Chief Medical Physicist

Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute (Hampton Proton) is seeking a Chief Medical Physicist to oversee the Dosimetry & Physics department to ensure optimal care in proton treatments delivered to the patients in the safest method while monitoring, training, and verifying proper operations of all machines, staff, and radiation sources in accordance with established guidelines and protocols.

Hampton Proton is the nation’s 8th proton therapy facility and one of the largest free-standing proton clinics in the world. The state-of-the-art treatment and research center has four gantry rooms and one fixed beam room.  Hampton Proton has been treating a variety of cancers since August 2010.

Hampton Proton uses IBA’s Proteus 235 proton therapy delivery system, MOSAIQ Oncology Information System (Elektra), Eclipse Proton Treatment Planning system (Varian) and a Philips 4D-PET/CT for simulations, and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR Ingenia 3T) by Philips. Our Proteus 235 system is equipped with IBA’s universal nozzles.  We are using Uniform Scanning, Double Scattering, and Pencil Beam Scanning treatment delivery techniques in our treatment rooms.

Reports to: The Hampton Proton Executive Director.

Direct reports: Physics, Dosimetry and Quality Control Engineer.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide transparent insight to the Executive Director on all aspects of treatment planning and treatment delivery within the inter-departments of the Radiation Therapy, Dosimetry, and Physicians.
• Conduct various leadership meetings to address clinical challenges with the ability to develop strategies to optimize patient care throughput, treatment planning processes, and operational functionality.
• Lead, organize, prioritize, and work alongside other professionals to provide guidance in the comprehensive medical physics duties pertaining to safely operating a proton radiotherapy clinic.
• Establish and maintain Uniform Scanning (US), Double Scattering (DS) and Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS) (SFO/MFO) protocols of processes, training, and operations across all Medical Physics and Dosimetry activities in the departments.

• Collaborate with onsite contracted Physicians and IBA engineers to achieve the highest level of clinical quality and effectiveness, building upon the existing culture of excellence in delivery of treatments.
• Ensure all equipment, such diagnostic imaging equipment and therapeutic proton therapy systems are calibrated and functioning at optimal levels.
• Orient and train new medical physics and dosimetry employees or students. Maintain and encourage team building through a network of professionals in the Medical Physics field.
• Oversee and Monitor the Daily, Monthly and Annual QA of the treatment delivery as well as imaging system
• Train and perform measurements or other evaluations as necessary to ensure accurate dose delivery for proton therapy treatments.
• Manage and maintain proper records of all required documentation relating to radiation treatment plans and equipment, QA, and calibration records.
• Create and sustain up-to-date standard operating procedures to ensure adherence to compliance and other policies/procedures.
• Instruct and perform in the computerized treatment planning systems to achieve adequate workflow of information or images between simulation, planning, and delivery.
• Facilitate the maintenance of proton radiotherapy quality assurance programs and the commissioning of proton therapy equipment.
• Coordinate, distribute, and report measurable outcomes and continuous process improvement efforts to maximize productivity of the department(s).
• Lead the sustainability of the Center’s radiation protection activities in order to maintain the safety of Hampton Proton personnel and ensure compliance with local regulations.
• Organize and be involved in the physics research and development projects ongoing in the institution.
• Use independent judgment and apply learned methodologies according to established policy and procedures.
• Uphold, maintain, and establish adequate protocols to ensure accurate patient dosimetry.
• Effectively and in a timely manner communicate productivity challenges with upper management.
• Assure the efficient operation of workflow within the department by performing other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Qualifications: 

• Dynamic leadership abilities with the means to motivate a diverse team.
• Knowledge of Eclipse | Varian treatment planning system and MOSAIQ Oncology Information System is highly preferred.
• Experience in proton radiotherapy is highly preferred, but not required.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, high-quality results oriented with the ability to meet deadlines.

• Demonstrate the ability to read and interpret documents or outputs from software computer programs.
• Possess distinguished strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrate the ability to learn in-depth knowledge of proton therapy operations and industry trends.
• Acquire knowledge and understanding to become proficient in utilizing proton technology.
• Commitment to patient safety, quality improvement, and delivering patient – centered care.
• Instill commitment and adherence to compliance within State and Federal regulations.
• Successfully handles challenges through conflict resolution, project management, and delegation.

Requirements:

• ABR certified in Therapeutic Medical Physics.
• PhD in physics or medical physics and 7 or more years of experience in clinical physics, or
• MSc in physics or medical physics and 10 or more years of experience in clinical physics.
• Exceptional communication skills and ability to lead a diverse team.
• Intermediate to expert computer skills including computational scripting, C#, or JAVA programs in addition to the use of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Minor weightlifting (i.e., to handle aperture, compensator, QA devices, etc. 25 – 50 lb.) required.

How To Apply:

To apply for employment with the Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute, send your completed Hampton Proton application form and current resume to: HR@HamptonProton.org.