John Port MD, PhD

John D. Port, MD, PhD, is a board-certified neuroradiologist and Professor of Radiology with a joint appointment as Professor of Psychiatry at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He specializes in advanced neuroimaging of the brain and spine, with particular expertise in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging, and multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. His clinical and research interests focus on developing innovative imaging technologies that improve the diagnosis, characterization, and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Dr. Port earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), followed by a PhD in Anatomy and Cell Biology and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He completed a transitional internship, a Diagnostic Radiology residency, and a fellowship in Neuroradiology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Since joining Mayo Clinic, he has established an internationally recognized program dedicated to advanced MRI techniques and quantitative neuroimaging, combining expertise in medicine, engineering, and imaging science to advance precision diagnostics.

Dr. Port's research centers on developing novel MR-based imaging biomarkers for psychiatric and neurological diseases, including bipolar disorder, major depression, addiction, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. His pioneering work in proton, lithium, phosphorus, and sodium MR spectroscopy has provided new insights into brain metabolism and treatment response, with the goal of enabling objective imaging-based diagnosis of psychiatric illnesses. An internationally respected investigator, he has authored more than 180 peer-reviewed publications and has held numerous leadership positions within the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), the American Society of Neuroradiology, and other professional organizations. His contributions to neuroradiology and MRI research have been recognized through multiple honors, including the Radiological Society of North America Editor's Recognition Awards and election as a Fellow of the ISMRM.