Medical Physicist

Provide physics services to the Radiation Oncology Department in accordance with the highest standards of practice and as required by regulatory agencies.  Provide emergent physics services to the Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Departments as needed when standard resources are unavailable.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provision of operational aspects of Medical Physics.
  •     Prepares and delivers continuing education to the radiation oncology staff as it relates to medical physics, equipment, and radiation safety. Also performs or coordinates annual inservices for the department.
  •     Performs acceptance testing and performance verification of xray equipment in the radiation oncology department.
  •     Coordinates the maintenance of instrumentation required for quality control, image quality, and patient treatment measurements.
  •     Designs and fabricates treatment aides and treatment beam modifiers as needed.
  •     Consults with radiation oncologists and treatment staff on the physical and radiobiological aspects of patients' treatments and development of treatment plans.
  •     Acquires and stores data needed for treatment and treatment plans in the planning computer.
  •     Calculates dose distributions and machine settings for patient treatments.
  •     Develops techniques (hardware, software, or procedures) to improve the delivery of radiation treatments.
  •     Acquires beam data for patient dose calculation.
• Calibration of radioactive sources and radiation producing equipment.
  •     Perform measurements that will lead to a calibration when needed.
  •     Use appropriate measuring devices to calibrate the radiation sources.
  •     Perform annual calibration of all diagnostic and therapeutic radiation producing equipment in the department of radiation oncology.
  •     Coordinate the calibration of all necessary equipment by a standards laboratory at required energies and at appropriate intervals for said device.
  •     As needed, verifying the calibration of radioactive sources and materials.
• Develop and implement QC programs and policies for radiation equipment and patient treatment at the discretion of the manager of medical physics.
  •     Review, critically evaluate and approve dosimetrists' treatment plans for accuracy and appropriateness.
  •     Perform weekly chart checks of patients under treatment.
  •     Performs in-vivo measurements to verify the dose delivered to patients as needed.
  •     Keep records of quality assurance measurements and generate reports as needed.
  •     Perform weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual quality assurance test of radiation oncology equipment per manufacturer, AAPM and IEMA guidelines.
  •     Assure that QC program meets the requirements of Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
  •     Maintain, review, provide oversight and direction of all service and upgrades on all radiation oncology equipment. When needed, physicists must approve and sign off on such service before the equipment can be used clinically.
  •     Perform annual absolute dose output of the linear accelerators with independent 3rd party institutions such as the RPC and RDS.
• Stay abreast of new radiotherapeutic treatment delivery and treatment delivery techniques. Participate in continuous practice improvement.
  •     Read and report on medical physics literature as it relates to radiation oncology.
  •     Attend such training courses or refresher courses as appropriate to maintain skills and knowledge.
  •     Actively participate in chart rounds, process improvement and any other departmental or site meetings related to practice improvement.
  •     Actively participate in physics conference calls.
• Assist in planning for resource allocation with radiation oncology, radiology and other areas that use radiation producing equipment.
  •     Suggest replacement equipment when evaluations indicate that the useful life has been reached.
  •     Help in developing systems that are efficient in utilizing personnel in medical physics to accomplish necessary tasks in a timely manner.
  •     Participates in patient – discussion conferences
• Implement, maintain and supervise radiation safety aspects within the radiation oncology department to meet or exceed all State and Federal laws and rules. Also provide radiation safety support to other departments when appropriate.
  •     Meet all radiation safety and licensing requirements in compliance with state and federal regulations and accrediting organization requirements for all facilities and operations in radiation oncology.
  •     Act as radiation safety officer designee, as directed by either the manager or director of medical physics.
  •     Assist in preparation of State and Federal licenses and amendments for use of radioactive materials.
  •     Registered as a therapeutic medical physicist with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA).

Education/Experience Required:

• MS or PhD in Medical physics or PhD in Physics. Completion of a CAMPEP accredited residency in Therapeutic Medical Physics OR 3 years of clinical experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Clinical skills covering quality assurance testing, dosimetric calibration of therapy equipment, implementation and execution of external beam and brachytherapy treatments. Excellent teamwork within and across departments. Good communication and presentation skills. Strong understanding and ability to use all types of radiation measuring devices. Knowledge of radiation rules and regulations on a State and Federal level. General knowledge of computers and applications relevant to therapeutic medical physics.
• Eligible for board certification by the American Board of Radiology in Therapeutic Medical Physics

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Travel to other clinical sites may be required. Sometimes will have irregular and/or extended working hours. Ability to do medium lifting (Lifting up to 20 to 50 pounds occasionally and/or 10 to 25 pounds frequently and up to 10 pounds constantly), in order to do radiation measurements using phantoms.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.