Medical Physicist - Levine Cancer Proton Radiation Therapy

Overview

Staff Physicist position supporting clinical services for Atrium Health Levine Cancer’s proton delivery system at the Proton and Advanced Radiation Therapy Center (PARC) in uptown Charlotte. The center features a Mevion s250i proton system with Hyperscan, in-room CT, Surface Image Guidance, Ray Station planning (2023B), ARIA EMR, and a dedicated GE CT for simulations. The physics/dosimetry team currently includes 2 physicists, 2 dosimetrists, a physics assistant, and a chief proton physicist.

Other Greater Charlotte-region Levine Cancer Radiation Therapy clinics use CT simulators, Varian planning (Eclipse v16.1), ARIA, Clinac/Truebeam, with SBRT/SRS programs and AI contouring tools. Active clinical projects include knowledge-based planning, AI contouring, EPID dosimetry, and QA standardization. Additionally, the Charlotte-area clinics host trainees and have CAMPEP-approved programs in medical physics residencies and medical dosimetry training.

• Provision of operational aspects of Medical Physics.
• Prepares and delivers continuing education to the radiation oncology staff related to medical physics, equipment, and radiation safety; coordinate annual in services.
• Perform acceptance testing and performance verification of x-ray equipment in radiation oncology.
• Coordinate maintenance of instrumentation for quality control, image quality, and patient treatment measurements.
• Designs and fabricates treatment aides and beam modifiers as needed.
• Consult with radiation oncologists and treatment staff on physical and radiobiological aspects of treatments and treatment plan development.
• Acquire and store data needed for treatment and treatment plans in the planning computer.
• Calculate dose distributions and machine settings for patient treatments.
• Develop techniques to improve delivery of radiation treatments.
• Acquire beam data for patient dose calculation.

• Perform measurements leading to calibration when needed.
• Calibrate radiation sources using appropriate measuring devices.
• Perform annual calibration of all diagnostic and therapeutic radiation producing equipment; coordinate calibrations with standards laboratory as required.
• Verify calibration of radioactive sources and materials as needed.

• Develop and implement QC programs for radiation equipment and patient treatment under direction of medical physics management.
• Review, evaluate, and approve dosimetrists’ treatment plans for accuracy.
• Perform weekly chart checks; in-vivo dose verification as needed.
• Maintain QA records and generate reports; perform routine QA testing per manufacturer, AAPM, and IEMA guidelines.
• Ensure QC program meets regulatory requirements; oversee service and upgrades of equipment; approve and sign off on service before clinical use.
• Perform annual absolute dose output measurements for accelerators with independent institutions as applicable.

• Stay current on new radio therapeutic delivery techniques; participate in continuous practice improvement.
• Engage with medical physics literature, training opportunities, and department/site meetings.
• Participate in resource planning, equipment evaluations, and process improvements; contribute to network-wide projects.
• Participate in patient discussion conferences as appropriate.

• Implement, maintain, and supervise radiation safety within the department to comply with State and Federal laws and licensing requirements.
• Act as radiation safety officer designee as directed; assist in preparation of regulatory licenses and amendments.
• Maintain registration as a therapeutic medical physicist with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) as applicable.

MS or PhD in Medical Physics or PhD in Physics. CAMPEP-accredited residency in Therapeutic Medical Physics OR 3 years of clinical experience. Proton therapy experience highly desired.

Clinical skills in QA testing, dosimetric calibration, external beam and brachytherapy implementations, and strong teamwork and communication. Ability to use radiation measuring devices; knowledge of applicable rules and regulations; general computer proficiency. Eligible for board certification by the American Board of Radiology in Therapeutic Medical Physics.

Travel to other clinical sites may be required; irregular/extended hours; lifting up to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 25 pounds frequently as needed for measurements.

$85.00 - $136.00

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package including compensation, benefits, and career development opportunities.