Donna Blankenbaker, MD

Donna Blankenbaker, MD, is a UW Health radiologist and medical director of outpatient radiology. Dr. Blankenbaker interprets medical images and performs image-guided procedures to treat conditions affecting the muscles, bones, joints, spine and tissues. Dr. Blankenbaker is also a professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Using X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI and other imaging, Dr. Blankenbaker evaluates bone fractures, sports injuries, hip arthritis and other conditions. She collaborates with orthopedic and sports medicine doctors and other specialists to diagnose issues and determine the best treatment approaches. She reviews medical records and considers individual concerns and goals when discussing treatment options.

Dr. Blankenbaker gives spinal injections and performs interventional radiology using minimally invasive, image-guided procedures. Using advanced technologies and tools, she treats disorders and helps manage pain. She also performs biopsies, taking small bone or soft tissue samples for laboratory analysis.

In addition to patient care and fellowship-level teaching, Dr. Blankenbaker stays on the leading edge in research. Much of her research focuses on sports medicine, hip imaging and interventional radiology.

In her free time, Dr. Blankenbaker travels and enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking, kayaking and biking.

We listen and help patients understand why they’re having a specific treatment or procedure. We discuss why it’s important and how it relates to their overall care and health.