A Rising Interventional Radiologist
For John Filtes, MD, an early experience witnessing a procedure that cured a patient of liver cancer led to a passion for interventional radiology and the hope it offers.
Dr. Filtes, who received a 2025 ACE Rising Star Award, is a chief resident in the Integrated Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Residency program at Columbia. He is joining Columbia University as an assistant professor in the Department of Radiology and looking forward to a career of serving patients by performing life-changing, minimally invasive procedures.
Dr. Filtes discusses his training, his fascination with minimally invasive approaches, and the relationship between patients and radiologists.
What inspired you to become a doctor, and what keeps you motivated today?
As the son of engineers, I always enjoyed problem-solving, fixing, and fine-tuning things. Throughout my education, I realized the human body is the most sophisticated "machine" and became fascinated with the complex pathologies that affect it and how I could fix them. I am motivated by the constant progress we are making in medicine, particularly in interventional radiology, which allows us to treat many diseases with minimally invasive techniques, excellent outcomes, and limited risks.
What made you choose your specialty?
The first day I was exposed to interventional radiology, I witnessed a patient receive curative treatment for cancer in his liver through a tiny needle hole. He walked out of the hospital a few hours later without any pain or any significant side effects. I became fascinated with the field of interventional radiology and how, with the help of imaging and new technology, I can treat not only cancer but many other illnesses in a minimally invasive manner with the lowest possible risk and fast recovery.
What made you stay here at Columbia and join as faculty after your training?
I decided to join the faculty at Columbia in the Department of Radiology primarily because of the faculty and mentors who make up the department. Although it is a large department, it often feels like I am working with family. Additionally, working at Columbia will allow me to treat complex pathologies and to have the privilege of learning from global leaders across all disciplines in medicine.
What would you like patients to know about the care you provide?
Many people may be surprised to learn that radiologists can have long-term relationships with their patients. As an interventional radiologist, I find it fulfilling to treat patients with various conditions and follow up with them for months and years after their procedures.
What would you want potential students to know about your training here at Columbia?
There truly is no place to train like Columbia. Radiology is a cornerstone of any institution; it supports and interacts with all other medical fields. This is especially true at Columbia, where patients with complex pathologies come to seek treatment from all over the country and the globe. Columbia is one of the very few places where trainees have exposure to this breadth of pathology and learn from global leaders in all fields of medicine.
What does being named an ACE Rising Star mean, and how do you hope to grow from here?
It is incredibly rewarding to be named an ACE Rising Star. My mission is to keep clinical excellence at the core of my practice. As I start the next step of my career and join the Columbia faculty, I plan to train the next generation to practice clinical excellence despite the growing challenges facing physicians today.