Instructor

About the role

The primary objective of this position is to help monitor and coordinate the day-to-day clinical radiation therapy physics activities to ensure streamlined, cost-effective, safe, and high-quality services. This requires working closely with the Director of Clinical Physics Operations, the Chief of Physics, Radiation Oncology Chair, Sr Director of Operations, and the Radiation Oncology VP toward continuous process improvement within and outside the physics group. The candidate will serve as a regular member of clinical committees and handle substantial management and administrative duties.

The candidate will be a faculty member of Harvard Medical School (HMS), subject to HMS Dean approval, and will participate in clinical physics teaching, training of residents, fellows, and junior physics staff, and conduct independent research and development programs. This position reports to the Chief of Physics.

Responsibilities

Clinical Physics Operations: Authorities, Accountability & Performance Metrics

• Operationalize mission, vision, values, and strategy within clinical operations across physics practices in Boston.
• Design and/or implement processes to ensure efficient and effective physics operations.
• Guide physics staff (physicists, dosimetrists) regarding daily clinical physics activities.
• Participate as a member of DFCI Clinical Physics teams (e.g., QA/QI Committee, faculty search committees).
• Help prioritize clinical physics goals and resources.
• Execute clinical physics improvement initiatives.
• Work closely with the Sr. Director of Operations and IT Director on the buildout of ARIA.
• Implement new technology and/or treatment techniques.

Accountability

• Assist the Director of Clinical Physics Operations in maintaining effective and efficient clinical physics operations in Boston and Weymouth.
• Implement Departmental strategic initiatives related to clinical operations and performance.
• Conduct continuous operational improvement and ongoing practice transformation consistent with Departmental strategy.
• Ensure alignment of clinical operations priorities with DFCI’s mission, vision, and values.
• Provide clinical mentorship, supervision, and oversight of core clinical physics faculty and staff.
• Establish and maintain SOPs for clinical physics practices.

Performance Metrics

• Practice performance metrics.
• Patient satisfaction and engagement (as applicable).
• Faculty, staff, and learner satisfaction with practice.
• Alignment of clinical programs between Boston and Network satellites.
• Dashboard of key clinical operational and strategic metrics (including quality improvement/patient safety metrics).

Patient Care

• Work alongside radiation oncologists to coordinate physics support for safe radiation treatments, including simulations, image processing, treatment plan designs, and treatment deliveries to ensure correct radiation dosages and patient safety, including decisions to suspend treatments when necessary.
• Help develop and implement protocols for radiation dose specifications to meet national and state regulations.
• Help develop and maintain a State-mandated Quality Management Program (QMP) covering external beam procedures and material license applications (brachytherapy and radiopharmaceuticals for therapy).
• Help develop and implement quality assurance programs and dosimetric verification procedures for patients undergoing treatments.
• Design treatment facilities to meet national and State radiation protection guidelines.
• Assume a key role in the purchase, acquisition, installation, and commissioning of all new machines and treatment planning systems.
• Design computer programs to improve comprehensive analyses, processing, and integration of imaging, planning, and delivery information for maximum operational efficiency and accuracy, essential for image-guided and robotic techniques.
• Work with engineers in the diagnosis, repair, and maintenance of treatment machines, including assessment for release of treatment machines for clinical use.

Teaching and Research & Development

• Contribute to research and development in radiation oncology.
• Participate in teaching programs: Clinical residency training, Clinical physics residency, Physics post-doctoral training, and the Radiation Therapist Training program.
• Serve as a preceptor for fellows and students, overseeing both their research projects and clinical training.

Requirements

• PhD degree in Medical Physics or a directly related topic (e.g., Physics, Engineering, Biophysics), obtained within the last 7 years (early career).
• Certification by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) or ABR eligibility is required.
• At least 3 years of clinical experience in radiation oncology physics following the completion of the terminal PhD in Medical Physics.

Pay

$130,000.00 - $271,000.00