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Radiation Physics Residency

Our program is designed to produce well-rounded medical physicists specially trained to provide clinical physics support for comprehensive management of cancer.

The Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine - Scott & White Radiation Physics Residency is a two-year CAMPEP-accredited program for candidates with a master’s or doctoral degree who are interested in providing cancer management alongside radiation oncologists.

We accept two positions per year.

Curriculum

  • Residents become competent in all areas related to the safe and efficacious use of ionizing radiation as it relates to simulation, planning and treatment delivery of human disease. This is accomplished in part through routine evaluated clinical rotations and didactic lectures.
  • Residents complete structured rotations that include written summaries/reports at the completion of the rotation. Mentor meetings occur throughout each rotation in one-to-one and group settings.
  • Residents present, review and defend their knowledge of a given rotation in oral-based sessions with the residency program faculty.
  • Grades are based on the results of ongoing evaluations and end of rotation oral exams.
  • Residents obtain an appropriate mastery of the radiation physics principles (e.g. interactions of radiation in matter, radionuclidic decay therapy) associated with the use of radiation in treatment of human malignancy.
  • Residents obtain a level of training in anatomy, computer technology and diagnostic imaging appropriate for a position as a therapeutic radiological physicist. This is primarily accomplished during the clinical dosimetric treatment planning rotation and didactic courses on these topics.
  • Residents demonstrate knowledge sufficient to manage the radiation safety aspects of a radiation oncology practice.
  • Residents attend department conferences, M&Ms, journal clubs, resident seminars and radiation physics division meetings.
  • Residents understand the potential uses of – and hazards associated with – ionizing radiation and high voltage electronics as used in the practice of radiation oncology.
  • Residents understand, through both didactic and practical training, radiobiological principles of the use of radiation.

A bibliography provides residents reading assignments consisting of book chapters, salient papers and related instructions. At the same time, residents observe and receive explicit instructions on why, how and what, with attention to making sure each resident understands the fundamental aspects of the current rotation. A meeting with at least one of the physics faculty members is held during the rotation to review/document assessed resident progress.

Engaged in the rotation, but closely supervised, residents work hand-in-hand with a mentor, performing the tasks under direct supervision. This develops the confidence in the residents’ ability to carry out the process. Mentors write an evaluation documenting progress. A meeting with at least one of the physics faculty members is held during the rotation to review/document assessed resident progress.

Toward the end of the rotation, residents are expected to perform the duties as a medical physicist, using a mentor as a consultant for questions. This mentor evaluates each resident on the level of competence developed at this stage of the residency.

A deliverable in the form of a written report or document is required at regular intervals on clinic and physics-related topics to enhance the resident’s understanding of the topic and the clinic workflow.

First-Year Physics Resident Rotation

Month Rotation Topics Assigned Readings Reports
July Orientation Simulation TG-40, TG-142, TG-51, TG-66, TG-25, TG-70, TG-53, ICRU 62

 

August Ext. Beam MU, Dose calculations Extremities, Thorax
September Ext. Beam Calibration, Dosimetry, QA CNS, Lymphomas/Magna Fields 
October IMRT Non-CT Imaging Modalities IJROBP 51(4), 2001, 880-914. Med Phys 25(10), 1998, 1919-1927, Dept. Procedures  GI, GU
November Brachy HDR TG-56, TG-59, TG-43, ICRU-38, 58, Brachytherapy Procedures including patient release, NRC Regulations (10CFR 19, 20, 35), NUREG 1556  Brachy – Prostate
December Brachy LDR Brachy – GYN
January Brachy Radiopharmaceuticals and Rad Safety Brachy – Interstitial, Radiation Safety
February Special Proc./IGRT/SRS/SBRT SRS TG-17, TG-54, TG-104, TG-76, TG-101, TG-135  IGRT/SRS Commissioning & QA, Anatomy of a Linac
March Special Proc./IGRT/SRS/SBRT SBRT Dose Calculation Algorithms, Linac Shielding 
April IMRT IMRT Planning IJROBP 51(4), 2001, 880-914. Med Phys 25(10), 1998, 1919-1927, Dept. Procedures  Head and Neck, Breast
May IMRT IMRT QA and Dosimetry GYN, e- Arc/TSET/TBI
June Quality Assurance Chart checks Dept. procedures, TG-40, TG-142  

Month Rotation Topics to be covered Assigned Readings
July
 
Aug.
 
Sept.
 
Ext. Beam Rotation Simulation
 
MU, Dose Calc
 
Calibration, Dosimetry, QA
 
TAC 289.229, ICRU 62 Pg 4-16 (target volumes), TG-66, Bushberg CT chapter
 
TG-71, Eclipse Algorithms Reference, TG-40, Jursinic OSL white paper
 
TG-25, TG-21, TG51+addendum, TG-142
 
Oct.
 
Nov.
 
Brachy Rotation HDR/LDR TG-56, TG-43U, ICRU 38, ICRU 58
 
10CFR19, 20, 35, 49short, GEC ESTRO GYN brachy recommendation 2,
 
TG-64, TG-128
 
Dec.
 
Jan.
 
Special Procedures Dosimeters
SRS/SBRT
TG-36, AAPM 2009 SS Ch 23-32
 
TG-29, TG-30, TG-101, TG-76
 
RTOG 0813, RTOG 0631, IAEA 483
 
NCRP 151, TG-109 (2019)
 
Feb. Research    
Mar.
 
Apr.
 
May
 
IMRT Rotation IMRT Planning
 
IMRT QA and Dosimetry
 
Non-CT Imaging Modalities
 
TG-119, TG-132, TG-50
 
TG-218, TG-62, TG-55
 
Bushberg US chapter, MRI chapter, PET chapter
 
June Clinical Development    

Each resident maintains a resident log where activities for each day or week are logged. These are discussed and reviewed with the primary mentor during scheduled comprehension meetings. Mentor comments are logged in the file.

In addition, residents prepare and submit a written document outlining the material covered in a given rotation. Residents are expected to understand the material outlined without necessarily documenting every detail in the report.

Residents deliver 60-minute talks at regular intervals on selected topics during their residency. Expectations from residents for these presentations are clearly outlined and the document is provided.

Residents' overall knowledge of the rotation will be evaluated at end-of-rotation oral exams by at least three of the physics faculty members.

Our Faculty

Heeteak Chung, PhD

Program Director/Director of Medical Physics

Andrew Morrow, MS, DABR

Associate Program Director, Associate Director of Medical Physics – Central Texas, Senior Physicist

Steven McCullough, PhD

Associate Director of Physics – Northern Texas

Swetha Oddiraju, PhD

Associate Director of Medical Physics – Round Rock/Austin

Hannah Norris-Zajicek, MS

Director of Brachytherapy Physics Service

Sunita Boddu, PhD, DABR

Senior Physicist

Mohammad Rafiq Islam, PhD

Senior Physicist

Mohammad Obeidat, PhD

Senior Physicist

  • Train at one of U.S. News & World Report's top hospitals in Texas

    Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple is a 640-bed teaching and research hospital with a Level I trauma center.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Common Application Program (CAP).

Application deadline is December 31.


Application Requirements

Eligible candidates must demonstrate a strong foundation in basic physics as proven by a master's or doctoral degree in medical physics, physics, engineering, mathematics or other science with physics training equivalent to a minor in physics (upper level courses in electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, atomic structure, statistical mechanics and mechanics). Candidates must be graduates of a CAMPEP-accredited program.

Applicants are strongly recommended to review the ‘Medical Physicist’ section of the AAPM website to gain deeper understanding of the roles and responsibilities of medical physicists and much more.

We are unable to sponsor any type of visas.

Learn more about Baylor Scott & White's housestaff appointment eligibility, including guidelines for international medical graduates.

Program Statistics

Year Number of
Applicants
Positions Accepted Graduated Certified Clinical
Appointments
Academic
Appointments
2009 64 2 1 1 1 1
2010 73 1 0 1 0 0
2011 89 1 2 0 2 0
2012 106 1 1 1 1 0
2013 112 2 1 1 1 1
2014 131 1 0 0 2 2
2015 179 2 0 0 0 0
2016 102 1 1 1 1 0
2017 100 2 3 3 3 0
2018 89 2 1 1 0 1
2019 89 2 1 1 1 0
2020 93 2 2 2 2 0
2021 65 2 2 2 2 0
2022 84 2 2 0 2 0

Contact Us

Tiffany Bachmann
Phone: 254.724.0836
Fax: 254.724.0078
Tiffany.Bachmann@BSWHealth.org

Radiation Physics Residency
Baylor Scott & White Health
2401 S. 31st. St.
MS-09-C011
Temple, TX 76508

Working at Baylor Scott & White Health

Compensation and Benefits

In addition to competitive stipends, we offer our residents a full menu of employee benefits. We help offset the cost of many of these benefits; others are options you can choose to pay for yourself.

Life in Temple

Temple uniquely offers a combination of access to big-city conveniences while maintaining a small-town atmosphere. Temple has also been ranked among the Top 20 Fastest Growing Cities in Texas and one of America's most affordable places of 2015.

Why Baylor Scott & White

As the largest not-for-profit health care system in Texas and one of the largest in the United States, Baylor Scott & White Health includes 48 hospitals, more than 900 patient care sites, more than 6,000 active physicians and more than 40,000 employees.

Check out all of our programs in North and Central Texas