Therapeutic Medical Physicist (Advanced Level)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education Debt Reduction Program

Potential for relocation/recruitment incentives

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is looking for a Therapeutic Medical Physicist in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This role involves managing advanced radiotherapy techniques and ensuring quality assurance for radiation treatments. The ideal candidate must hold a Master's degree in physics or engineering and be board certified in therapeutic medical physics. Excellent communication and technical skills are essential for this position.

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to work independently and be proficient in English. The role also focuses on collaboration with radiation oncologists and overseeing treatment planning.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in a relevant discipline.
• Board certified in therapeutic medical physics.
• Proficient in English as per VA standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage advanced radiotherapy techniques and initiatives.
• Serve as subject matter expert in therapeutic medical physics.
• Ensure quality assurance of radiotherapy.
• Consult with radiation oncologists on complex cases.

Skills

Expertise in therapeutic medical physics

Knowledge of radiotherapy devices

Ability to evaluate safe equipment operation

English language proficiency

Education

Master's degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

Raystation treatment planning system

ARIA R&V delivery system

Sun Nuclear QA equipment

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: Master's degree or higher in a physics - science - or engineering discipline recognized by an accredited college or university with at least 30 semester hours in medical physics - health physics - radiological science - physics - engineering - chemistry - or biology
• or an equivalent foreign degree and coursework substantiated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services
• Board Certification: Persons hired or reassigned to TMP positions in the VHA must be board certified in the field of therapeutic medical physics by an approved certifying body
• The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education
• Approved Certifying Bodies: The American Board of Radiology (ABR) in any of the following field titles: Therapeutic Medical Physics, Therapeutic Radiologic or Therapeutic Radiological Physics, Radiologic Physics or Radiological Physics; the American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics; the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Language Proficiency: TMPs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) – and 7407(d)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-14 Therapeutic Medical Physicist (Advanced Level) Experience: In addition to the basic requirements - completion of a minimum of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-13)
• This would be experience which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - and abilities (listed below) to fully perform at that grade level
• GS-13 experience is defined as: Knowledge regarding the safe and efficient use of all radiotherapy devices for external beam radiotherapy
• The ability to evaluate and ensure correct and safe operation of radiotherapy equipment through complex problem diagnosis and scheduled quality assurance
• Knowledge of the scientific - clinical - and technical applications of high dose rate and low dose rate brachytherapy treatment simulation - planning - dosimetry - and treatment methods
• Expertise in the professional - scientific - and technical aspects of shielding methods for external beam radiation delivery systems - radiation survey methods - developing procedures - setting action levels - delivering radiation safety training - developing and documenting competencies - and reporting
• This includes an in-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and guidelines for radiation shielding and personnel protection
• Ability to exercise independent professional judgment in the performance and evaluation of calibration - acceptance testing - and clinical commissioning procedures for all types of external beam photon and electron beam delivery systems
• Skilled in the evaluation of acceptance testing and commissioning results of CT simulators
• Technical skills in 3-D treatment planning - intensity modulated radiation therapy treatment planning - and stereotactic body radiation therapy planning
• This includes specialized knowledge of clinical process steps and resource requirements for planning and delivery of radiation oncology treatments
• Ability to process information from multi-modality imaging datasets for treatment planning - treatment verification - and radiotherapy response assessment
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Advanced expertise and experience in the safe and efficient use of all radiotherapy devices for external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy
• Highly developed expertise with commissioning linear accelerators and treatment planning systems for complex clinical use - to include project management - performance testing - data acquisition - beam modeling - and validation testing
• Advanced knowledge (treatment simulation - planning - dosimetry - and treatment methods) of the scientific - clinical - and technical applications of one or more specialized procedures including - but not limited to - high dose rate brachytherapy - low dose rate brachytherapy - stereotactic body radiation therapy - stereotactic radiation therapy - intensity modulated radiation therapy - volumetric modulated arc therapy - total body irradiation - advanced image-guided therapy - and adaptive therapy
• Advanced expertise in acceptance testing - clinical commissioning - and (when applicable) calibration procedures for a variety of ancillary radiation oncology delivery - imaging - dosimetry - metrology - and computational systems
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Manages the development and implementation of advanced techniques and special initiatives in radiotherapy - collaborates with radiation oncologists in the development of new clinical protocols - and directs special projects involving clinical applications - clinical research - or quality assurance
• Serves as subject matter expert on certain aspects of therapeutic medical physics which the incumbent has achieved national recognition through research and peer-reviewed publications
• Has both the documented professional experience and the demonstrated expertise in medical physics to provide consultative services to the National Radiation Oncology Program (NROP) - the National Health Physics Program (NHPP) - other VHA program offices and other federal agencies if requested
• Plans - delivers - verifies and monitors quality assurance of radiotherapy at all levels of complexity
• Specific tasks include recommending optimal modality and treatment technique for the patient
• Evaluating the quality - safety - and the accuracy of radiation treatments planned and delivered to patients - thus ensuring that radiation dose is carried out correctly and completely
• Safely operating all radiation planning and delivery services
• Implements radiation therapy of outstanding technical difficulty and responsibility - as exemplified by their role in providing knowledge-based solutions to resolving issues where no rule-based solutions exist
• Provides technical oversight for the work of developmental TMPS - medical dosimetrists and radiation therapists
• Will be a knowledgeable user and subject matter expert in the use of the Raystation treatment planning system - ARIA R&V delivery system and Sun Nuclear QA equipment and software
• Oversees radiation therapy treatment planning
• Designs and approves treatment plans
• Monitors the accuracy of treatment data recorded in the patient's medical records
• Provides consultation to the radiation oncologist regarding difficult treatment cases
• Performs patient specific treatment validation measurements
• Develops medical physics policies and procedures for the delivery and quality assessment of advanced treatment modalities such as intensity modulated radiation therapy - stereotactic body radiation therapy and brachytherapy
• Develops - operates and fully documents the medical physics quality assurance program and ensures regulatory compliance within the Radiation Safety Officer's radiation safety program
• The employee safely utilizes and properly operates all radiation oncology equipment and is therefore qualified and responsible for educating radiation oncology team members including radiation oncologists - radiation therapists and dosimetrists in safety issues that relate to radiotherapy planning and delivery
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday
• 7:30am-4pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized for Highly Qualified Candidates EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized