Cynthia McCollough, Ph.D.

Cynthia McCollough, Ph.D. (MBM ’11), was honored as the 2025 Mayo Clinic Distinguished Inventor for her enthusiasm and dedication to transforming patient care and advancing medical innovation. Dr. McCollough, a consultant in the Department of Radiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, is the Brooks-Hollern professor of research, and holds the academic ranks of professor of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics. Her primary areas of focus are on quantifying, managing and reducing radiation in CT imaging, exploring non-invasive evaluation of materials using dual and multi-energy CT, optimizing CT parameters and translating innovative new technologies into routine practice. As CT scans become increasingly common as diagnostic tools, Dr. McCollough and her team are dedicated to minimizing patient risk and enhancing the benefits of the technology. Her efforts to improve precision, enhance clarity and reduce radiation exposure for patients have a lasting impact on the quality of care patients receive, as well as their quality of life afterward.