Meet the Doctors: J. Caleb Richards, MD

We love sitting down and learning more about our team. Here are some things we learned when we talked with Dr. Caleb Richards, our sub-specialized and fellowship trained thoracic radiologist.

How, when and why did you decide to pursue a career in medicine?

As a late teenager, I had a family member diagnosed with cancer. We were fortunate to live close to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, so the opportunity for groundbreaking care was readily available. The compassion and dedication shown to my family member was really moving and convinced me that I wanted to be in a position to help others the same way. I learned that medicine truly takes a team of specialties to give a patient the best care, and ultimately felt radiology was where I was best positioned to serve.

What do you like most about your job?

I enjoy collaborating with the pulmonologists and other clinicians in our community. One way we do this is through multidisciplinary conferences, where we review the patient's imaging and clinical presentation to come up with the best diagnosis and treatment plan. I feel that when we communicate and work together, we give the patient the best possible care. 

What is your favorite way to spend free time?

I like to spend time with my family, cooking, DIY projects, lawn care, gardening, hiking, and doing anything outside. I need to get as much sun as I can since my job is mostly in a dimly lit room.

What do you like most about working at RIA?

I like being able to work mostly within my subspecialty, thoracic radiology, so I can provide imaging interpretations on the exams I'm most experienced and comfortable with, which in turn better helps the patient.

Why is lung cancer screening so important?

Lung cancer screening is truly a game changer and life saver. It hasn't been around as long as other screening tests, like mammography for breast cancer or colonoscopy for colon cancer, so many people haven't even heard of it, but the research is clear that this is a test that is beneficial and can save your life. If you or someone you know has a history of smoking, I encourage you to take that first step of talking to your doctor and learning more about lung cancer screening.