ANN ARBOR—David E. Kuhl, professor of internal medicine and of radiology at the University of Michigan, has been chosen as the U-M’s 1998 Henry Russel Lecturer. The annual lectureship is the highest honor the University gives to a senior faculty member.

Kuhl was nominated for the honor by the U-M Research Club and was confirmed by the U-M Regents at their Nov. 20-21 meeting. He will deliver the Russel Lecture on March 10.

Kuhl, who joined the U-M faculty in 1986, is internationally recognized for his professional achievement in the field of nuclear medicine. Kuhl’s work has been central to the introduction, development and clinical application of both radionuclide emission tomography and positron emission tomography in medicine.

He developed a photorecording system for radionuclide scanning in 1954 which has become the standard for all nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures throughout the world. He developed radionuclide emission tomography in 1962, leading to the first “computer tomography” which ultimately led to the development of the X-ray CT scanning as well as positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. He is recognized internationally as the “father” of PET scanning.

Before coming to Michigan, he taught at University of Pennsylvania and the University of California at Los Angeles.