American Roentgen Ray Society Names New Editor of Roentgen Ray Review, Mahesh Thapa

Leesburg, VA | March 9, 2026—The American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mahesh Thapa, MD, MEd, from the University of Washington School of Medicine as the next editor in chief of its peer-reviewed radiology journal, Roentgen Ray Review (R3).

Following the launch of R3 during the 125th anniversary of ARRS, Dr. Thapa succeeds founding R3 editor John R. Leyendecker, MD, under whom Thapa presently serves as section editor of pediatric imaging. A globally heralded expert in that subspecialty, Dr. Thapa brings extensive biomedical publishing experience to his new role as R3’s chief editorial officer, including former deputy editor for both Academic Radiology and Clinical Imaging, as well as a longtime reviewer for the world’s longest continuously published general radiology journal—ARRS’ own American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).

A professor of radiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Dr. Thapa also directs clinical operations for the radiology department at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where he founded and continues to lead one of this nation's most esteemed pediatric musculoskeletal radiology programs. His first day at the helm of R3 will be July 1.

“On behalf of the ARRS, I want to extend my profound thanks to our inaugural R3 Editor in Chief, Dr. John Leyendecker, for his visionary leadership in establishing this journal and building a platform that provides busy radiologists with timely, relevant, and accessible content,” said ARRS president Deborah Baumgarten, MD, MPH. “As we look toward the future, we are thrilled to begin working with Dr. Mahesh Thapa. His expertise and energy make him the ideal successor to lead us into this next chapter, and we look forward to a productive partnership."

Mahesh Thapa, MD, MEd, is professor of radiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and director of clinical operations for the department of radiology at Seattle Children’s Hospital. He also serves as director of musculoskeletal imaging, having founded and grown one of the largest and most respected pediatric musculoskeletal radiology programs in the country. An internationally recognized expert in pediatric imaging, Dr. Thapa has dedicated his career to advancing medical education, mentorship, and operational excellence in academic radiology.

Dr. Thapa earned his undergraduate degree in biological chemistry from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. He completed his residency in diagnostic radiology at the University of Washington and fellowship in pediatric radiology at Seattle Children’s Hospital. He later pursued a master of education from the University of Cincinnati to complement his commitment to academic leadership and educational scholarship.

A national leader in radiology education, Dr. Thapa is the former program director for the Pediatric Radiology Fellowship at Seattle Children’s and a past president of the Alliance of Clinician-Educators in Radiology (ACER). He has received numerous accolades for his educational leadership, including the ACER Achievement Award and the Jack O. Haller–Thomas L. Slovis Award for Excellence in Pediatric Radiology Education—the highest teaching honor bestowed by the Society for Pediatric Radiology.

Dr. Thapa has served as deputy editor for Academic Radiology and Clinical Imaging, and as a longtime reviewer for major journals, including AJR, Pediatric Radiology, and Radiology Case Reports. His editorial contributions also include co-editing special issues, developing self-assessment modules, and authoring educational book chapters and textbooks in pediatric and musculoskeletal imaging.

He is widely published, with over 100 peer-reviewed articles and more than 150 invited national and international lectures. Dr. Thapa’s contributions have shaped best practices in pediatric MSK imaging, interdisciplinary collaboration, and imaging education. He continues to serve in key leadership roles for national organizations, including the Radiological Society of North America, American Board of Radiology, and Society for Pediatric Radiology.

North America’s first radiological society, the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) remains dedicated to the advancement of medicine through the profession of medical imaging and its allied sciences. An international forum for progress in radiology since the discovery of the x-ray, ARRS maintains its mission of improving health through a community committed to advancing knowledge and skills with the ARRS Annual Meeting, two radiology journals—American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR) and Roentgen Ray Review (R3)—ARRS Symposia, free-access multimedia from our Global Partner Societies, as well as awarding scholarships via The Roentgen Fund®.

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