A photoacoustic transducer assembly for imaging a subject of interest is presented. Furthermore, the photoacoustic transducer assembly includes a substrate. In addition, the photoacoustic transducer assembly includes a first plurality of source elements disposed on one or more sides of the substrate, wherein the first plurality of source elements is arranged along a periphery of the one or more sides of the substrate and configured to irradiate a region of interest in the subject of interest. Moreover, the photoacoustic transducer assembly also includes a plurality of detector elements disposed on the one or more sides of the substrate, wherein the plurality of detector elements is surrounded by the first plurality of source elements and configured to detect one or more signals generated by the region of interest in response to the irradiation.
