The department was accredited at inception as an x-ray department to teach undergraduate medical students, in 1970, immediately after the civil war. It was then headed by late Dr. M. A. C. Ogakwu D. M. R. D. the first Nigerian Radiologist. In 1977, it was upgraded to a Department of Radiation Medicine with a view to training Radiologists and encompassing other fields of imaging. An indigenous Professor, Prof. B. C. Umerah; 2 senior lecturers, Dr. A. C. Ude and Dr. A. Ofordile; Dr. Nwosu (a senior registrar) and one lecturer I, Dr. I. Orakwe formed the nucleus of the embryonic teaching staff at that stage. Dr. Ofordile was also very beneficial to the department at the first Sonologist (Radiologist trained in ultrasound).
Dr. F. I. Obioha joined the department in 1982 as a Lecturer and Consultant in Radiobiology and Radiation Protection/Nuclear Medicine.  He is presently incharge of Radioimmunoassay/Clinical Nuclear Medicine and is also the IAEA Project Coordinator with special interest in thyroid-related diseases.
The only equipments available initially were a mobile x-ray unit, a fluoroscopy unit and a static unit for special investigations as well as a tomography unit. A dedicated skull unit for carotid angiography and plain skull radiographs was available. A functional image intensifier was later bought and this increased the activity in the department. Investigations such as cardiac angiography, carotid angiography, vascular studies (arterio-and venographies done in the angio suite); Barlum sties for GIT lessons were carried out. It was also envisaged that nuclear medicine and Radiotherapy facilities would later be added to the pre-existing Radiodiagnostic unit.

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