Radiation Physicist Masters

Job Summary

Job Duties

Background:

• Geisinger participates in one or more of over 100 clinical research trials, which include new treatment protocols for various cancers, as well as select trials involving new cancer drugs. We also offer screening and prevention trials for individuals at risk for certain types of cancer. Our more than 30-year alliance with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and its community research programs enables us to offer advanced care and treatment options close to home. The health system has received the NCI-NCORP designation and is dedicated to active participation in cancer clinical trials.
• Geisinger fosters an exciting intellectual environment that includes the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, more than 50 graduate medical education programs, and fellowship programs in hematology/oncology and palliative medicine. The medical school is recognized for its innovative educational approach, featuring a curriculum that emphasizes active learning, longitudinal clinical experiences, and community engagement. 
• Our patients contribute to the MyCode Community Health Initiative with >275,000 patient genomes sequenced for research and real-time clinical applications. Providers interested in clinical, or informatics research collaborate within Geisinger and across organizations to benefit our patients and the scientific community

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Clinical support of linear accelerator treatments, including patient simulation, image fusion, treatment planning, secondary dose calculation, plan quality assurance and reviews of treatment plan safety and quality.
• Special emphasis on stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), HDR, and TBI treatment planning, secondary dose verification and plan quality assurance.
• Clinical support of brachytherapy procedures, including patient simulation, treatment planning, secondary dose verification, treatment delivery and reviews of treatment delivery safety and quality; high dose rate equipment purchase, maintenance and quality assurance; and permanent seed implants, including ordering, assays, implant support and planning and documentation.
• Preparation and updates of physics and dosimetry policies and procedures as required.
• Maintenance of daily, monthly and annual quality assurance testing for software and equipment, both diagnostic and therapeutic, throughout the department.
• Involvement in the departmental residency program, including the development of, and instruction, in a new radiobiology curriculum for both physicist and radiation oncologist residents.
• Coordination of physics aspects of the department's research program, including support for existing departmental and national research protocols, as well as developing original physics-oriented research projects.
• Travel, including interdepartmental travel as needed; training for new equipment, software or modalities; and participation in national meetings and conferences.
• Other physics duties as needed, including but not limited to commissioning of both software and new equipment for treatment or diagnostic use, radiation shielding calculations, and in vivo measurements for verification of patient dose.
• Radixact and/or CyberKnife experience is desired.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Colleagues, Facility and Equipment:

The department staff comprises six experienced medical physicists who are actively involved in various clinical, teaching, and research activities. Additionally, the department includes ten radiation oncologists, nine dosimetrists, one medical physics resident, and a dedicated IT specialist. The department is equipped with seven Varian linear accelerators, which include one Trilogy, five TrueBeam machines, and one Halcyon. It also has one CyberKnife, one Radixact Tomotherapy machine, and two HDR brachytherapy afterloaders (Elekta Flexitron), along with five CT simulators from GE Medical Systems. Furthermore, the department has three-year and ten-year long-term plans for the system upgrade and an additional cancer center is currently under construction and is expected to open in Summer 2025. Perhaps just as important, we encourage an atmosphere of collaboration, cooperation and collegiality.

Position Details

Work is typically performed in a clinical environment. Accountable for satisfying all job specific obligations and complying with all organization policies and procedures. The specific statements in this profile are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job. Additional competencies and skills outlined in any department-specific orientation will be considered essential to the performance of the job related to that position.

Education

Experience

Certification(s) and License(s)