Theodore Keats (1924-2010) was an eminent American radiologist whose unwavering dedication to education and authorship left an indelible mark on radiology. He is best remembered as the author of the Atlas of Normal Roentgen Variants That May Simulate Disease.
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Early life
Theodore Eliot Keats was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on 26 June 1924 1,2. In 1945, he completed his undergraduate education at Rutgers University 1,2. He furthered his academic journey by graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1947, where he was honored by Alpha Omega Alpha membership, rewarded to those showing excellence in medicine 1,2,4.
Keats served in the army during medical school and World War II 1. He completed his radiology training at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1,3,4. After completing his residency, he served again in the Army Medical Corps, stationed in Japan during the Korean War 1. Subsequently, Dr Keats rose to the position of a full professor within six years, first at the University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, then at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia 1,2.
Contributions to radiology
Dr Keats made prolific contributions to radiology, authoring over 220 journal articles and 53 book chapters 1-4. He also edited four radiology journals and published nine books 1-4. His first book was "An Atlas of Roentgenographic Measurement" in 1959 3. His second book was the classic "Atlas of Normal Roentgen Variants That May Simulate Disease" which became a seminal reference in the field, underwent multiple editions, and can be found worldwide 1-4.
He also edited four academic radiology journals: Skeletal Radiology, Currents Problems in Diagnostic Radiology, Applied Radiology, and Emergency Radiology 1-4.
Dr Keats taught and mentored many medical students and residents during his career 1-4. He delivered hundreds of lectures globally, including as the Baker Visiting Professor in Australia 1,2,4.
Later life
In 1963, he got the agreement of the Dean of the University of Virginia (UVA) to spend a training sabbatical year at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden 1-3. Dr Keats arrived at the UVA in Charlottesville in 1964, where he assumed the Department of Radiology chair position. He remained at UVA for 47 years, 28 of them as the fourth chairman of the Department of Radiology, from 1964 until 1991 1-3.
Under Dr Keats's leadership, the Department of Radiology at the University of Virginia experienced a period of significant growth and development 1-3. His strategic vision and tireless efforts led to the expansion of the department's infrastructure and academic achievements 1-3. He was instrumental in consolidating the clinical service, opening a new department, and founding the radiologic research laboratories, significantly advancing the department's research capabilities and contributing to the field of radiology 1-3.
Dr Keats was passionate about singing 1-3. Beyond his professional life, he served as the principal of the Charlottesville Light Opera Company and sang with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Oratorio Society of Virginia 1-3.
Dr Keats married Patt Hart Keats, and they had three sons: Mathew, Ian , and Bradley 1,2. His three grandsons are Nicholas, Bradley, and Daniel 1.
Theodore Keats died on 10 December 2010, in Charlottesville, Virginia, he was 86 years old 1.
Accolades
Robley Dunglison Award for Outstanding Clinical Teacher at University of Virginia, 1968 1-4
Raven Award: member of the Raven Society, an honor society for the University of Virginia's most outstanding educators 1,4
Gold Medal of the American College of Radiology, 1995 1,2,4
Gold Medal of the American Society of Emergency Radiology, 1995 1,4
Alumni Professor of Radiology at the University of Virginia
Baker Visiting Professor in Australia and New Zealand, an honor awarded annually by the RANZCR to a foreign professor 1,2
Legacy
Theodore E Keats Professorship in Radiology, established by the University of Virginia, 1992 1,2
The Keats Society Education, comprising former and current members of the Department of Radiology at the University of Virginia 1
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