Typical pay range: $199K - $299K salary, varies on experience.
Radiation Oncology - Bend, Oregon

ST. CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE:                                     Chief Medical Physicist

REPORTS TO POSITION:        Manager Radiation Oncology

DEPARTMENT:                       Cancer Services - Radiation Oncology

DATE LAST REVIEWED:         June 25, 2024

OUR VISION:                           Creating America’s healthiest community, together

OUR MISSION:                         In the spirit of love and compassion, better health, better care, better value

OUR VALUES:                         Accountability, Caring and Teamwork

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Cancer Center at St. Charles Health System (SCHS) is a comprehensive cancer center that provides holistic care to our patients. The cancer center provides chemotherapy, medical oncology, infusion services, radiation therapy, integrative medicine, nutrition, social work, survivorship, and other supportive care treatments. All of our staff support our patients in the various stages of their treatments.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Chief Medical Physicist at St. Charles Health System oversees clinical medical physics services at the cancer center, ensuring radiation therapy practices align with the center's mission and goals. This role involves performing all aspects of radiation therapy physics, including equipment calibration and commissioning, and maintaining quality assurance protocols. The Chief Medical Physicist ensures compliance with radiation safety standards, licensing, and regulatory guidelines while collaborating with clinical and physician leadership to achieve operational and financial objectives. This position also involves managing physicists and dosimetrists, contributing to the center's operational efficiency and financial sustainability through strategic planning and resource management.

The Radiation Therapy Department equipment includes both Elekta and Varian linear accelerators. Support systems

include but are not limited to Mosaiq, ARIA, and Brainlab. Staffing is based on ASTRO - Safety is No Accident guidelines. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

Provides oversight of medical physics, dosimetry functions, and coordination of radiation therapy services for the Cancer Center.

Maintains and assures the technical quality of radiation treatment equipment, treatment planning system and other hardware, as well as associated computer systems/interfaces and make recommendations for purchase or replacement as needed.

Researches, recommends, and educates staff in the use of techniques, which enhance the precision of radiation treatments.

Provides specific patient services such as special dosimetry, computerized treatment planning, special 3-D treatment planning, special S.R.S. treatment, and brachytherapy dosimetry.

Reviews daily quality assurance performed by the Therapists, performs weekly chart reviews as per HCFA requirements, check chart calculations, computer dosimetry, special patient calculations, etc.

Maintains the safe and accurate functioning of the following equipment: radiation oncology simulator, linear accelerator(s), brachytherapy sources, treatment planning computers.

Assists the Radiation Oncologists in intracavitary and interstitial implant procedures.

Submits physics charges.

Performs duties of radioactive materials custodian for radiation therapy department. Serves as a member of, and provides reports to, the Radiation Safety Committee.

May perform Radiation Safety Officer duties for Cancer Services. 

Establishes and maintains a current quality assurance/improvement program that conforms to AAPM and State guidelines. Participates in quality program accreditation processes. 

Responsible for budget development, regular monitoring, accountability and meeting all operational targets for all areas within span of control.

Hires, directs, coaches, and monitors the performance of all direct reports, to develop and maintain a high-performance team that meets organizational and department goals.

Monitors and ensure all direct reports are current with compliance and safety requirements. Implements and manages all organizational safety directives and goals.

Provides and oversees team’s delivery of customer service in a manner that promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient, and accurate.

Collaborates with teams to review processes and identify/implement opportunities for improvements, applying Value Improvement Practice concepts and tools.

Supports Lean principles of continuous improvement with energy and enthusiasm, functioning as a champion of change.

Provides and maintains a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests.

Conducts all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality. Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, supporting the organization’s corporate integrity efforts by acting in an ethical and appropriate manner, reporting known or suspected violation of applicable rules, and cooperating fully with all organizational investigations and proceedings.

Delivers customer service and/or patient care in a manner that promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient and accurate. 

May perform additional duties of similar complexity within the organization, as required or assigned.

EDUCATION:

                  

Required: An accredited graduate degree in a science or engineering field relevant to the clinical practice of Medical Physics.

Preferred: Masters, DME, or Ph.D. degree in Medical Physics from a CAMPEP-accredited program.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:

Required: Certification by the American Board of Radiology or a commensurate Medical Specialties board. Member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.           

Preferred: Active status on NRC, or Agreement State, Radioactive Materials License.    

EXPERIENCE:

Required: Seven (7) years in a medical center as a Radiation Oncology Physicist.

Preferred: Previous leadership experience.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Continually (75% or more): Use of clear and audible speaking voice and the ability to hear normal speech level.

Frequently (50%): Sitting, standing, walking, lifting 1-10 pounds, keyboard operation.

Occasionally (25%): Bending, climbing stairs, reaching overhead, carrying/pushing or pulling 1-10 pounds, grasping/squeezing.

Rarely (10%):  Stooping/kneeling/crouching, lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling 11-15 pounds, operation of a motor vehicle.

Never (0%):  Climbing ladder/step-stool, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 25-50 pounds, ability to hear whispered speech level.

Exposure to Elemental Factors

Never (0%):  Heat, cold, wet/slippery area, noise, dust, vibration, chemical solution, uneven surface.

Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Category

No Risk for Exposure to BBP

Schedule Weekly Hours:

40

Caregiver Type:

Regular

Shift:

Variable (United States of America)

Is Exempt Position?

Yes

Job Family:

PHYSICIST

Scheduled Days of the Week:

Monday-Friday

Shift Start & End Time:

Varied