Rani Al-Senan, Ph.D., joined the UAB Department of Radiology in August 2025 as an associate professor in the Division of Physics and Engineering. He completed his undergraduate studies in radiological sciences at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. He then earned his master’s degree in medical physics from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He obtained his doctorate in medical physics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Get to know his background and goals for his new role.
Can you share your professional background and experiences prior to joining our institution?
Al-Senan: Before joining UAB, I served as an assistant professor at Columbia University and Penn State University, where my work focused on CT dosimetry, image quality, and protocol optimization. I also collaborated with consulting medical physics firms, providing clinical and technical expertise. Earlier in my career, I worked as a nuclear medicine technologist for six years in Saudi Arabia and as a junior medical physicist at a private hospital following my master’s degree in medical physics from the University of Aberdeen.
What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?
Al-Senan: While working as a nuclear medicine technologist, I was introduced to the field through a medical physicist, Dr. Ahmed Outif, who joined our department. I became curious about the type of work and testing he was doing, so I began shadowing him. That experience sparked my passion for the field and inspired me to pursue my educational journey in medical physics.
What is your primary area of expertise within your field, and what sparked your passion for it?
Al-Senan: My primary area of expertise is in CT dosimetry, image quality, and protocol optimization. My passion for this area began during my Ph.D. research around 2009, when my advisor, Dr. Mustafa Hatab, introduced me to pediatric CT dosimetry. I then started expanding my knowledge through reading and experiments using phantoms.
What aspects of your new role here are you most excited about?
Al Senan: Working on research projects.
What are your goals for making an impact through both your teaching and patient care in this role?
Al-Senan: My goal in teaching is to help trainees build a strong foundation in the technical aspects of medical imaging, while also encouraging problem-solving skills that they can apply in practice. On the patient care side, my focus is on optimizing imaging protocols to ensure patient safety and diagnostic quality, while minimizing radiation exposure.