followers around the world. This work has culminated in multiple peer-reviewed publications, as well as the 2018 Joseph E. and Nancy O. Whitley Award by the Association of University Radiologists.

Key Publications

1. Koontz NA, Hill D, Dodson SC, Capps AE, Kamer AP, Frank MS, Heitkamp DE. Electronic and social media-based radiology learning initiative: development, implementation, viewership trends, and assessment at one year. Acad Radiol 2018;25(6):687-698

2. Koontz NA, Kamer AP, Dodson SC, Capps AE, Tomblinson CM, Brown BP, Frank MS, Heitkamp DE. Social media utilization at an academic radiology practice. Acad Radiol 2018;25(1):111-117

3. Heitkamp DE, Kamer AP, Koontz NA. Institutional pressure to reduce report turnaround time is damaging the educational mission. J Am Coll Radiol 2017;14(4):537-540

4. Koontz NA, Wiggins RH, Stoddard GJ, Shah LM. Do superior or inferior interlaminar approach or bevel orientation predispose to non-epidural needle penetration?. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2017;209(4):895-903

5. Koontz NA, Mills MK, McLaughlin MS, Pigman EC, Anzai Y, Wiggins RH, Shah LM. Less is more: efficacy of rapid 3D-T2 SPACE in ED patients with acute atypical low back pain. Acad Radiol 2017;24(8):988-994

6. Koontz NA, Wiggins RH. Differentiation of benign and malignant head and neck lesions with diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion weighted imaging. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2017;208(5):1110-1115

7. Koontz NA, Wiens AL, Agarwal A, Hintgen CM, Emerson RE, Mosier KM. Schwannomatosis: the overlooked neurofibromatosis?. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2013;200:W646-W653

8. Koontz NA, Gunderman RB. Radiation safety and medical education: development and integration of a dedicated educational module into a radiology clerkship, outcomes assessment, and survey of medical students' perceptions. Acad Radiol 2012;19:491-497

9. Markel TA, Kumar R, Koontz NA, Scherer LR, Applegate KE. Utility of CT as a screening tool for the evaluation of pediatric blunt chest trauma. J Trauma 2009;67(1):23-28

10. Koontz NA, Gunerman RB. Gestalt theory: implications for radiology education. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2008;190:1156-1160