Radiology’s ‘Old X-ray Contest’ honors legendary faculty members

If you walk through the UNMC Department of Radiology on the first floor of the Medical Service Building, you might want to take notice of the old-fashioned X-ray viewer in the hallway.

No, the department hasn’t stopped using digital images. Rather, it uses the X-ray viewer to recognize two legendary UNMC radiologists and provide a source of fun and education for passersby.









picture disc.

Dr. Matt DeVries points out some features of one the old X-rays on display in the department of radiology.
From the archives of legends

Each month, the X-ray viewer displays a different X-ray from the archives of Charles Dobry, M.D., and Jud Gurney, M.D., two deceased faculty members in radiology. People are encouraged to look at the X-ray, then submit their best guess as to what is depicted on the film.

The unknown case will hang for two weeks, and the answers will be posted for two weeks. The answer not only will talk about the image finding, but it also will provide a “radiology pearl” in the form of an X-ray teaching point or an approach to the finding.

A fun tribute

The contest was the idea of Matt DeVries, M.D., the C.A. Dobry Professor of Radiology.

“We thought it would be a great way to acknowledge two of our department’s historic physicians, while also having some fun with it,” Dr. DeVries said. “We encourage medical students, house officers and faculty to participate. This is meant to be for the non-radiologists at the medical center.”

Prizes, including text books written by Dr. Gurney, will be awarded to the contest winners.