Oncology Physicist

Akumin; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking an experienced Oncology Physicist to ensure high standards in radiation therapy planning, delivery, and evaluation. The role involves calibrating treatment machines, implementing quality assurance processes, and training staff. Candidates should have a Master's Degree and certification in Therapeutic Radiological Physics. This position may require up to 50% local travel and exposure to radioactive materials, ensuring safety in all practices is crucial.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree required.
• Certification in Therapeutic Radiological Physics is necessary.
• Experience in radiation oncology medical physics is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Ensure calibration of radiation oncology treatment machines.
• Assist with specification and installation of new equipment.
• Implement quality assurance procedures for radiotherapy delivery.

Skills

Clinical experience with linac calibrations

Treatment planning system QC

Radiation safety

IMRT planning and delivery

Medical physics program documentation

Education

Master's Degree

Certification in Therapeutic Radiological Physics

Job description

The Oncology Physicist is primarily engaged in ensuring high standards in the planning/optimization, delivery and evaluation of radiation therapy and in this capacity is responsible for ensuring the accurate and consistent performance of radiological equipment and for verifying the accuracy and adequacy of treatment plans and dose calculations. The Clinical Medical Physicist also acts as the clinic’s primary resource for ensuring the safe use of radiation.

Specific Duties

• Ensures that all radiation oncology treatment, simulation machines and all sealed brachytherapy sources are correctly calibrated according to accepted protocols. Assists with the implementation of a comprehensive program for quality control of the radiation-producing equipment to assure their constant acceptable performance for patient safety and treatment efficiency.
• Assists the Chief Physicist with determining technical specifications for selection of new equipment, supervising installation of new equipment, performing acceptance testing upon completed installation, and measuring performance parameters to ensure the accurate clinical implementation of new equipment.
• Implements and quality assurance of appropriate procedures for the planning and delivery of radiotherapy, including technical specifications/tolerances as well as the flow of procedures entailed in the process (including supervision and QC review of treatment plans and dose calculations).
• Manages a comprehensive system for error prevention, including a method to learn from incidents (including "near misses") with a focus on improving the process to minimize the risk of future incidents; ensures that clinical and physics procedures are subjected to a risk-informed assessment designed to minimize risks to patient and staff.
• Serves as a resource for training and continuing education for all Radiation Oncology staff.

Position Requirements

• Master's Degree required.
• Certification in Therapeutic Radiological Physics required from The American Board of Radiology, The American Board of Medical Physics, or The Canadian College of Physics in Medicine.
• CPR Certification preferred.
• Experience as a radiation oncology medical physicist required, including clinical experience with linac calibrations and QC, treatment planning system QC and routine use, sealed isotope therapy and radiation safety, IMRT planning and delivery, computer systems quality control, and medical physics program documentation.
• Job may require up to 50% of local travel.
• The COVID-19 vaccination is/may be a condition of employment.
• All candidates who accept an offer for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment background check and drug screen as a condition of employment.

Physical Requirements

Standard Office Environment. The employee may be exposed to radioactive isotopes, ionizing radiation, and a strong magnetic field.

• More than 50% of the time: Sit, stand, walk. Repetitive movement of hands, arms and legs. See, speak and hear to be able to communicate with patients.
• Less than 50% of the time: Stoop, kneel or crawl. Climb and balance. Carry and lift (ability to move non-ambulatory patients from a sitting or lying position for transfer or to exam).