Kevin P. Horn, MD, PhD

“We are all patients at various times in our lives. Whether I’m examining images on a screen or working directly with a patient, I focus on providing the kind of care I would want for myself and my loved ones.”

— Dr. Horn

What do you enjoy about your specialty?

I became fascinated with imaging from my earliest days in graduate school. I consider myself to be a visual person, and images are a powerful medium to convey information that is not dependent on language. In medicine, imaging is a universal tool; it’s not tied to a specific patient population, organ or disease, so my work in imaging allows me to participate in the care of all types of patients. I’m also a scientist at heart, and nuclear medicine (a type of imaging) is a particularly research-driven field. There are lots of opportunities to develop new therapies or diagnostic processes that can improve the treatment of cancer and other diseases. All these elements combined make imaging the ideal specialty for me.

What personal experiences have informed your approach to care?

During my final year of medical school, I experienced a health problem that required me to undergo several tests and procedures. I went on to have surgery and stay in the intensive care unit. As a result, I missed the first two months of my last year in medical school, yet this role reversal taught me so much about patient care. What I took away from that experience is just how important it is to be thoughtful and forthright when talking with patients and families. I never want anyone to leave an appointment feeling panicked or not understanding what’s going on. We are all patients at various times in our lives. Whether I’m examining images on a screen or working directly with a patient, I focus on providing the kind of care I would want for myself and my loved ones.

Provider Background

Specialty: Radiology

Imaging and therapy for cancers, other diseases
I specialize in nuclear medicine, an area of radiology that uses radioactive tracers, usually injected or given orally, to diagnose and sometimes treat a variety of diseases, from cancer to dementia to inflammatory conditions like vasculitis. Instead of just providing an internal picture of the body, nuclear medicine can identify what’s happening physiologically — for example, how particular organs are functioning or how well a tumor is responding to therapy. At SCCA, I provide care for people who are enrolled in imaging studies. My practice also includes seeing patients at UW Medical Center. In addition, I have conducted research for several years evaluating the use of PET/CT scanning (a functional imaging technique) in diagnosing and assessing response to treatment for multiple types of cancer.