Radiation Oncology
School of Medicine > Radiation Oncology > Medical Physics Residency Program
Medical Physics Residency Program
The goal of CAMPEP accredited clinical medical physics residency program at the University of Kansas Cancer Center is to prepare medical physics graduates to practice independently as a certified medical physicist and contribute immediately to the high level of quality of medical care received by the radiation oncology patients. Upon completion of the twenty-four months intensive clinical training, the graduates should have the adequate clinical experience in all aspects of radiation oncology physics practice and in-depth knowledge on maintaining and implementing clinical procedures, as well as establishing novel treatment modalities.
Major Objectives of the Residency Program
- To prepare the medical physics resident for certification in the field of radiation oncology physics by an appropriate certification board such as American Board of Radiology (ABR).
- To provide in-depth training in all aspects of radiation oncology physics practice that will allow the graduates to immediately contribute to the high level of quality of medical care to the radiation oncology patients, including improving the efficiency of clinical flow, implementing a novel treatment modality and as initiating new treatment protocols in the clinic.
- The clinical residency training will be provided under the close supervision of experienced radiation oncology physicists in both the community and academic sites. The residents will demonstrate competency in a broad range of topics through clinical performance in each rotation as well as end-of-rotation oral examinations. The residents will have the opportunity to participate in special clinical projects consisting of implementing new treatment procedures or integrating a novel technology in the state-of-the-art radiation oncology centers.
In addition, the wide varieties of clinical resources, equipment and special treatment procedures performed here at the University of Kansas Hospital and Community Cancer Centers assure that the medical physics residents receive well-rounded, hands-on and evaluated clinical training in the radiation oncology physics. Medical physics residents are also encouraged to complete research projects related to clinical medical physics and submit abstracts for the national meeting such as AAPM or ASTRO for presentation. The University of Kansas Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center and widely recognized leader in cancer treatment and research in the United States and the state of Kansas.
Training Rotations
The medical physics residents are expected to successfully complete their rotations in the following clinical topics:
- CT Simulation and Imaging
- 3D External beam treatment planning
- IMRT treatment planning
- Low-Dose Rate (LDR) brachytherapy treatment planning, delivery and quality assurance
- High-Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatment planning, delivery and quality assurance
- Radiation Safety and Shielding
- Machine Commissioning and Acceptance Testing
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
- Special procedures - Total Body Irradiation (TBI) and Total Skin Electron Irradiation (TSEI)
- Weekly and initial physics chart check
- Machine quality assurance-Linear accelerator, CT simulator, IGRT
- Ethics and Professionalism
Structure of the Program
Each rotation is under the closed supervision of one or two experienced faculty physicists and is typically two to three months in length. Residents are expected to discuss their hands-on clinical progress with their rotation specific mentor(s) on weekly or bi-weekly basis. Residents will also meet with either the assistant residency program director or the program director and discuss about their progress and clinical responsibility on monthly basis. Residents are expected to keep a log book documenting all their clinical and didactic activities, attendance at conferences or tumor boards which is reviewed during their meeting with the assistant residency program director or the program director.
Residents will be expected to attend weekly treatment planning conferences, weekly tumor boards, and actively participate in weekly physics and physician's journal clubs and other educational opportunities. Rotation specific recommended reading of medical physics guidelines detailed in AAPM TG reports, RTOG protocols, relevant journal articles or medical physics books chapters are assigned by the mentor faculty physicists. Following the completion of a rotation, the resident will present a power point presentation on the specific rotation topic and he/she will be evaluated by the faculty physicists typically through an oral examination.
Program Resources
Application Process
Applicants must have an MS or Ph.D. degree in medical physics from a CAMPEP-accredited graduate program. The University of Kansas Hospital offers one medical physics resident position each year. Application should be submitted through AAPM's Common Application Program (CAP).
Current Medical Physics Resident
1st Year
Graduates
Dima Soultan, class of 2020
Dima Soultan, class of 2020
Amy Brito Delgado, class of 2019
Henry Kleiner, class of 2018
Tyler Howling, class of 2016
Contact Information
Questions regarding our medical physics residency program should be directed to:
Habeeb Saleh, Ph.D.
Residency Program Director
Director of Physics - CCP, Department of Radiation Oncology
The University of Kansas Hospital, KU Medical Center
Tel: 913-588-3684
Fax: (913-588-3663
Email: hsaleh@kumc.edu
June Cho, MS, Public Policy and Management
Program Coordinator
Medical Physics Residency Program
Department of Radiation Oncology
The University of Kansas Hospital
4001 Rainbow Blvd.
MS 4033
Kansas City, Kansas 66160
Tel: 913-574-0406
Email: jcho6@kumc.edu
2-Year Residency Program Statistics
| Graduation Year | Applicants | Offers | Accepted | Graduates | ABR Certified | Positions Held |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 29 | 1 | 1 | N/A | Yes | Clinical |
| 2010 | 25 | 1 | 1 | N/A | Yes | Clinical |
| 2011 | 48 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Yes | Clinical |
| 2012 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Yes | Academic |
| 2013 | 23 | 1 | 1 | N/A | NA | NA |
| 2014 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Yes | Clinical |
| 2015 | 87 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Yes | Clinical |
| 2016 | 94 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Yes | Clinical |
| 2017 | 82 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Yes | Clinical |
| 2018 | 63 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ABR II | Clinical |
| 2019 | 75 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ABR I | Clinical |
| 2020 | 86 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ABR I | KUH |