Christopher Gange Jr., MD, is a diagnostic radiologist who specializes in thoracic oncology. He reads chest X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs for patients at Yale New Haven Hospital and outpatient centers throughout Connecticut.
“I work every day to improve the diagnosis of cancer, infection, and other lung diseases,” Dr. Gange says. “Radiology encompasses many of my favorite things, as I have always been interested in new technology, science, and health care. I love technology and using it to help people.”
Dr. Gange is also interested in informatics and applying new technology to improve the accuracy and efficiency of lung imaging. He is involved in research that focuses on using machine learning tools to expedite the reading of chest CTs and X-rays, and creating data registries to improve research on lung cancer and infections. “Recently, my focus also has shifted to the COVID-19 pandemic. I was part of teams that created data registries of COVID patient imaging data and worked to validate a new method to more safely perform portable chest X-rays,” he says.
But his best moments are, “when I read a cancer staging follow-up study and the cancer has improved,” he says. It’s also rewarding when his work contributes to an early diagnosis. He tells patients, “Don't put those follow-up scans off. Even if the news is not exactly what you wanted to hear, it is always best to know as soon as possible.”
