Avanka Lowe, MD

Assistant Professor
Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics

Avanka W. Lowe, MD, is a Nuclear Medicine Physician and an Assistant Professor of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson and Banner - University Medical Center Tucson. 

Dr. Lowe is originally from Sri Lanka, where he completed his college level education. He received his medical degree from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, having earned a SAARC scholarship for academic excellence. He completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Kern Medical in Bakersfield, California, affiliated to University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

Dr. Lowe completed his Nuclear Medicine residency at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) in Dallas, Texas.  Following residency, Dr. Lowe completed a fellowship in Clinical PET/CT at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

Throughout his training, Dr. Lowe has earned several certificates and honors. Most recently, Dr. Lowe completed a certificate course in Artificial Intelligence in Health Care at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Dr. Lowe’s clinical and research interests include the use of Artificial Intelligence in medical imaging, targeted radionuclide therapies for neoplastic conditions with focus on neuroendocrine and prostate malignancies, and nuclear cardiac imaging. As an active member of many professional societies, Dr. Lowe has presented abstracts at local and national meetings conducted by Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and American College of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM).

When he is not working, Dr. Lowe enjoys hiking in the mountains, exploring nature, and spending time with his family. Dr. Lowe has a deep appreciation for music, and he plays the piano, guitar, and harmonica.

Research Interests: 
  • Use of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging
  • Targeted radionuclide therapies for neoplastic conditions with focus on neuroendocrine and prostate malignancies
  • Nuclear cardiac imaging
Degrees
  • MD: University of Dhaka, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Bangladesh, 2010
  • MICT (Master of Computer and Information Technology): University of Pennsylvania, 2023 - Present
Internship
  • Kern Medical (affiliated with University of California Los Angeles), Internal Medicine, 2017
Residency
  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Nuclear Medicine, 2021
Fellowship
  • The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT, 2022
Board Certifications
  • American Board of Nuclear Medicine, 2022

Select Publications

2025

Lowe, A., "Advancing Healthcare Through AI-Driven Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine", Data Science Conference (DSC Next), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 05/2025.
Lowe, A., "AI in Medicine/Healthcare (with particular focus on Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine)", Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Conference (AIIM), Lisbon, Portugal, 2025.

2024

Lowe, A., "A Comparative Review of Advanced Artificial Intelligence Models in Current Nuclear Cardiac Imaging Practices", Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Mid-Winter and American College of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM) Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, 02/2024.
Fermawi, S., S. Kalarn, C. Sabottke, A. Lowe, T. Buener, and S. Savir-Baruch, "Can Pre-Therapy PSMA PET/CT Scan Predict Response?", Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting, Toronto, ON, Candada, 06/2024.
Fermawi, S., S. Kalarn, S. C, B. Savir-Baruch, and A. Lowe, "The Use of Advanced Medical Imaging to Augment Receptor-Based Radiopharmaceutical Therapy", Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting, Toronto, ON, Canada, 06/2024.
Chen, L., A. Lowe, and J. Wang, "Early Detection of Residual/Recurrent Lung Malignancies on Post-Radiation FDG PET/CT", Algorithms, vol. 17, 10/2024.

2023

Lowe, A., "Practical uses of Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Medicine", Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Mid-Winter and American College of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM) Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 01/2023.

2022

Lowe, A. W., K. J. Macura, M. Kates, T. Lotan, M. C. Haffner, and S. P. Rowe, "Prostate multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging appearance of diffuse adenosis of the peripheral zone (DAPZ).", Urol Case Rep, vol. 45, pp. 102178, 2022 Nov. PMCID: PMC9363943 

2020

Lowe, A., P. D, and P. F, "That is not pulmonary embolism! Correlation of Non-PE Perfusion Abnormalities on lung Scintigraphy with Cardiovascular Radiological Findings", SNMMI Mid-Winter Meeting, Tampa, FL, 01/2020.
A.W., L., K. A., and B. L.E., Diffuse FDG uptake in bone marrow in patients with Lymphoma on 18F-FDG PET/CT, 2020.
LE, D. Blanche, A. Lowe, H. M, and OK. Oz, "Clinically relevant radiation safety analysis of lutetium Lu-177 DOTATATE therapy for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors", 106th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting 2020 - Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), onlihne, 12/2020.
De Blanche, L., A. Lowe, M. Huerta, and O. Oz, "Clinically relevant radiation safety analysis of lutetium Lu-177 DOTATATE therapy for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors", Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 106th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, virtual, 11/2020.

2014

Yu, J., A. Lowe, S. Kaye, Z. Chandy, J. Steichen, J. Lee, and K. Chang, "Relief of Duodenal Obstruction Due to Necrotizing Pancreatitis: A Novel Use of a Fully Covered Stent Anchored Using Full Thickness Endoscopic Suturing: 1152", American Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 109:S1, 10/2014.
Yu, J., Z. Chandy, S. Kaye, A. Lowe, J. Steichen, K. Chang, and J. Samarasena, "Dysphagia in a Post-Surgical Patient Without a Stricture: Treatment With a Novel Large Caliber Fully Covered Self-Expanding Metal Stent: 830", Official Journal of the American College of Gastroenterology, vol. 109: S243-4, 10/2014.