Richard Semelka is a Professor, Director of MRI Services, Vice Chairman of Clinical Research, and Vice Chairman for Quality and Safety of the Department of Radiology at the University of North Carolina Hospitals, U.S.A. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of the journals JMRI, MRI and TMRI, and is a reviewer for many journals. He has contributed to over 230 publications in refereed journals and has authored numerous review articles and textbook chapters. He has authored 8 text-books, including Abdominal-Pelvic MRI, third edition, Wiley-Liss, 2010. His main expertise lies in cross sectional abdominal imaging with an emphasis on MRI, with a particular interest of liver, pancreas, kidney and bowel diseases. He regularly conducts various teaching and categorical courses at International Radiology Conferences.