Program Description
The two-year Residency Program at CTRC is designed for candidates with masters or doctoral degrees in the relevant physical sciences who are interested in careers as clinical medical physicists in radiation oncology. This program concentrates on the medical uses of physics in clinical treatment of cancer patients; it does not focus on training in theoretical physics or basic research.
Clinical Training
During the residency, the resident will rotate through the following subspecialty areas:
- Quantification of radiation
- Radiation Safety
- Linear Accelerator, acceptance testing and quality assurance
- Imaging for planning and treatment verification
- Brachytherapy including High Dose Rate (HDR) and Low Dose Rate (LDR)
- Prostate implants
- Computer assisted treatment planning
- Quality control of the treatment process
- New delivery techniques including: Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Tomotherapy, with the HiART, Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy with the MiMic system
- Special procedures including: Total skin electrons (TSE), Total body irradiation (TBI), Spatially Fractionated Radiation Therapy (GRID)
In addition, your clinical training will include work on department projects, carried out under the supervision of the medical physics faculty.
Didactic Training
Clinical conferences, seminars, small discussion groups, journal clubs and one-on-one instruction are all an integral part of the program. You will participate in the following: Medical Physics Journal Club, Chart rounds, Medical residents didactic instruction, medical physics conferences, and assigned readings.
Competency
Clinical competency is evaluated by an oral presentation and reports generated for each of the clinical rotation areas.
Research Experience
During the latter part of your second year of training and depending upon your progress in learning the clinical aspects, you may have the opportunity to concentrate on a particular area of interest, and design and execute a research project. Opportunities exist for collaborative research with staff members from other departments. You will be encouraged to submit the results of your research project for presentation at a scientific meeting and prepare a manuscript for publication in a scientific journal.
Appointments and Applications
To be eligible to apply, you must have Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in medical physics, in a related physical science or engineering. Applications for each academic year, which begins in July, should be completed by February 15. Print an application form. Please send your full application and letters of recommendation to:
Niko Papanikolaou, PhD
7979 Wurzbach Rd
San Antonio, TX 78229-4427
For questions please contact Dr Niko Papanikolaou, PhD, Professor and Director of Medical Physics and Residency Program Director
