Photo of { Rama S. Ayyala, MD}

Rama S. Ayyala, MD


  • Radiologist, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging
  • Professor, UC Department of Radiology

About

Biography

I am a pediatric radiologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and a professor of radiology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. I serve as the associate chief of culture, quality, and safety and as the director of the Division of Thoracoabdominal Imaging in the Department of Radiology.

My clinical and academic interests include pediatric body imaging, quality and patient safety, and improving the healthcare workplace. In my leadership roles, I work to strengthen organizational culture, psychological safety, employee well-being, and engagement while advancing high-quality, patient-centered care. My work focuses on understanding the systems and operational factors that influence both the healthcare workforce and patient outcomes and translating those insights into meaningful improvements in clinical practice.

I am actively involved in research, education, and national professional organizations, with particular interests in pediatric imaging, workplace culture, physician well-being, and quality improvement. I am committed to fostering collaborative environments in which healthcare professionals can thrive while providing exceptional care to children and families.

MD: Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 2008

Residency: New York Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 2013

Fellowship: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, 2014

Certifications: Diagnostic Radiology, 2013; Pediatric Radiology, 2015

Interests

Pediatric GI imaging; physician wellness; quality and safety

Services and Specialties

Interests

Fetal and neonatal imaging; pediatric GI imaging; physician wellness; Artificial Intelligence Imaging Research Center

Publications

Empowering leaders, empowering teams: fostering wellness through leadership. Ayyala, R. Pediatric Radiology. 2026.

Sources of Work-Related Stress and Satisfaction in Radiology: A Survey of Faculty, Technologists, Nurses, and Other Staff. Ayyala, RS; Lee, A; Smith, R; Towbin, AJ; Coley, BD. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2026.

Reply. Guan, A; Iyer, RS; Barth, RA; Lall, N; Desai, NK; Hayatghaibi, S; Ayyala, RS; Jones, BV; Dillman, JR. Journal of the American College of Radiology. 2026.

Pediatric MRI Safety: Frequency, Types, and Severity of Zone IV MRI Safety Events at Five US Children's Hospitals. Guan, AS; Iyer, RS; Barth, RA; Lall, N; Desai, NK; Hayatghaibi, S; Ayyala, RS; Jones, BV; Dillman, JR. Journal of the American College of Radiology. 2026; 23(8):1547-1552.

Rapid MRI for Pediatric Acute Abdominopelvic Pain in the Emergency Department: Review of Imaging Technique, Implementation, and Diagnoses. Epstein, KN; Wee, T; Kemp, J; Morin, CE; Schooler, GR; Ayyala, RS. Radiographics. 2026; 46(8):e250060.

Non-Visualization of the Appendix Without Inflammatory Features on MRI Excludes Acute Appendicitis in Children and Young Adults. Kim, MGH; Trout, AT; Ayyala, RS. Academic Radiology. 2026.

Fetal MRI findings in conjoined twin pregnancies. Walcutt, JE; Kline-Fath, BM; Ayyala, RS; Lim, F-Y; Nagaraj, UD. Pediatric Radiology. 2026; 56(8):1757-1775.

Rapid MRI for Pediatric Patients: Indications, Protocols, and High-Yield Diagnoses for Emergency Radiologists. Epstein, KN; Kemp, J; Morin, CE; Meyers, AB; Nagaraj, UD; Schooler, GR; Ayyala, RS. Seminars in Roentgenology. 2026; 64:151005.

Agreement between three state-of-the-art deep learning bone age estimation models and chronological age in a large contemporary pediatric cohort. Somasundaram, E; Ayyala, RS; Tepe, W; Luna, B; Dillman, JR. Pediatric Radiology. 2026.

Payor and patient costs for rapid brain MRI: analysis from a single pediatric institution. Hayatghaibi, S; Debnath, P; Ulland, L; Coley, B; Hoo Kim, M; Trout, A; Ayyala, R. Pediatric Radiology. 2026; 56(7):1489-1493.

Patient Ratings and Comments

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