Overview
The Department of Radiation Oncology works in collaboration with the Departments of Radiology and Physics to operate an active medical physics graduate program.
We offer a two-year medical physics residency program in the Department of Radiation Oncology at VCU Massey Cancer Center. The objective of the program is to provide clinical training in all aspects of radiation oncology physics and prepare the resident for board certification. While we encourage residents to participate in research throughout their training period, this curriculum is primarily clinical.
Medical Physics Clinical Residency
The Department of Radiation Oncology works in collaboration with the Departments of Radiology and Physics to operate an active medical physics graduate program.
We offer a two-year medical physics residency program in the Department of Radiation Oncology at VCU Massey Cancer Center. The objective of the program is to provide clinical training in all aspects of radiation oncology physics and prepare the resident for board certification. While we encourage residents to participate in research throughout their training period, this curriculum is primarily clinical.
The residency program is currently structured to meet the requirements for accreditation and has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP).
Incoming medical physics residents will join a team that includes faculty medical physicists, dosimetrists, research and clinical trainees and two to three other medical physics residents.
Admission Information
Candidates from both CAMPEP-approved and non-CAMPEP graduate programs are welcome to apply.
Prospective residents should have completed an M.S. or Ph.D. in physics, medical physics or a closely related discipline such as biomedical engineering.
Candidates from programs that are and are not CAMPEP-approved programs are welcome to apply. Those from non-CAMPEP programs cannot have more than two unfulfilled CAMPEP course requirements, and they may take one course per semester for a maximum of two semesters to complete those requirements. This is consistent with the standards set forth by the American Board of Radiology.
How to Apply
To apply, download and fill out the application below. Submit the completed application along with your CV, a personal statement, and transcripts via email to medphys@vcu.edu.
2020 Medical Physics Residency Application
Timeline
Applications must be received by October 20, 2019 for a start date of July 1, 2020. On-site interview invitations will be sent out on November 8, 2019.
Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health are equal opportunity/affirmative action institutions providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran's status, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
How to Apply
To apply, download and fill out the application below. Submit the completed application along with your CV, a personal statement, and transcripts via email to medphys@vcu.edu.
2020 Medical Physics Residency ApplicationOur Department
The Department of Radiation Oncology at VCU provides a full range of clinical services at the VCU Medical Center and its six satellite facilities within Virginia.
The Department of Radiation Oncology at VCU provides a full range of clinical services at the VCU Medical Center and its six satellite facilities within Virginia. Services provided include IMRT, VMAT, SBRT, image-guided brachytherapy, hyperthermia, and stereotactic radiosurgery.
Radiation Oncology, in collaboration with the Departments of Radiology and Physics, operates an active Medical Physics graduate program. Residents who have not fulfilled CAMPEP requirements may take one course a semester for a maximum of two semesters to complete them. For a complete list of available courses, refer to "Courses" below.
The physics faculty conducts research in various areas of radiation therapy including IMRT/VMAT dosimetry and optimization, brachytherapy dosimetry and applicator development, CT image reconstruction, image-guided radiation therapy, deformable image registration, 4D MRI, clinical bio-marker study, and motion-adaptive radiation.
Course Listing
Semester course; 2 laboratory hours. 1 credit. Provides practical exercises in the radiation measurement devices and quality assurance procedures commonly employed in radiation therapy physics. Measurements of beam characteristics for treatment machines, including electron linear accelerators, and radioactive sources, including high dose rate brachytherapy are investigated.
Semester course; 1 lecture hour. 1 credit. Restricted to medical physics graduate students. This course will cover fundamental gross anatomy, pathology and physiology as necessary for medical physicists. It will include basic medical terminology and have a focus on cross-sectional CT imaging and MRI, as well as 2-D X-ray imaging. Basic information on pathophysiology of cancer diseases and cancer treatment strategies will be provided.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 376 and PHYS 380 or equivalents, or permission of instructor. Covers the fundamental conceptual, mathematical and physical aspects of radiation interactions with matter and energy deposition, including a thorough understanding of basic quantities and units. Application to the principles and methods of radiation detection and dosimetry will be emphasized.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Covers the fundamental conceptual and technical aspects of the use of ionizing radiation to evoke a therapeutic response/benefit to patients. Treatment planning and dose calculations for external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy are emphasized.
Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. Open to graduate students and to undergraduate students with advanced standing. An in-depth study of a selected topic in medical physics. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester and prerequisites. Applicable toward physics major requirements.
Semester course; 1-4 variable hours. 1-4 credits. Lectures, tutorial studies, library assignments in selected areas of advanced study or specialized laboratory procedures not available in other courses or as part of the research training.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Theoretical foundation and practical application of health physics as applied to diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy. Regulatory and scientific aspects of the subject are covered. Mathematical models and physical principles of radioactive decay and radiation interactions are used to assess the relative values of different radiation safety practices.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Covers the fundamental aspects of radiobiology with specific emphasis on relative biological effectiveness and linear energy transfer, the oxygen effect, radiation carcinogenesis, DNA repair, hereditary effects of radiation, radiation-induced cell killing, cellular responses to radiation including cell cycle effects and activation of cell signal transduction pathways, early and late effects of radiation, and time, dose and fractionation in radiotherapy.
Semester course; 3 lecture and 2 laboratory hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 563 and PHYS 567 or instructor's permission. The course presents a survey of modern developments and methodological tools used in the following areas of radiation oncology physics: experimental dosimetry, computational dosimetry, quality assurance and commissioning, and advanced treatment planning and delivery modalities. By means of hands-on projects and literature reviews, students will become acquainted with the medical physics literature and acquire practical skills in selected areas. The course consists of a coordinated set of didactic lectures and laboratory projects.
Semester course; 3 lecture and 1 laboratory hours. 3 credits. Covers the physics of X-ray production, radiography, fluoroscopy and computed tomography. Covers the basics of ultrasound physics, equipment, image quality, safety and quality assurance. Emphasis will be placed on the physical foundations of currently used diagnostic imaging techniques using X-rays and ultrasound and their relevance to the clinical setting.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Covers the physics of magnetic resonance imaging. Emphasis will be placed on the physical foundations of currently used diagnostic techniques and their relevance to the clinical setting. The classroom lectures will be enhanced through a series of integrated laboratory exercises.
Semester course; 2 lecture and 1 laboratory hours. 2 credits. Covers the physics of nuclear medicine imaging (including PET). Emphasis will be placed on the physical foundations of currently used diagnostic techniques and their relevance to the clinical setting.
Semester course; variable hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: at least one graduate medical physics course and permission of instructor. Clinical rotations in various medical physics sub-specialties.
Semester course; 1 lecture hour. 1 credit. Review and discussion of relevant journal articles from the medical physics literature. May be repeated for credit with instructor's permission.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Covers the fundamental aspects of radiobiology with specific emphasis on relative biological effectiveness and linear energy transfer, the oxygen effect, radiation carcinogenesis, DNA repair, hereditary effects of radiation, radiation-induced cell killing, cellular responses to radiation including cell cycle effects and activation of cell signal transduction pathways, early and late effects of radiation, and time, dose and fractionation in radiotherapy.
Our Statistics
VCU Medical Physics Residency Program admissions statistics since 2008 broken down by year.
Cumulative job placement statistics for VCU Medical Physics Residency program graduates.
Residency Program FAQs
What options for completing a residency does VCU offer?
The Medical Physics Graduate program involves a course of clinical rotations but does NOT require a clinical residency.
Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU Health System and the Department of Radiation Oncology offer a two-year medical physics residency program. The program is designed for individuals with an MS or PhD in medical physics, physics, engineering, or a closely related field who are interested in a career as a clinical medical physicist in radiation oncology.
Is there parking available for students and residents on campus?
Yes. VCU offers parking to both students and employees. Transportation around campus is provided free-of-charge via the RamRide and RamSafe shuttle services. Additionally, transportation around Richmond using the GRTC public transit system is available to VCU students and employees at a reduced rate.
For the most up-to-date parking rates and transportation information, please visit the VCU Parking and Transportation site.
Where can I find more information about the Richmond (RVA) area?
If you want to know a bit about VCU, a good place to start is the main VCU website. VCU's All About Richmond page has additional details on living and studying in RVA.
Information for prospective students, ranging from the application processes to financial aid, can be found on VCU's Admissions page. VCU's Graduate School website also provides a listing of university resources and services.
For international students, the Global Education Office's website provides additional information, resources, and contacts.
Residents
Christopher Guy
Resident
Christopher Guy
Resident
Radiation Oncology, Division of Medical Physics
Bio sketch and interests: Chris earned his PhD in Medical Physics at VCU in 2017. His dissertation work focused on deformable image registration of the lung, specifically with improving registration accuracy when large geometric changes occur such as resolution of atelectasis. Chris began his residency at VCU in July 2017 where he continues to pursue research in addition to his clinical training.
Matthew Riblett
Resident
Matthew Riblett
Resident
Radiation Oncology, Division of Medical Physics
Bio sketch and interests: Matt graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2012 with a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering and entered the VCU Medical Physics program in the fall of 2013. In the interim, he worked for the Rensselaer Radiation Measurement and Dosimetry Group producing tools for patient dose tracking and voxelized computational phantom simulation. Additionally, Matt worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developing GPU-accelerated Monte Carlo methods for the Reactor and Nuclear Systems Division for use on OLCF's TITAN supercomputer. His research work has focused on novel computational methods and HPC implementations for both Health and Medical Physics applications and he hopes to pursue similar work at VCU. When not in a classroom or a lab, Matt enjoys volunteering for US FIRST, vegetarian cooking and baking, spending time with friends, and playing with his dogs.
Advisor: Elisabeth Weiss
Rebecca "Nicky" Mahon
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Rebecca "Nicky" Mahon
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Radiation Oncology, Division of Medical Physics
Bio sketch and interests: Nicky graduated from the University of Virginia in December of 2009 with a BS in Physics and a minor in Theater Arts. She entered the Medical Physics program at VCU in the fall of 2013 as a MS student and graduated in 2018 with her Ph.D., after spending the interim time working as the Master Electrician and a Lighting Designer at Riverside Dinner Theater and as the Math Instructional Assistant for Germanna Community College in Fredericksburg, Virginia. While at UVA, she worked with the Quantum Optics, Quantum Fields research group on Poling Lithium Tanatalate crystals for various modes of quantum entanglement and quantum tomography sparking her research interest in medical imaging. During her time as a student at VCU, she conducted research in the feasibility of conducting PET/SPECT/CT imaging with simultaneously present PET/SPECT isotopes with the Center for Molecular Imaging, researching using imaging and texture features with CT and MRI images acquired throughout patent treatment to build predictive models for tumor response in patient with non-small cell lung cancer, and using deep convolutional neural networks to predict the interface of the tumor with normal tissue under the direction of Dr. Weiss and Dr. Hugo. Nicky currently serves on the Student and Trainee Subcommittee of the AAPM and she hopes to one-day work abroad as a Medical Physicist. In her free time, Nicky enjoys fencing saber, embroidery, musical theater, and tango.
Email: rebecca.mahon@vcuhealth.org
Mark Ostyn
Resident
Mark Ostyn
Resident
Radiation Oncology, Division of Medical Physics
Bio sketch and interests: Mark graduated from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho in 2011 with a BA in Physics, and then moved Bloomington, Indiana to attend Indiana University for graduate work. While in Indiana, he completed a BS in Engineering Physics from NNU in 2013, before earning a MS in Medical Physics in 2014 from IU. While at IU, he worked on a system for hyperpolarizing Helium-3 gas through MEOP techniques. He entered the Medical Physics program at VCU in the Fall of 2014 and is working on systems to manage patient motion. In his free time, Mark enjoys playing violin and guitar, grilling, and spending time with his wife.
Email: mark.ostyn@vcuhealth.org
Matthew Wagar
Resident
Matthew Wagar
Resident
Radiation Oncology, Division of Medical Physics
Email: matthew.wagar@vcuhealth.org
Joseph Nalluri
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Joseph Nalluri
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Radiation Oncology, Division of Medical Physics
Bio sketch and interests: Joseph J. Nalluri holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Pune, India. He got his M.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, Texas in 2012. His Master's thesis involved working with hyperspectral images on parallel computing frameworks. He got his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2017 with a focus on bioinformatics/computational biology. His doctoral thesis was on developing network theoretic algorithms and applications to decipher patterns and associations between miRNAs and its interaction with genes, transcription factors and SNPs within the context of cancerous diseases. He is currently working as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Dept. of Radiation Oncology at Virginia Commonwealth University. His current work includes - (i) developing an integrated data analytics platform capable of data aggregation, quality assessment and predictive analytics of radiation therapy (RT) treatment plans consisting of clinical data and RT imaging (e.g., DICOM), (ii) creating pseudo-CT images from MRI images using convolutional neural networks and other approaches. His interests lie in developing applications that leverage machine learning in clinical data. Outside of work, he enjoys reading books and playing tennis and badminton competitively.
Supervisor: Jatinder Palta