Therapeutic Medical Physicist

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English. Board Certification. Persons hired or reassigned to TMP positions in the VHA must be board certified in the field of therapeutic medical physics by an approved certifying body.

The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body’s requirements for continuing education. Approved Certifying Bodies (a) The American Board of Radiology (ABR) in any of the following field titles: Therapeutic Medical Physics Therapeutic Radiologic or Therapeutic Radiological Physics Radiologic Physics or Radiological Physics (b) The American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics. (c) The Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics. Exception for Non-Board Certified, Entry Level Candidates. Non-board certified TMPs designated by the certifying agency (e. g. , American Board of Radiology) as “board eligible”, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate TMP under the authority of 38 U. S. C. § 7405(c)(2)(B).

The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed 2 years for a TMP that provides care under the supervision of a board certified TMP at or above the full performance level. This exception only applies at the GS-12 entry level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be board certified. Temporary appointments of non-board certified TMPs may not be extended beyond 2 years, or converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to Obtain Board Certification. In all cases, uncertified TMPs must actively pursue obtaining board certification from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the uncertified TMP with the written requirements for board certification, the date by which board certification must be obtained, and the consequences for not becoming board certified by the deadline. Failure to obtain board certification by the prescribed date will result in removal from the GS-601 TMP series and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Board Certification. Once board certified, TMPs must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment.

Loss of board certification may result in termination of employment. Grandfathering Provision. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-12 Therapeutic Medical Physicist (Entry Level) Experience, Education, and Board Certification. None beyond the basic requirements. (NOTE: See exception to certification requirement above. ) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of the scientific and technical principles and properties of radiotherapy devices for external beam radiotherapy. This includes specialized knowledge of the clinical applications of these devices. Ability to exercise independent judgment in the calibration and commissioning of external beam photon and electron beam delivery devices for clinical use.

This includes specialized knowledge of the acceptance testing and commissioning of radiation therapy treatment simulation equipment such as Computerized Tomography (CT) simulators. Scientific and technical knowledge of electronic data handling techniques and software. Ability to exercise independent judgment in the safe operation of radiotherapy equipment and quality assurance. This includes specialized knowledge of sources of uncertainty associated with treatment delivery and how to minimize the deviation between planned and delivered treatments; configuration of test equipment and associated software; and expected equipment performance for external beam radiotherapy treatment, brachytherapy, and simulation equipment. Detailed scientific and technical knowledge of radiotherapy treatment planning principles, treatment planning algorithms, and treatment delivery. Knowledge of scientific and technical aspects of brachytherapy delivery systems and radiation sources. Ability to exercise independent judgment in radiation shielding techniques for external beam delivery systems. This includes specialized knowledge of detection and survey methods for external beam delivery systems. This also includes knowledge of regulatory requirements and guidelines for radiation shielding and protection. Knowledge of multi-modality medical imaging to include a detailed scientific and technical understanding of megavoltage photon beam imaging, CT, radiographic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission computed tomography.

GS-13 Therapeutic Medical Physicist (Full Performance Level) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge regarding the safe and efficient use of all radiotherapy devices for external beam radiotherapy. The ability to evaluate and ensure correct and safe operation of radiotherapy equipment through complex problem diagnosis and scheduled quality assurance. Knowledge of the scientific, clinical, and technical applications of high dose rate and low dose rate brachytherapy treatment simulation, planning, dosimetry, and treatment methods. Expertise in the professional, scientific, and technical aspects of shielding methods for external beam radiation delivery systems, radiation survey methods, developing procedures, setting action levels, delivering radiation safety training, developing and documenting competencies, and reporting. This includes an in-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and guidelines for radiation shielding and personnel protection. Ability to exercise independent professional judgment in the performance and evaluation of calibration, acceptance testing, and clinical commissioning procedures for all types of external beam photon and electron beam delivery systems. Skilled in the evaluation of acceptance testing and commissioning results of CT simulators.

Technical skills in 3-D treatment planning, intensity modulated radiation therapy treatment planning, and stereotactic body radiation therapy planning. This includes specialized knowledge of clinical process steps and resource requirements for planning and delivery of radiation oncology treatments. Ability to process information from multi-modality imaging datasets for treatment planning, treatment verification, and radiotherapy response assessment. References: VA Handbook 5005/83, Part II, Appendix G48 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-12 to GS-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. [“The Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System is currently recruiting for two Therapeutic Medical Physicists (TMP) to be part of Specialty Care Service. Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following: Employees at the Entry Level, GS-12, works under the direction of a board-certified TMP. The full performance level TMP is board certified and performs the clinical practice of therapeutic medical physics in its entirety with considerable discretion and independent judgment. Applies specialized knowledge of treatment planning in order to assess the fidelity of treatment plan alternatives.

Organizes treatment plans, chooses the modality, and oversees the delivery of treatment. Provides direct assessment of the patient in order to render clinical physics judgment for radiation planning and delivery. Plans, delivers, verifies, and monitors quality assurance of radiotherapy at all levels of complexity. Recommends an optimal modality and treatment technique for the patient; evaluating the quality, safety, and accuracy of radiation treatments planned and delivered to patients, thus ensuring that radiation dose is carried out correctly and completely; and safely operating all radiation planning and delivery devices. Implements radiation therapy of outstanding technical difficulty and responsibility, providing knowledge-based solutions to resolving issues where no rule-based solutions exist. Plans and directs a specialized program encompassing all physics and clinical aspects of external beam treatment procedures from treatment simulation to treatment planning to the actual treatment delivery. Provides technical oversight for the work of entry level TMPs, medical dosimetrists and radiation therapists. Oversees radiation therapy treatment planning; designs and approves treatment plans; monitors the accuracy of treatment data recorded in the patient’s medical records; provides consultation to the radiation oncologist regarding difficult treatment cases; performs patient-specific treatment validation measurements; and develops medical physics policies and procedures for the delivery and quality assessment of advanced treatment modalities such as intensity modulated radiation therapy, and stereotactic body radiation therapy. Develops, operates and fully documents the medical physics quality assurance program and ensures regulatory compliance within the Radiation Safety Officer’s radiation safety program. Safely utilizes and properly operates all radiation oncology equipment and is therefore qualified and responsible for educating radiation oncology team members including radiation oncologists, radiation therapists and dosimetrists in safety issues that relate to radiotherapy planning and delivery.

Follows the VHA, AAPM, and all other applicable code of ethics policies in order to maintain the highest professionalism md patient care standards. The full performance level TMP may participate in research projects in basic research, clinical research, and bench research; Inclusive of clinical, dosimetric, therapeutic, and physics research. May be responsible for following applicable research protocols, treatment protocols, and research guidelines (from sources such as NRG, RTOG, CALGB, and SWOG) Is encouraged to collaborate with staff in the formation of research programs, ideas, and possible publications in journals and other peer reviewed forums. Research proposals will be submitted to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and needs to be detail oriented. Research papers, studies, and findings might be presented at scientific meetings. Must be able to complete local training requirements for research projects. The full performance level TMP must be able to work with a group research environment with staff and fellow VA’s and medical school affiliates. **This is an Open Continuous Announcement**. Resumes/Questionnaires received in USA Staffing in response to this announcement will be maintained in the USA Staffing job file. Qualification determinations will be done based on the applicant’s resume/questionnaire/documents submitted for the position and a list of qualified candidates will be referred to Service.

**The initial cut off of eligible applicants will be April 10, 2023. Subsequent cut-off dates will be the 10th of each month or as needed. The vacancy announcement will remain open until closed, canceled or filled. ** Work Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55856-O, 55857-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact TIMOTHY. KIDDOO2@va. gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required”]

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