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RLI Taking the Lead Podcasts

Episode 28: Ezequiel “Zeke” Silva III, MD, F, FSIR, FRBMA, RCC


Headshot of Dr. Silva

Leading by Example


November 19, 2020

In this episode, Ezequiel “Zeke” Silva III, MD, F, member of the board of directors and interventional radiologist at South Texas Radiology Group in San Antonio, TX, shares his journey from medical school and residency at Baylor College of Medicine to his membership with the AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee (RUC), Chair of the Commission on Economics and Co-Chair of the AMA Digital Medicine Payment Advisory Group (DMPAG). He recounts how his passion for science led him to pursue a career in medicine and how his desire to contribute to the specialty has shaped his focus on payment policy and quality initiatives in radiology.

He chronicles his many early leadership roles including his time as president of the Alpha Epsilon Delta National Health Preprofessional Honor Society at the University of Texas at Austin during which time he had the opportunity to work with the school administration to provide the student perspective on the development of the new student healthcare center. He also shares how his first job as a baseball umpire gave him the confidence, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills that have been the foundation of his success as a leader.

Throughout his career, Dr. Silva has led with humility, seeking first to understand how to best contribute while prioritizing building trust and connection with the rest of his colleagues and the medical community. Along the way you will hear what excites him most about the future of radiology, the importance of enabling future leaders and his future professional aspirations.

View episode transcript » 

Ezequiel “Zeke” Silva III, MD, F, FSIR, FRBMA, RCC

Ezequiel “Zeke” Silva III, MD, F, FSIR, FRBMA, RCC, is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He completed medical school and residency at Baylor College of Medicine before pursuing a fellowship in vascular and interventional radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Silva is Co-Chair of the AMA Digital Medicine Payment Advisory Group (DMPAG). He is a member of the AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee (RUC) and serves as Chair of the RUC Research Subcommittee. He serves on the Texas Medical Association (TMA) Delegation to the American Medical Association and on the TMA Council on Socioeconomics.

In San Antonio, Dr. Silva is a member of the board of directors for the South Texas Radiology Group and Diagnostic Imaging Management. He is the Medical Director of Radiology at the Methodist Texan Hospital. He is an adjunct professor at the UT Health-San Antonio. Locally, Dr. Silva has been recognized among the “40 Under Forty: San Antonio’s Rising Stars” and is a multi-year recipient of San Antonio’s “Best Doctors” as chosen by his peers across the medical community.

His clinical interests include digital applications in health care, particularly oncology imaging and interventions.

Full Bio »

Did You Know?

Dr. Silva has been married to his wife, Erika, since 2000. Together they have two children; Sophie who is attending UCLA and Matthew who is a junior in high school. Dr. Silva has always been involved in every aspect of their lives, including coaching them in youth sports for many years. Additionally, they have Beth, a 12 year old standard poodle and June, a 1.5 year old gray tabby cat who is a handful!

Outside of work, Dr. Silva enjoys cycling, running and participating in triathlons. He’s completed a full Ironman in 2012 and the Boston Marathon earlier that same year. More recently, he has taken up Golf. He loves the combination of science, mental acuity and physical preparation that make for a good golf swing and result. Additionally, he loves the mountains and downhill mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding as much as possible, though it’s not easy keeping up with his kids but he tries.

Dr. Silva has had the good fortune of taking his family to Europe twice. They all agree that Italy was their favorite place to visit. His daughter is studying Korean and they plan to visit South Korea when circumstances allow.

Other fun facts about Dr. Silva include: he thought he wanted to be a surgeon before discovering radiology late in medical school; Cabernet, Peroni, Kirin and Bud Light are his favorite adult beverages, his favorite cuisine is Sushi, and his favorite rainy-day activity is catching up on Netflix—Stranger Things is his latest binge-worthy show.

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