Arsalan Saleem, MD

Dr. Arsalan Saleem is a nationally recognized interventional radiologist, academic leader, and program builder whose work has transformed the footprint of Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. As Division Chief and the youngest Osler Scholar in UTMB history, Dr. Saleem has redefined how radiology integrates with patient care, institutional growth, and multidisciplinary innovation. Under his leadership, UTMB IR expanded from a small campus-based service to a fully integrated systemwide enterprise covering four hospitals across the Gulf Coast region. He led the creation of dedicated IR clinics, ICU-based patient management, and governance structures that positioned Interventional Radiology as a distinct independent service line. His visionary strategies and operational redesigns have elevated both the quality and accessibility of care for patients across the UTMB system. Today, UTMB stands among Texas leaders in complex endovascular and image-guided therapies, with one of the highest volumes of liver-directed therapies in the state.

A dedicated educator, Dr. Saleem serves as Program Director for the Integrated and the Independent IR Residencies and Associate Program Director for Diagnostic Radiology. His mentorship has been recognized with the Overall Best Faculty Teaching awards, the Thayer Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Osler Scholar Endowment, a one-million-dollar recognition for advancing the art of medicine through compassion, scholarship, and leadership. His trainees present nationally, publish in peer reviewed journals, and match into competitive fellowships.

As a collaborator, Dr. Saleem has united cardiology, vascular surgery, pulmonology, and cardiothoracic surgery through programs such as UTMB Pulmonary Embolism Response Team, the DVT Response Team, and the forthcoming AORTA Initiative, a multidisciplinary model for aortic and complex vascular care. Internationally, he leads UTMB strategic partnerships with the Saudi Ministry of Health and Education, advancing Saudi Vision 2030 and positioning UTMB on the global stage.

Dr. Saleem serves statewide and nationally as Vice Chair of the Texas Radiological Society Political Action Committee, Councilor to the American College of Radiology, and member of the Association of Chiefs in Interventional Radiology. He is fluent in English, Urdu, and Punjabi and is known for balancing technical excellence with humanity in patient care.