Overview:
The Medical Physics Residency Program in Therapeutic Physics of the Radiation Oncology Department at Inova Schar Cancer – Inova Health System, is a two-year training program, which is designed to provide clinical radiation oncology physics training to candidates who have successfully completed a CAMPEP accredited Masters or Doctorate degree in medical physics; or have a Doctorate degree in a closely related field of study along with sufficient coursework to comply with the CAMPEP alternative pathway for entrance into a CAMPEP medical physics residency program. The goal for the residency program is to prepare targeted candidates to become certified American Board of Radiology (ABR) diplomats and to draw a pathway toward a clinically oriented career. The senior leadership of the Radiation Oncology Department has approved and will support this program, as a response to the growing need for medical physics residency programs due to the ABR eligibility requirements and to continue the expansion of the department; also, to promote education and training in the Northern Virginia region. Inova has approved a total capacity of two residents for this training program.
Clinical Rotations:
Inova medical physics residency program includes 9 rotations. Residents will go through each rotation and will gain clinical trainings under supervision of rotations’ mentors. The clinical rotations include:
- Orientation, introduction and clinical observation
- Machine Quality Assurance
- External Beam Treatment Planning
- Proton Therapy
- Brachytherapy (HDR & LDR)
- Imaging for Radiation Therapy
- Special Procedures (Total Skin Electron (TSE), Total Body Irradiation (TBI))
- Patient Safety, Data Transfer and Integrity
- Solo Physics
Residents are assigned a specific member of the residency committee member throughout the entire two years of their residency, as their direct residency mentor. Additionally, and based on individual’s interest and competency proven in clinical training, the residents will have the opportunity to work on clinical developmental research projects under supervision of a member of physics department.
Didactic Training:
Residents are required to attend didactic lectures, weekly chart rounds, weekly medical physicist meetings, weekly physics team meeting (physicists and dosimetrists), ad hoc physics research meeting and radiation oncology clinical lectures given by visiting scholars, in addition to medical physics bi-weekly journal clubs and departmental in-service training.
Training Sites:
Most clinical training for residents will take place at Inova Schar Cancer – Fairfax, 8081 Innovation Park Dr., Fairfax, VA 22031.
Some treatment planning (Brachyvision), some seed implants and some new linac and equipment commissioning may be observed/performed at one of 4 satellite clinics:
- Inova Schar Cancer – Fair Oaks, 3580 Joseph Siewick Dr., Fairfax, VA 22033
- Inova Schar Cancer – Alexandria, 4320 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, VA 22304
- Inova Schar Cancer – Loudoun, 44045 Riverside Pkwy, Leesburg, VA 20176
- Inova Schar Cancer – PROC - 2280 Opitz Blvd., Ste 120, Woodbridge, VA 22191
Number of Residents:
Inova Medical Physics residency program admits one resident each year. The goal is to have one first-year resident and one second-year resident in the program every year to accomplish residents’ cross trainings. Typical opening for the residency position is July 1 of each year.
Benefits:
- Inova Department of Radiation Oncology provides funding for two continuing radiation oncology resident positions at 100% time.
- Each resident will be expected to participate full-time in the program. The resident is responsible for personal living and transportation expenses.
- The residents are permitted to take up to 24 days of personal time off (PTO) vacation, medical, personal/sick leave and maternity/paternity leave per academic year. In addition, comprehensive medical and dental insurance is offered. Parking is also available free of cost in multiple on-campus parking garages.
Application Process:
The Inova medical physics program will consider applications from PhD and MS candidates from a CAMPEP accredited graduate program, or who have completed a CAMPEP accredited certificate program, or otherwise have taken and passed coursework that satisfies the CAMPEP standards for graduate education.
We participate in the AAPM Residency Common Application System (CAP) and candidates can apply through the AAPM Medical Physics Residency Application Program (MP-RAP) at the AAPM Website.
For additional information about the Medical Physics Residency, please contact our Residency Program Director Dr. Jiajin (James) Fan or Residency Program Associate Director Dr. Robabeh Rahimi or the Program Manager, Ms. Pier LeGendre:
Jiajin (James) Fan, PhD., DABR
Director, System Chief of Medical Physics
Inova Schar Cancer
Department of Advanced Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy
phone: 571-472-1566
email: jiajin.fan@inova.org
Robabeh Rahimi, PhD, DABR
Residency Program Associate Director
Inova Schar Cancer
Department of Advanced Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy
phone: 571-472-1570
email: robabeh.rahimi@inova.org
Ms. Pier LeGendre
Business & Administration Manager, Fellowship Programs
Inova Schar Cancer
phone: 571-472-0681
email: pier.legendre@inova.org
Ashkan Parniani, MBA, CMD
Peng Wang, PhD. DABR
Lonika Majithia, MD, MS