• Employment Type: Full Time
• Shift: Days
• Location: Framingham, MA

Medical physicists use their knowledge of science and physics to diagnose and treat patients. They supervise treatments using therapeutic equipment while specifying and monitoring radiation output delivered to patients. Medical physicists ensure optimal equipment performance, protect patients and staff from radiation hazards, and work in close collaboration with radiation oncologists. An indispensable service is the accurate measurement of the radiation output from radiation sources used to treat cancerous and benign diseases. Other important services are rendered through investigation of equipment performance, organization of quality control in imaging and therapy-delivery systems, design of radiotherapy installations, control of radiation hazards, and design and execution of clinical procedures and treatment techniques.

Medical physicists are concerned with three areas of activity: clinical service and consultation, research and development, and teaching. The medical physicist is sought to contribute clinical and scientific advice and resources to solve the numerous and diverse physical problems that arise continually in many specialized medical areas. Medical physicists also help train future medical physicists, resident radiation oncologists, medical students, and technologists who operate the various types of equipment used to perform radiotherapy treatments.

The Radiation Oncology Physicist is typically a member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and a board certified professional recognized by the American Board of Radiology (ABR). S/he reports to the Chief of Radiation Oncology Physics, and serves as liaison with Health Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Facilities, and Information Services for their maintenance of treatment units and physics-related instrumentation in the Department of Radiation Oncology.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Calibrate radiotherapy equipment and perform quality assurance tests on a regular basis to maintain quality controls on delivered radiotherapy according to recognized (inter)national standards and Commonwealth regulations (where appropriate).
• Review charts, assist and advise advanced treatment planning, and advise radiation oncologists and therapists on treatments.
• Support the clinical implementation of upgrades to physics-related instrumentation, computerized systems, and radiotherapy treatment devices.
• Participate in department quality- and safety improvement processes and participate in departmental conferences such as Chart Rounds, QA Committee, Radiation Safety Committee, and seminars, as required by the Chief of Radiation Oncology Physics.
• Document policies and procedures for related radiation treatment modalities, localization procedures, and computational equipment and programs to assure that patients receive prescribed doses and dose distributions within acceptable degrees of accuracy.
• Support departmental research that can be submitted for scientific peer-review publication in support of the academic mission of Tufts Medical Center in concert with Tufts University School of Medicine. This includes participation in clinical research, such as treatment protocols and related clinical data acquisition.
• Attend scientific meetings to receive and disseminate state-of-the-art information as necessary for departmental operations and strategic advancements. Acquire continuing medical education credits as credentialed by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP), and interact with the medical physicist community.
• Participate in ongoing educational programs and teach radiological physics to future medical physicists, resident radiation oncologists, medical students, and technologists that operate the various types of equipment used to perform radiotherapy treatments.
• Participate in and oversee brachytherapy procedures including HDR and LDR treatment planning, device preparation where appropriate, treatment delivery, and post implant brachytherapy quality activities.
• Assist the Chief of Radiation Oncology Physics with other clinical physics activities performed in the division as required.

A. JOB KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

1. Knowledgeable in the areas of anatomy, physiology, medical oncology, and radiobiology. Has advanced knowledge of radiation safety principles and practices as well as current rules and regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other applicable regulatory agencies such as the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Code of Massachusetts regulations.
2. Expertise in clinical and technical aspects of both radiation oncology and medical physics.
3. Knowledgeable in healthcare informatics, including the resources, devices, and methods to acquire, store, and retrieve radiotherapy data.
4. Excellent interpersonal skills to work with diverse staff having common goals.
5. Clear thinking under stressful circumstances.
6. Demonstrated professional writing skills and ability to efficiently convey complex issues.

B. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

The minimum combination of training, including education in medical physics or an aligned field by an accredited university is a Doctoral degree and or a Masters degree. Completion of a CAMPEP-approved residency in medical physics is preferred.

C. LICENSES, ETC.

The Radiation Oncology Physicist should be certified in Therapeutic Radiologic Physics (or equivalent) as defined by the American Board of Radiology, although a board-eligible physicist may be selected if certification can be achieved within 18 months. Certified medical physicists must participate in Maintenance of Certification (MOC). The Radiation Oncology Physicist should register as a Qualified Medical Physicist with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

IV. AGE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

The Radiation Oncology Physicist possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients at any point throughout their lifespan, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

These competencies include:

• knowledge of growth and development,
• ability to interpret age specific data and response to care, and
• provide age specific communication.

V. WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

1. Normal office-like setting of a radiotherapy clinic with regular need to enter a radiotherapy treatment vault (linac, Gamma Knife, or equivalent) or CT-Simulator suite for observing and advising on patient setup in light of treatment planning objectives.
2. Alignment of physics equipment for radiotherapy device calibration may require occasional lifting and adjustment of instrumentation ranging from milligrams to tens of kilograms with precision.
3. Ability to perform electronic records reviews, treatment planning, or other medical-physics services requiring prolonged time working on a computer.
4. Exposure to ionizing radiation; personal exposure is minimal and not expected to exceed institutional ALARA limits.
5. Exposure to ill patients with various health problems.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES STATEMENT

Must be able to perform all essential functions of this position with reasonable accommodation if disabled.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES STATEMENT:

Must be able to perform all essential functions of this position with reasonable accommodation if disabled.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed, as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Tufts Medical Center reserves the right to modify position duties at any time, to reflect process improvements and business necessity.

COVID-19 POLICY:

Please note that effective October 1, 2021, as a condition of employment at Tufts Medical Center, all employees and new hires must have received their complete dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, unless they have been granted an exemption.