Salary Range: $170,841-$192,196/year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.
Job Summary:
In accordance with the Mission, Vision, Values and strategic direction of PHSA safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.
Under the leadership of the Regional Leader, Clinical Medical Physics, the Senior Medical Physicist provides advanced physics and other specialized skills to support the technical requirements of planning and treatment of Radiation Therapy patients. The Senior Medical Physicists works independently or collaboratively in all aspects of clinical and project activities. The Senior Medical Physicist provides mentorship, training, and direct guidance as required to Medical Physicists and Medical Physicist Residents. The Senior Medical Physicist demonstrates leadership in professional practice and in areas such as, research, academic or teaching programs in the field of Medical Physics, and strategic planning activities of the department and other organizational initiatives.
Duties/Accountabilities:
• Develops and oversees one or more key programs within the Radiation Therapy department, such as Treatment Planning, LDR/HDR Brachytherapy, SABR, SRS, Quality Assurance, and Radiation Safety, to ensure that the latest evidence-based and safe radiation therapy treatments are available to patients.
• Provides direct support of patient treatment, including external beam, brachytherapy and other specialized radiation techniques, by ensuring accuracy of the predicted dose and the calculated treatment parameters to deliver the prescribed radiation therapy dose to the identified anatomical volume. Consults with physicians and Radiation Therapists regarding treatment strategies.
• Develops and administers the technical aspects of the radiation oncology quality assurance program by measuring, verifying, and evaluating all equipment used in the support of radiation therapy. Directs vendor service personnel and staff regarding corrective actions and trouble-shooting difficult or unusual system problems.
• Ensures staff adheres with radiation safety procedures. Participates in the monitoring of radiation levels, radiation facility design, control of radioactive source inventory, assessment of any radiation incidents, and assurance that all aspects of license compliance are met. Provides training in radiation safety to all appropriate staff.
• Leads, researches, develops, and implements new clinical devices, techniques, and concepts, and ensures seamless transfer into the radiation therapy program by collaborating with Radiation Oncologists and other professionals. Develops policies and procedures, assists in the development and implementation of clinical trials, and provides training to staff accordingly.
• Remains up-to-date in all radiation therapy equipment and new technologies, and ensures that both meet the needs of the program. Participates in the assessment of equipment at time of acquisition or upgrade as well as decommissioning old equipment and commissioning equipment for clinical use.
• Tests and determines the functional and operational fitness of equipment to be used for radiation therapy patients following commissioning, repair or service, and other adjustments. Provides work direction to Radiation Therapy Service Technologists, Physics Assistants and Tool and Die Makers as well as external service personnel.
• Develops curriculum and teaches Medical Physics and related subjects to students, residents and staff at BC Cancer and other institutions, including delivering a continuing education program to other members of the interdisciplinary health care team. Maintains up-to-date level of Medical Physics expertise.
• Leads and conducts research work related to cancer care by applying and competing for research funding; reviewing grant proposals and scientific manuscripts; presenting and publishing the results; and leading research seminars and workshops.
• Works in accordance with the standards required for radiation therapy imaging techniques and image quality and participates in the introduction of new or improved imaging technologies.
• Demonstrates leadership in strategic planning activities of the department, provincial Radiation Therapy Program committees or programs in areas, including radiation oncology information systems management, equipment procurement, radiation safety, medical physics residency program, and specialized clinical techniques.
• Liaises with and provides advice as needed to internal and external programs and organizations to advance and resolve complex radiation therapy issues, including with universities regarding education programs and federal and provincial regulatory agencies regarding regulation and safe practice.
Qualifications:
M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree in medical physics from a CAMPEP accredited medical physics program OR Ph.D. degree in physics and a certificate from a CAMPEP accredited medical physics program. Completion of a CAMPEP accredited residency program and eight (8) years of closely related experience. Established track record. Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) or American Board of Radiology (ABR) certification required. A combination of education, experience and demonstrated ability, recognized internally as equivalent, may be acceptable. Fellowship in the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (FCCPM) certification is required within two (2) years of entering this level.
Demonstrated ability to provide a high standard of medical radiation therapy physics services. Demonstrated interpersonal, organizational, analytical, oral and written communication and teaching skills. Demonstrated independent decision making skills and ability to work independently and as a member of a multi-disciplinary team. Demonstrated ability to lead major projects and interdisciplinary teams within radiation oncology. Demonstrated contributions to advancement of the profession. Adheres to the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists code of ethics.