Gerardo Torres-Flores, M.D., joined the UAB Department of Radiology as an assistant professor in the emergency radiology section in July 2025. With a diverse background, he brings a passion for teaching and dedication to advancing the field of radiology.
Get to know more about his journey and what inspires his work below.
Tell us about your educational background.
Torres-Flores: I completed my undergraduate degree in chemistry at the University of Vermont in 2012. I went on to earn my medical degree from Universidad Central del Caribe in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, in 2016. My radiology residency began at the University of South Alabama and was later completed at the University of Puerto Rico in June 2024. Most recently, I finished my fellowship in neuroradiology at the University of Vermont in June 2025.
Can you share your professional background and experiences prior to joining our institution?
Torres-Flores: I have two years of general surgery experience and worked as an orthopedic house staff in Puerto Rico from 2017-2018 after Hurricane Maria. I was a research fellow at Yale University in 2019 under Dr. Sam Payabvash in neuroradiology.
What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?
Torres-Flores: I love learning, observing, and paying attention to detail, especially finding subtle abnormalities and diagnosing rare or interesting pathologies.
What is your primary area of expertise within your field, and what sparked your passion for it?
Torres-Flores: I am trained in neuroradiology, and I wanted a challenge and a mystery at the same time. Even though we know so much about the brain, there is so much we have yet to learn. The difficulty of learning about the nervous system and the incompleteness of knowledge in this field inspired me to pursue this career field and continue learning.
What aspects of your new role here are you most excited about?
Torres-Flores: I am most excited about working with residents and passing along all the knowledge I have gained throughout the years, while delivering the best patient care as possible.
What are your goals for making an impact through both your teaching and patient care in this role?
Torres-Flores: My main goal is to help train professional, competent, and confident future radiologists who will deliver the best care possible to their patients, just as I try my hardest to do every day.