Karen Margaret Horton, MD

Karen M. Horton, M.D., is a professor of radiology for the Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science.

Dr. Horton’s clinical and research focus is on abdominal CT imaging, 3D imaging of the gastrointestinal tract and the mesenteric vessels, and virtual colonoscopy.  She has published over 170 scientific papers, numerous book chapters and was the Johns Hopkins principle investigator in the National CT Colonography Trial.

Dr. Horton graduated summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1988.  She attended the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, graduating in the top 10 percent of her class and was inducted into the AOA honor society.  After completing a radiology residency and a fellowship in cross-sectional imaging at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Horton joined the radiology faculty as an assistant professor in 1998.  

Dr. Horton was promoted to Associate Professor in 2002, and in 2008 became the 144th female to be promoted to …Professor at Johns Hopkins.

In 2009, Dr. Horton assumed the role of Johns Hopkins Radiology Residency Program Director.  During her more than four years as program director, the residency program was ranked #1 by Aunt Minnie twice and #4 by Doximity.  During her tenure, in addition to making significant improvements to the residency curriculum, she increased diversity by recruiting more women and underrepresented minorities. 

From 2013 to 2014, Dr. Horton served as Acting Chair of the Department of Radiology at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Dr. Horton established subspecialty divisions and more fully integrated the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and The Johns Hopkins Hospital radiology divisions. She is a member of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

Dr. Horton has held numerous leadership positions within the Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, including vice chair of operations in 2014, executive vice chair in 2015, interim chair in 2016-2017, and chair of the department from 2017-2026.