An associate of Dr.
Charles Dotter at the University of Oregon in Portland, radiologist
Dr. Melvin Judkins studied coronary angiography with Dr. Mason
Sones. Judkins went on to create his own system of diagnostic
imaging, introducing a series of specialized catheters and
perfecting the transfemoral approach (introducing the catheter
via a groin puncture rather than the more complex procedure
used by Sones of introducing the catheter via surgical opening
of the brachial artery in the arm).
A careful perfectionist, Judkins went to great lengths to educate his patients,
train his colleagues and share his techniques, and continued his work at
Loma Linda Medical Center. Judkins furthered the goal of an accessible,
systematic approach to high quality diagnostic radiology. The Judkins Technique
of coronary angiography remains the primary diagnostic tool used in catheterization
laboratories around the world.
