Professor Emeritus Charles “Chuck” Mistretta (January 5, 1941 – June 9, 2026) was a pioneering figure in medical imaging physics whose inventions fundamentally transformed vascular imaging and modern image-guided interventions. He served as the John R. Cameron Professor of Medical Physics and Radiology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, helping establish the institution as a premier global center for medical physics.
Joining UW-Madison in 1971 after earning his PhD from Harvard, Mistretta revolutionized vascular imaging by developing digital subtraction angiography (DSA). This technique, which improved image clarity while reducing contrast doses, became essential for modern interventional radiology and cardiology. Furthermore, he held over 40 US patents and advanced MRI-based imaging with techniques such as TRICKS, VIPR, and HYPR.
Recognized for his contributions, he received major awards including the IOMP Marie Skłodowska-Curie Award and the AAPM Edith H. Quimby Lifetime Achievement Award. Colleagues remembered him as a humble mentor and a passionate outdoorsman.