Medical Physics at VA Northern California HCS Radiology-DGMC Cancer Center is that branch of physics that is associated with the practice of medicine. The practice of Medical Physics means the use of principles and accepted protocols of physics to assure the correct quality, quantity, and placement of radiation during the performance of a radiological procedure. Supervisory Therapeutic Medical Physicists (TMPs) work in Radiation Oncology. 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Master's degree or higher in a physics, science, or engineering discipline recognized by an accredited college or university with at least 30 semester hours in medical physics, health physics, radiological science, physics, engineering, chemistry, or biology; or an equivalent foreign degree and coursework substantiated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. 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 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 The American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics. The Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics. 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 Grade Determinations: GS-14 Supervisory Therapeutic Medical Physicist Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to oversee the technical development and implementation of new radiotherapy techniques and modalities. This includes knowledge of current standards of care, VA policies, trends and changes in delivery technology, as well as fair, principled, and decisive leadership practices. Ability to optimize technical infrastructure and workflow for streamlined operations in the department of radiation oncology. This includes the knowledge and application of techniques such as Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) Ability to assess the qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees, to include staff performance evaluations and professional development. Advanced knowledge of regulatory requirements, manufacturer's standards, and professional society guidelines for performing quality assurance of radiation therapy equipment to include accelerators, simulators, and high dose rate/low dose rate brachytherapy delivery systems. Ability to use written and verbal communication with a strong command of technical writing considerations. Ability to collaborate with the members of other disciplines and supervisors and to represent the profession both in and outside of VHA. This includes knowledge of the roles, contributions, and interrelationships with other health care specialties and supporting divisions. Knowledge of instructional methods and documenting competencies. Ability to manage and supervises employees. References: VA Handbook 5005/83 Part II G48 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS14 Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs); Moderate carrying (15-44 lbs); straight pulling (1 hour); pushing (1 hour); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (8-12 hours); standing (8-12 hours); ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaegar 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted). Transferring patients and objects may be required. Don protective clothing in isolation situation or operative / invasive procedures. May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium. Work to be performed inside; working around equipment with moving parts, working around and with electronic devices and electricity, working around moving objects; working closely with others. ["The advanced level Supervisory TMP manages the development and implementation of advanced techniques and special initiatives in radiotherapy, collaborates with radiation oncologists in the development of new clinical protocols, and directs special projects involving clinical applications, clinical research, or quality assurance. The advanced level supervisory TMP serves as a subject matter expert on certain aspect/s of therapeutic medical physics in which the incumbent has achieved national recognition through research and peer-reviewed publications. The advanced performance level TMP has both the documented professional experience and the demonstrated expertise in medical physics to provide consultative services to the National Radiation Oncology Program (NROP), the National Health Physics Program (NHPP), other VHA program offices and other federal agencies if requested. In addition, the advanced performance level TMP may provide liaison with those professional organizations whose purview is the organization, development or regulation of medical physics. The advanced level supervisory TMP is board certified and performs the depth and breadth of clinical practice of therapeutic medical physics. The employee plans, delivers, verifies, and monitors quality assurance of radiotherapy at all levels of complexity. Specific tasks include recommending 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. The TMP implements radiation therapy of outstanding technical difficulty and responsibility, as exemplified by their role in providing knowledge-based solutions to resolving issues where no rule-based solutions exist. The employee plans and directs a specialized program encompassing all physics and clinical aspects of external beam and brachytherapy treatment procedures from treatment simulation to treatment planning to the actual treatment delivery. The TMP provides technical oversight for the work of developmental TMPs, medical dosimetrists and radiation therapists. The incumbent 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, stereotactic body radiation therapy and brachytherapy. The TMP develops, operates and fully documents the medical physics quality assurance program and ensures regulatory compliance within the Radiation. Linac QA: The incumbent will provide machine quality controls of the OBI, EPID, and Rapid Arc systems. Physics QA of every IMRT patient treatment plan will also be provided. Prostate Brachytherapy Program Management: This involves routine assays of sources for permanent implant, generation and review of treatment plans and post-treatment plans, and participation in the Quality Management program. External Beam Treatment Planning: (a) supervision of patient contours and/or imaging studies (e.g., CT), (b) determination of dose at different points within the treatment volume, (c) selection of beams (together with their angles, weights, collimation, and filtering), (d) generation of isodose curves or other information and dosimetry, and (e) selection of wedges, bolus, and other devices necessary for proper treatment. Radiation Modifier Fabrication: The incumbent will participate in (a) the preparation of radiation therapy treatment devices such as custom field blocks, tissue compensators, and build-up boluses, and (b) the planning and the production of molds, casts and other immobilization devices. Patient Positioning Supervision: Responsible for follow-up plans; treatment setups during the course of patient treatment; and proposing changes, depending on the initial plan of treatment, such as reduced field size, and changes needed for safety purposes, such as blocking of spinal cord or other sensitive structures and organs, etc. Work Schedule: 0800-1630 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:612-00959-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
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