Chief Physicist

Job Summary: The Chief Medical Physicist provides leadership to the Medical Physics Division in the Department of Radiation Medicine, its satellite facilities and Proton Treatment and Research Center. The position combines leadership roles in areas of clinical medical physics and dosimetry operations, administrative responsibilities for the medical physics group, research and development efforts pertaining to physical aspects of photon and proton radiation therapy, and running the academic and educational programs pertaining to therapeutic applications of radiation physics. Responsible for hiring, mentoring, evaluating, and retaining top-quality medical physics staff. Ensures that policies and procedures are in place for medical physics staff to perform their duties efficiently, to provide compliance with state and federal radiation safety regulations, to provide the highest-quality clinical physics and dosimetry services to the department, and to provide a seamless interface across different entities within the department. These services may be provided for both the LLUMC and LLUCH hospitals. Performs other duties as needed.

About the Department: The Department of Radiation Medicine at Loma Linda University has a staff of about 100 employees, including nine radiation oncologists. As Chief Physicist you will lead a team of medical professionals comprising four PhD physicists, three MS physicists, a calibration physicist, and six dosimetrists. The department's equipment and facilities include three linear accelerators, a dedicated CT scanner, a PET-CT scanner, a patient immobilization facility, a device manufacturing facility, and a physics/dosimetry laboratory. An MRI center and nuclear medicine facilities are in the immediate vicinity. Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) is also home to world's first hospital-based proton treatment center, which features three isocentric gantries, two fixed-beam treatment lines, and a research room with three additional fixed-beam lines dedicated solely to investigations. The department also offers radiation therapy at satellite facilities in Beaumont (about 25 miles southeast of LLUMC) and Murrieta (about 45 miles south of LLUMC). Each of these facilities has one linear accelerator. Staff in the department use x-rays and proton beams to treat patients presenting with all kinds of cancers. We perform 3D-CRT, IMRT, VMAT, SRS, SBRT, TBI, and ocular treatments. The department also offers LDR brachytherapy, mainly for some gynecologic cancers, and Sr-90 ophthalmic treatment for pterygium. The department offers residency programs in therapeutic medical physics and radiation oncology. The department also supports a Radiation Therapy Technology (RTT) program through LLU's School of Allied Health Professions. Immediate Future: Currently, the department is in the process of acquiring a new linac (Varian Edge) and a Varian Bravos HDR system. Further, we are preparing to upgrade one of our scattered-beam proton treatment gantries to pencil-beam scanning capability through the addition of a MEVION S250-FIT compact proton therapy system. The new Chief Physicist will be tasked with bringing these modalities to full clinical utility in the near future. Another challenge will be to rebuild a robust clinical physics research program and establish research collaborations between clinical personnel and the medical physics team.

Education and Experience: Ph.D in Physics or Medical Physics required. A minimum of five years of management experience in a radiation oncology physics department. A minimum of ten years of experience in clinical medical physics.

Knowledge and Skills: Proven leadership ability in an evolving and dynamic work environment, including the ability to exercise various management techniques to respond effectively to individual staff members, medical staff, and situations that arise in the administrative environment. Demonstrated ability to effectively interact with all levels of the organization, as well as with other hospitals and physician groups. Excellent overall understanding of all activities in effect in a modern radiation oncology department, (e.g. treatment planning, quality assurance, billing, customer service, human resource management, medical staff roles: physicians, Radiation Technologists, nursing). Demonstrable success in training and mentoring. Flexibility to handle myriad tasks and deadlines. Extensive knowledge of modern radiation therapy systems and sub-systems. Extensive knowledge of simulation, imaging, and treatment procedures and equipment. Understanding of the importance and implications of radiation safety, and regulatory and licensing issues. Thorough understanding of all the processes leading to radiation treatment delivery. Knowledgeable in radiation measuring equipment, treatment planning, and clinical management systems. Thorough understanding of the theoretical concepts behind all aspects of an accurate radiation treatment delivery to a patient. Research skills, as demonstrated by prior publications and presentations. Teaching skills, as demonstrated by previous teaching experience. An aptitude to work in an academic environment. An interest in establishing and running academic programs. Proven organizational and time-management skills. Ability to work as a member of a team to achieve a variety of objectives, both within the department and across other entities (e.g. Training and Development Center, Budget and Finance, Human Resource management). Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to motivate people around common goals, and the ability to lead by example.

Licensures and Certifications: Board certification in Therapeutic Radiologic Physics by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) or by the American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) required.

Additional Requirements:

1. Attach a cover letter indicating why they are interested in the job and their vision of the future
2. Attach at least three letters of reference from professionals they have worked with over the years
3. Attach a record of research publications