Risa H. Kent, MD

Risa Kent, MD, is a radiologist and the director of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound for Yale Medicine. Ultrasounds (or sonograms) are a noninvasive way to image the body by delivering sound waves through probes placed on the skin without the need for radiation.

In addition to vascular, abdominal, and pelvic exams, Dr. Kent performs advanced ultrasounds of the joints, tendons and muscles. She uses ultrasound to guide biopsies of the thyroid gland and lymph nodes. Additional procedures she performs include transrectal ultrasound, intraoperative ultrasound, and hysterosonography, which is a minimally invasive way to examine the uterine lining.

Dr. Kent is committed to the wellbeing of her patients. She derives satisfaction from making the correct diagnosis for patients who rely on her specialized expertise. She knows that patients sometimes feel apprehensive about their diagnostic procedures, so she does her best to offer reassurance. “I try to empathize with patients and to explain everything to them in a simple but thorough way,” Dr. Kent says.

Dr. Kent is an assistant professor of radiology and biomedical imaging at Yale School of Medicine.