GET TO KNOW YOUR LEADERSHIP
Q&A With Taro Minami, MD, FCCP
Ultrasound and Chest Imaging Section Chair
CHEST member since 2005
April 28, 2026
Where do you work?
Care New England, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
What are your research interests?
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) (diaphragm ultrasound, advanced critical care echocardiography), simulation training, and human errors in medicine.
What led you to join your Network?
I have loved POCUS for more than 20 years—back when the term "point-of-care ultrasound" didn't even exist yet, and we were essentially making it up as we went. When I found the Ultrasound and Chest Imaging Section, it felt like a natural home. Twenty years in, I can confirm it is.
What achievements are you most proud of contributing to within your Network?
Helping make ultrasound education at CHEST not just better but genuinely fun. Ultrasound is already cool, but a boring lecture can ruin anything. I've worked hard to bring energy, creativity, and a little edutainment to our sessions, and nothing makes me happier than watching a colleague leave a workshop buzzing with excitement to pick up a probe. That never gets old.
How has being in a Network benefited your career and your experience as a CHEST member?
The CHEST Network took something I already loved and made it exponentially better. I came in with a passion for POCUS and a community I had built over the years, but the Network amplified everything: broader collaborations, national leadership opportunities, and research partnerships spanning continents. And honestly? Our Tuesday afternoon Zoom is what keeps me sane during a busy clinical week.
What are your hobbies?
Three Ms:
Milo - My brindle pug and an essential part of my daily routine. He has a remarkable talent for interrupting my work at the worst possible moments.
Music - I'm particularly devoted to Glenn Gould. During CHEST 2017 in Toronto, I quietly slipped away from the conference to visit his grave and then tracked down the bronze statue of him sitting on a bench outside the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation headquarters for a photo.
Museum - For years, I made weekend pilgrimages to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to spend time with Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Millet, and Gauguin. One of their paintings inspired a presentation at CHEST 2025. Can you tell which one?
What is something you cannot live without (after family and friends)?
Three Ms: Milo, music, and museums. Between the three, I manage to stay sane. Mostly.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with your Network peers?
I am genuinely honored to serve as your Section Chair, and I don't take the trust lightly. Feel free to reach out, and let’s talk about some fun projects! One more thing—if you are planning a trip to Japan and need recommendations, I spent ten years in Kyoto as a medical student, resident, and fellow. I know hidden gems and mistakes worth avoiding. Consider me your resource. Sayonara for now—see you at CHEST!
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