Research Scientist
Dr. Upasana Upadhyay Bharadwaj, MD, is a research scientist at Emory SPARC, where she drives innovations at the intersection of artificial intelligence, musculoskeletal health, and sports medicine. With a background in diagnostic radiology and orthopedic surgery, she integrates clinical expertise with AI-driven research to develop imaging solutions for musculoskeletal conditions and is dedicated to advancing injury prevention, rehabilitation, and precision diagnostics.
Prior to joining Emory, Dr. Bharadwaj was an NIH T32 research fellow at the University of California San Franciso where she contributed to cutting-edge advancements in musculoskeletal imaging. Her work on deep learning applications for spine and knee MRI has led to high-impact publications in European Radiology, American Journal of Neuroradiology, and Skeletal Radiology. Studies on knee osteoarthritis, including AI-driven insights into total knee replacement and intra-articular injections have gained widespread recognition with coverage in CNN, NBC, US News, and RSNA press releases. She has collaborated across disciplines in orthopedics, radiology, biomechanics, and AI, contributing to studies on spinal alignment, vertebral body detection, and knee osteoarthritis. She has also received independent funding, including a departmental seed grant in collaboration with Siemens supporting her research on novel imaging biomarkers and AI-driven diagnostic tools.
A former yoga world champion, athlete, and classical dancer, Dr. Bharadwaj brings a holistic perspective to musculoskeletal health. She is also committed to education and mentorship, having developed curricula on musculoskeletal anatomy in yoga and delivered lectures on yoga and meditation at professional retreats.
Dr. Bharadwaj earned her medical degree from Madras Medical College.