Director of Proton Physics- Radiation Oncology

The Department of Radiation Oncology at The University of Kansas Cancer Center and the University of Kansas Health System is seeking an outstanding leader to serve as Director of Proton Therapy. This individual will hold a faculty appointment at the Clinical Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor level. This position offers the unique opportunity to practice in either an academic or community setting, depending on the candidate’s interests and experience.

About the Role

The Director of Proton Physics will lead the proton therapy program at the University of Kansas Proton Center, equipped with a state-of-the-art IBA ProteusONE compact proton therapy system, RayStation v2023B treatment planning system, and SDX respiratory gating system integrated within Varian’s ARIA V18.0. The system is LATTICE, FLASH, and minibeam capable. Since opening in May 2022, the center has treated over six hundred patients and is a founding member of the Conformal Flash Alliance with an ongoing research agreement with IBA for preclinical validation and clinical implementation.

The Department of Radiation Oncology provides cancer care services throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area, delivering over 4,500 treatment courses annually with 300 patients on treatment daily. The primary network includes 7 locations with 11 Varian linear accelerators, including TrueBeam, Edge, and Ethos. The department recently completed a Varian ARIA/Eclipse v18.0 upgrade, the first in the U.S., and maintains close relationships with Varian, IBA, and other equipment vendors.

The department is one of a dozen ABS fellowship training sites for both HDR and LDR brachytherapy for prostate and gynecological cancer. The Division of Medical Physics is staffed by 20 faculty medical physicists, 19 medical dosimetrists, 6 medical physics residents, and 1 department-funded research fellow, supporting a full range of clinical, research, and educational services. The department also features a 1,200 sq. ft. physics research space adjacent to the main clinic, housing computational and instrumentation labs.

Requirements

• Master’s or Doctoral degree in Medical Physics or a related field
• Completion of a CAMPEP-accredited residency program in medical physics
• Board eligible or board certified by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) in Therapeutic Medical Physics

Benefits

• Recent increase in overall compensation package
• Generous retirement contribution
• Relocation assistance
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• CME allowance
• Long-term and short-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Professional liability coverage

About the Organization

The University of Kansas Cancer Center is an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, with plans underway to construct a new $550 million state-of-the-art cancer center building. The University of Kansas Hospital, a 1,045-bed academic medical center and Level 1 trauma center, is recognized as one of the top hospitals in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report. The health system is known for its Center for Advanced Heart Care, Center for Transplantation, Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center, and Magnet designation for nursing excellence.

About Kansas City

A metropolitan area of 2.3 million people, Kansas City offers the diversity and excitement of a large city with the charm and convenience of Midwest living. The area features walkable, tree-lined neighborhoods, top cultural destinations (Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, National WWI Museum, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art), and the Country Club Plaza shopping district. Residents enjoy safe suburban neighborhoods, excellent dining and shopping, miles of bike paths, parks, lakes, and top-rated schools. Kansas City is home to professional sports teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Royals, and Current, and will host the World Cup.