Keith Woodward was born and raised in Tennessee. He grew up in Memphis where he obtained an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering at Vanderbilt University. Choosing the medical field was an easy choice for Dr. Woodward. He wanted to be hands-on in helping others as well as play a role in advancing the field of medicine. Dr. Woodward was the first member of his family to become a doctor since his great-great-grandfather, who was a Confederate surgeon during the Civil War.

Dr. Woodward earned his medical degree at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis and completed his residency at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. Dr. Woodward is dually trained completing a fellowship in vascular and interventional radiology at the Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute in 2002 and a fellowship in neuro-interventional radiology at Vanderbilt University in 2005. Dr. Woodward was the first neuro-interventional radiologist in Knoxville.

As a doctor with an interest in electrical engineering, the field of neuro-interventional radiology made perfect sense to Dr. Woodward. “Using advanced imaging to navigate to areas in the brain in order to help someone, gives me an incredible sense of accomplishment,” he shared.

When asked how specific technology advancements have impacted his role, he explained, “The ability to combine advanced imaging, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics to fight strokes has made me a better physician and provided better outcomes for many stroke patients.”

Dr. Woodward admits that one of his greatest challenges is helping families understand that they must act quickly to get a stroke patient to the hospital; otherwise, he cannot help them. “Strokes usually do not hurt or cause pain. In fact, a patient may even be unaware they are having a stroke,” he explained. He feels frustration, at times, that he is unable to improve a patient outcome because they did not seek help in time. A five minute neuro-interventional procedure can literally save a person’s life if medical care is sought quickly.

When asked why he chose to join Vista Radiology, Dr. Woodward shared, “Vista has always been on the leading edge of radiology as the first to provide stroke care in Knoxville and the first to embrace new technologies in stroke diagnosis.”

In his spare time, Dr. Woodward participates in stroke research and has been featured in several medical and news publications.