Izabella Barreto, PhD, DABR
Diagnostic Imaging Medical Physics Residency Program


Izabella Barreto, PhD; Faculty

Associate Professor, Clinical Radiological Physics
Director, Undergraduate Internship Program

Education

  • PhD: University of Florida; Gainesville, FL (Medical Physics)
  • MS: University of Florida; Gainesville, FL (Medical Physics)
  • BS: University of Miami; Coral Gables, FL (Biomedical Engineering)

ResearchGate Profile

Personal Website – Izabella Barreto, PhD


BioSketch

Dr Izabella Barreto, Associate Professor, directs several clinical medical physics research projects within the Radiology Department at UF Health. Her work focuses primarily on CT protocol optimization, management, and review, as well as evaluating novel CT imaging technologies for optimal integration and continued utilization in the clinic.

Investigations include evaluating CT scan acquisitions, image reconstructions, objective and subjective image quality, and radiation doses using phantoms, cadavers, patients, radiologists, ionization chambers, and optically stimulated radiation dosimeters (OSLDs). Following implementation of technology, retrospective assessment of clinical patient examinations are performed with documented image quality review, dosimetric analysis, and radiologist feedback. She also establishes technical communication with CT manufacturer scientists to troubleshoot issues, provide feedback and suggestions on workflow, and produce materials for technologist and radiologist training.

The ultimate goal of her research is to empirically identify optimal technology settings for improved clinical evaluation and radiation utilization of imaging examinations.

Her current work focuses on performing benchmark comparison and improvements for adult and pediatric CT protocols, as well as evaluating novel CT x-ray beam spectra, high-efficiency CT imaging detectors, wide-volume CT detector arrays, and motion registration-corrected digital subtraction angiography for vascular CT imaging applications of the body.

She is directing research projects for graduate students Anahita Heshmat, Catherine Olguin, and Nathalie Correa, who are evaluating two new dual-energy CT acquisition and reconstruction platforms, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based reconstructions.

Dr Barreto is passionate about the union of technology and patient care, directing projects that offer translational results with immediate clinical impact and benefit to patients within the Department of Radiology.