RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE authorized for highly qualified applicants.

The VA Health Care Network is seeking a Therapeutic Medical Physicist (TMP) for the Albany, NY VA Medical Center.

The Therapeutic Medical Physicist will work in Radiation Oncology and have responsibilities that include: protection of the patient and others from potentially harmful or excessive radiation; establishment of adequate protocols to ensure accurate patient dosimetry; the measurement and characterization of radiation used for radiotherapy; the performance and supervision of treatment planning; the determination of delivered dose; advancement of procedures necessary to ensure delivered dose integrity; the assessment and monitoring of image quality; development and direction of quality assurance programs; assistance to other health care professionals in optimizing the balance between the beneficial and deleterious effects of radiation; and compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.

Linac QA. Participates in the calibration of radiation beams from treatment units. This involves:
(a) maintaining the calibration of quality assurance devices such as ion chambers and electrometers, (b) measuring beam parameters via ion chambers in solid water or a scanning water tank, film, and TLDs,
(c) and comparing this data against the commissioning data using established guidelines (e.g., AAPM Task Group).

External Beam Treatment Planning. Supervises treatment planning, the components of which are:
(a) supervision of patient contours and/or imaging studies (e.g., CT),
(b) determination of dose at different points within the treatment volume,
(c) selection of beams (together with their angles, weights, collimation, and filtering),
(c) generation of isodose curves or other information and dosimetry, and
(d) selection of wedges, bolus, and other devices necessary for proper treatment. Cross-checks hand calculation and computer calculations made by others.

Radiation Modifier Fabrication. Participates in the preparation of radiation therapy treatment devices such as custom field blocks, tissue compensators, and build-up boluses. Participates in the planning and the production of molds, casts and other immobilization devices.

Patient Positioning Supervision. Establishes and supervises accuracy in patient positioning for treatment.. Responsible for follow-up plans; treatment setups during the course of patient treatment; and proposing changes, depending on the initial plan of treatment, such as reduced field size, and changes needed for safety purposes, such as blocking of spinal cord or other sensitive structures and organs, etc.

Performs other duties as assigned.

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.

Work Schedule: Tuesday thru Friday (10 hour days); may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Recruitment Incentives:  Authorized for highly qualified applicants.