After a competitive national search, Dr. Javier Villanueva-Meyer, M.D., has been named chair of the Department of Radiological Sciences at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and clinical service chief of radiology at OU Health, the University of Oklahoma’s academic health system. He will begin in September 2026, pending approval by the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents.
In addition to his clinical leadership at OU Health, Villanueva-Meyer will hold educational and research responsibilities for the university, advancing OU Health’s three-part mission of patient care, research and education.
The appointment comes at a pivotal time for the department. Radiology sits at the center of modern clinical care and serves as a foundation for discovery, education and the use of advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, theranostics and precision medicine.
An academic neuroradiologist and operational leader, he has built his career at the intersection of advanced imaging, quality and safety, technology, and multidisciplinary care. His research in brain tumor imaging, molecular neuroimaging and PET/MRI has earned him international recognition, and he is known for integrating emerging technology into clinical practice. His research program is supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01, P01 and SPORE funding, and he has authored more than 160 peer-reviewed publications.
Villanueva-Meyer joins OU Health from the University of California, San Francisco, where he serves as associate professor of radiology, vice chair of quality and technology in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, and medical director for radiology quality and safety at UCSF Health.
Villanueva-Meyer earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed a diagnostic radiology residency, an NIH T32–funded postdoctoral fellowship and a neuroradiology fellowship at UCSF. He is board certified by the American Board of Radiology and holds a Certificate of Added Qualification in neuroradiology.
“Dr. Villanueva-Meyer is an accomplished neuroradiologist and an operational leader who understands where modern radiology is headed,” said Dr. Ian F. Dunn, M.D., FACS, FAANS, professor and executive dean of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and OU Health chief physician executive. “His experience building academic programs, developing faculty and bringing emerging technology into patient care aligns directly with our aspirations for this department. He will be a tremendous addition to our community.”
Villanueva-Meyer succeeds Dr. Anthony Alleman, M.D., MPH, who served as chair for more than a decade and helped shape the department’s growth and direction. Dr. David Teague, M.D., served as interim chair during the transition.
“I am honored to join OU Health and the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine at such a pivotal moment for our field,” said Dr. Villanueva-Meyer, M.D. “The department has a strong foundation anchored by talented faculty and a deep commitment to its patients and its mission. I look forward to working alongside this team to advance discovery, strengthen education and ensure the people of Oklahoma have access to the most advanced imaging care available.”
“Radiology touches nearly every patient’s care, from diagnosis through treatment,” said OU Health President and CEO Dr. Richard Lofgren, M.D., MPH. “Recruiting a leader of Dr. Villanueva-Meyer’s caliber reflects our commitment to building destination programs in Oklahoma, so that patients can receive advanced, research-driven care without leaving the state.”
