Robert A. Zimmerman, a celebrated neuroradiologist who helped pioneer the use of magnetic resonance imaging for the brain and a former professor of radiology at Penn’s School of Medicine, HUP, and CHOP, died of kidney cancer on February 23. He was 82.

Dr. Zimmerman grew up in Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia, and graduated from Central High School. He received an undergraduate degree in biology from Temple in 1960, then earned an MD from Georgetown in 1964. He interned at Georgetown University Hospital, then completed a radiology residency and fellowship at Penn. In 1969, he joined the U.S. Army as a radiologist, serving in Europe and advancing to the rank of major. In 1972, Dr. Zimmerman joined the faculty of Penn’s School of Medicine as an assistant professor of radiology. In 1978, he became an associate professor and, three years later, a full professor. Dr. Zimmerman also gained secondary appointments in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine and in the department of neurosurgery at HUP.

In 1988, Dr. Zimmerman moved from HUP to CHOP. There, he established a division of neuroradiology, where he served as the division chief and director of the fellowship program. Under his leadership, the division grew to become one of the largest and most respected pediatric neuroradiology programs in the United States. During his entire time at Penn and its affiliated hospitals, Dr. Zimmerman was active in the community, serving on Faculty Senate and University Council committees and bringing prestige to Penn by appearing on several national “Best Doctors” lists in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1997, Dr. Zimmerman joined Penn’s 25-Year Club, and in 2018 he retired and took emeritus status. CHOP created the Robert A. Zimmerman Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neuroradiology upon his retirement.

Dr. Zimmerman lectured widely and published nearly 500 papers. He also authored several influential texts about neuroradiology and served as president of the American Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology from 1995-1996. Most notably, he was one of the first researchers to describe the craniocerebral findings of abusive head trauma, cerebral edema and shear injuries related to trauma, and evolution of hematomas on CT. He pioneered the first clinical spiral CT in the United States and worked with General Electric on the development of the first 1.5T MRI. This work merited Dr. Zimmerman several awards, including CHOP’s Richard D. Wood distinguished alumni award in 2014. Many of his students and colleagues remember him as not only knowledgeable, but also an inspiring and generous mentor.

He is survived by his wife, Dianne (née Cooper); his children, Rachel (John Boyko) and Sara (George Kobiella); and two grandchildren. Services are private. Contributions in his memory may be made to InLiquid (www.inliquid.org/donate).

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