THE PENN RADIATION ONCOLOGY SPOTLIGHT
February 2025
Even though we have moved to Monthly Spotlight Editions, it seems like the pages are more packed then ever! It has been a great run for the Super Bowl Champion Eagles and seeing everyone in their colors! It has been amazing to experience the positive energy across the region, with our patients and staff, in every corner of the department. We continue to add new features to the Spotlight; this month includes a listing of any posted job positions in the department so that all staff are aware. We will continue posting monthly changes and make announcements at all staff meetings going forward.
Academic medicine is facing several challenges with recent changes in Washington and a number of Executive Orders from the White House. Some of these have been around DEI initiatives and also government research funding. We are seeing impacts on funding from the NIH, including review of grants and slowing of payments. There are also Executive Orders with changes in grant funding, called the indirect rates, which are negotiated contracted rates between institutions and the government for investments and costs to support research infrastructure. There are lawsuits ongoing which will ultimately decide the overall impact. There are other risks in changes in the near future. For these reasons, we are being very diligent in our expenditures and recruitments for open positions upcoming. That being said, the department is in a strong position and can weather storms that arise. However, we need to be prudent and make good choices on how we are spending and investing funds. More to come at upcoming staff meetings.
15 Years of the Roberts Proton Therapy Center
On January 24, 2025, we celebrated 15 years of the Roberts Proton Therapy Center with a staff celebration! Dr. Jim Metz shared these remarks during the event:
"The team at Penn Medicine has transformed proton therapy by developing novel treatment regimens and expanding treatment to diseases that were never treated previously. The Roberts Proton Therapy Center has become the leading training center in the world for new facilities starting proton therapy along with advanced expert training for established centers. We come together to celebrate a remarkable 15 years of leadership in the field while continuing to set the standard for future proton therapy treatment with FLASH radiation and proton technology delivered locally with a hub and spoke model of care between the RPRT and LGH and Penn Medicine Virtua proton centers."
The Pavilion Becomes the Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs
Penn Medicine announced a transformative gift from Catherine and Anthony Clifton to drive innovations in clinical care, research, and education at the health system. In recognition of this gift, the Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania will be renamed the Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs. Catherine Clifton is the daughter of Suzanne and Ralph Roberts, whose donation to Penn Medicine helped create the Roberts Proton Therapy Center.
Night Side Songs
On February 5, 2025, we hosted a special presentation of Night Side Songs at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine! This was an exclusive showing of a new musical production by the Philadelphia Theatre Company.
Featured in the Media
BBC
Alexander Lin, MD and Constantinos Koumenis, PhD were both quoted in a BBC article highlighting the potential benefits of FLASH radiation, the work they are doing, and the proposed clinical trial that they hope will launch this year in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer.
This BBC article was also featured in the February 4 edition of the Penn Today newsletter.
ACC Bulletin
Yi Fan, MD, PhD was one of three Abramson Cancer Center faculty elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigation. They join four other physician-scientists from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia who were elected to one of the nation's oldest and most respected medical honor societies.
PM Report
The Nursing Symposium that was highlighted in the November Spotlight was featured in the PM Report on January 16. A systemwide Radiology Oncology Nursing symposium designed by the Continuing Education Resource team (pictured) provided “an environment outside of work which allowed us to do formal teaching in an informal setting” said HUP nurse Jerel Deleon, RN. During the session nurses partook in eight different learning stations, featuring hands-on teaching and interactive learning on topics including cardiac devices and the Prostate Nudge Initiative. Buoyed by overwhelmingly positive feedback, the team plans to offer the symposium annually.
Linda Jefferson's desk decorations were highlighted in the PM Report and all the joy the different decorations bring to the department. Be sure to stop by and admire Linda's hard work in-person the next time you are on the second floor of PCAM, and they are also featured in each addition of the Spotlight.
Penn Medicine on Social Media
Did you know that Penn Radiation Oncology and OncoLink are on social media? Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok! Check out some of the recent posts below:
Instagram - Penn Radiation Oncology
Instagram - Penn Radiation Oncology Residency Programs
Instagram - Penn Radiation Oncology Medical Physics Graduate Program
Instagram - OncoLink
Committee on Community Engagement
We invite you to visit the site regularly, as we continue to update resources, add information on ongoing initiatives, and expand educational materials.
PennCobalt provides mental health resources for Penn staff and faculty.
Have You Recognized Someone Today?
DON'T FORGET: You can recognize a colleague at any time by submitting the recognition form found at https://redcap.med.upenn.edu/surveys/?s=HPKUea (direct link is below). Bookmark this web page for easy access in the future!
If you would like a copy of the flyer with QR code for your work area, please email RadOnc_ACES@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Meet the Newest Members of Our Team!
Lindsey Kellogg
Lindsey joins the department as the eLearning Designer at OncoLink. Previously, she spent the past 5.5 years as an instructional designer at Penn Engineering, helping to create online courses in computer science and data science. Lindsey also has experience in digital accessibility. Her background is originally in graphic design and global studies, but she loves all forms of design, multimedia, and anything that creates a good experience for users. Lindsey lives in South Philadelphia with her two cats (Sebastian and Pippin) and outside of work she tries to keep busy sewing, singing in a West Philly community choir, and spending time with her partner and friends. You can contact Lindsey at Lindsey.Kellogg@PennMedicine.upenn.edu.
Elizabeth Lengel
Elizabeth joins the department as a Dosimetrist Treatment Planner. Previously, she was a Radiation Therapist. Elizabeth earned an MBA in Health Administration and holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Dosimetry and a Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy. You can contact Elizabeth at Elizabeth.Lengel@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Promotions
Ashton Crosby
Ashton Cosby has accepted the position, and effective immediately is the new Supervisor of Administrative Services. Ashton joined our department approximately two years ago; she quickly acclimated to her role and went above and beyond in providing excellent project support for the Physics leadership. Ashton is eager to learn new software and technologies and is adept at finding ways to streamline work and create efficiencies. I have no doubt she will excel in this role and be an excellent leader to the Staff Assistant team, and Supervisor for RadOnc administrative needs.
Ching Lai
The Department of Radiation Oncology Clinical Research Unit (CRU) is excited to announce that Ching Lai has been promoted to Research Project Manager. Since joining our department as a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) in July 2021, Ching has consistently demonstrated her commitment and exceptional performance in every aspect of her role. As a CRC, Ching expanded her responsibilities significantly. She not only effectively mentored three junior CRCs but also independently managed recruitment processes when needed. She has successfully overseen multiple studies, ensuring they are conducted safely and in strict compliance with their protocols. Notably, she has exceeded the expectations of her role by taking on additional tasks aligned with those of a Research Project Manager. Her adept handling of study initiations and closures, including budget creation, SOP development, regulatory submissions, and management of external database queries, have been key contributions to the success of our CRU in meeting our department's goals. Previously, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Studies of Addiction. Ching has a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Delaware. In her time off, she enjoys traveling and eating.
Ngoc Thai
Ngoc has accepted the Network Dosimetry Manager position, which is a new management role for the department. Her start date will be February 17th. Ngoc is currently a dosimetry treatment planner for the VA, and has over 10 years of treatment planning experience. She will be overseeing dosimetrist treatment planners for the following locations: Chester County Hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, Doylestown Hospital, Penn Medicine Radnor, Penn Medicine Valley Forge, Shore, Princeton, and the VA.
Open Positions
Below are open job positions within the department. The job ID number is in bold for reference. Please go to Careers.PennMedicine.org to see the full job posting.
Appointments
Virginia (“Ginny”) Lockamy, PhD will be assuming a new role as the Network Director of Medical Physics. Virginia joined the department in 2018 as the Chief of Network Physics and Adjunct Assistant Professor. Primarily working out of Virtua Health, Ginny oversaw a team of over twenty physicists and fifteen dosimetrists across the Penn Radiation Oncology network. Recognized as a leader in her field, she is an active member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and has served as the President-Elect for the Delaware Valley Chapter since 2023. Ginny graduated with a BS in Physics and Applied Mathematics and received her PhD in Physics from Wake Forest University.
In her new position, Ginny will continue to oversee the organization of medical physics and dosimetry staff across all network locations, while also managing effective communication, safety procedures, quality assurance, and equipment issues, including technology challenges and downtime. She will also have the responsibility of training all medical physics staff on treatment and technology updates and will facilitate adjustments in clinical coverage and any equipment moves. With her leadership and guidance, as well as her extensive knowledge of medical physics practices, she will continue to play a vital role in the Radiation Oncology physics program.
Conferences and Speakers
London Global Cancer Week - GHC Session
November 12, 2024 - Gatwick
Stephen Avery, PhD participated in the London Global Cancer Week in Gatwick, UK, where he lead a session on Global Health Catalyst and Cancer Moonshot collaboration initiatives. The two goals of the Cancer Moonshot are: to reduce the death rate from cancer by at least 50% by 2047, and improve the experience of people and families living with and surviving cancer, ultimately ending cancer as we know it today. While the immediate goals are domestic, the ambitions of the Cancer Moonshot extend far beyond the borders of the United States, especially as the burden of cancer falls heavily to lower- and middle-income countries, where 80% of global cancer deaths occur.
International work as part of the Cancer Moonshot is focused on equity and collaboration, thereby increasing access to prevention, screening, treatment, and care for everyone facing a cancer diagnosis and their families around the world. This session covered potential areas for focusing global cancer funding including in particular the use of technology/AI in win-win collaborations with opportunities to leapfrog in increased access to care across the cancer control continuum while strengthening healthcare systems
Global Health Catalyst (GHC) Summit (Bangladesh) and Oncology Club Meeting with Bangladesh Head of Government and Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus
December 12-14, 2024
Stephen Avery, PhD was a featured speaker and key organizer at the Global Health Catalyst Summit in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Catalyzing SAARC country collaborations: His Excellency Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser (interim head of government) of government of Bangladesh and Nobel Laureate inaugurated the Lancet Oncology Series on Cancer Care in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries led by Prof Saiful Huq. The event was organized with the Oncology Club of Bangladesh, a GHC collaborating champion of cancer control in the SAARC region. Dr. Stephen Avery is Director of the Global Health Catalyst (UPenn).
The event brought together visionary leaders, including Lancet Oncology Editor Prof. David Collingridge, Dr. Susie Stanway (London Global Cancer Week), and Lacy Hubbard (Elekta Foundation), among other global oncology experts. Their participation underscored the importance of international collaboration to strengthen cancer control efforts in the region. We also recognize the remarkable efforts of The White House Cancer Moonshot, with special appreciation to Dr. Catharine Young, for championing global mobilization and action in extending the Cancer Moonshot’s reach – efforts that were highlighted during the summit (Global Cancer Moonshot).
African Strategy for Fundamental and Applied Physics (ASFAP) 2024 Meeting – Cairo, Egypt
December 15-17, 2024
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) plays a pivotal role in supporting the African Strategy for Fundamental and Applied Physics (ASFAP) by leveraging its mandate to promote science, education, and sustainable development worldwide. ASFAP serves as a platform to unite diverse stakeholders in shaping Africa’s future through science and innovation. It is a collaborative initiative aimed at advancing the role of physics in addressing Africa's scientific, technological, and socioeconomic challenges. It seeks to develop a roadmap for harnessing fundamental and applied physics to drive innovation, capacity building, and sustainable development across the continent. Stephen Avery, PhD serves as the ASFAP convener for Medical Physics.
FLASH Presentation at Curie Lab
Costas Koumenis, PhD participated in the defense of a PHD Thesis on FLASH Radiotherapy by Maxime Dubail, a student with Dr. Charles Fouillade at the Marie Curie Institute of the University of Paris. The next day, he presented work by his group and Penn RadOnc on FLASH radiotherapy.
Both events took place at the historical lab of Dr. Marie Curie where she performed some of the first experiments with radioactivity which led to two Nobel Prizes. The desk in the picture is the same desk she used for her experiments. She and her husband who also worked with her in the lab are depicted along with photos form Mme Curie’s lab notebook. Notably, the first experiments with FLASH Radiotherapy were also performed at the Curie Institute approximately 12 years ago.
Awards
Stephen Avery, PhD has received the United States President's Lifetime Achievement Award signed by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr, to recognize outstanding voluntary leadership and service to the U.S. and beyond. Traditionally the award is given during a two-day event which comprise of a U.S. Presidential Awards Ceremony, VIP Reception, World Leader Peace Inaugural Ball, and Economic Sustainable Development Summit. Since international members of the team cannot participate, due to short notice, the award will be presented at the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Global Health Catalyst (GHC) Summit, taking place June 5-8th at MIT/Harvard University. This anniversary represents a significant milestone in the shared journey to advance global health and foster impactful collaborations. The event will bring together a diverse array of esteemed colleagues, collaborators, and supporters who have been integral to the progress made over the years. Having the opportunity to accept this award in the presence of those who have contributed to and supported these endeavors will make the occasion even more memorable.
Grants
$8M NIH funded U54 project titled “Howard-Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Alliance in Cancer Research, Education and Equity (H2CAREE)”, aims to advance cancer care and health equity through the partnership between Howard University (HU) and the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC). Stephen Avery, PhD serves as a Program Steering Committee Member of the Admin Core to provide advice and guidance to the partnership with the goal to advance cancer research and reduce cancer health disparity. The primary objectives are to establish and sustain collaborative cancer research programs with an emphasis on health equity, to boost cancer research education programs at Howard University, and to advance cancer care for traditionally underserved populations through outreach activities.
Happy 31st Birthday, OncoLink! OncoLink was the first cancer education website to exist on the internet. Over the past 31 years, we have continued to provide cancer education for patients and their loved ones, along with offering tools to help patients through their diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Our users come to the website from all over the world and we are proud to continue the work that we do knowing that it helps patients become more educated about their disease and empowering them to be advocates for themselves.
OncoLink in the Community
Thank you, Linda Jefferson for all of your decorations, for holiday celebrations and season changes! In this newsletter we are highlighting Linda's decorations for Valentine's Day and Black History Month. Be sure to stop by and admire Linda's hard work the next time you are on the second floor of PCAM!
Radiation Therapy Happy Hour
January 24, 2025
PCAM Radiation Therapists went out for a happy hour on Friday, January 24th to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Roberts Proton Therapy Center.
Thoracic Team Holiday Dinner
January 30, 2025
The Thoracic team celebrated the holidays with a dinner at Dr. Jeff Bradley's house.
For Pete's Sake Gala
February 1, 2025
For Pete's Sake celebrated an unforgettable evening at Vie by Cescaphe in Philadelphia celebrating 25 years of respite. Together, we raised over $300,000 to support our mission! One of our very own patients who was treated at Valley Forge, Aaron Roberts, , was one of the recipients of this respite in October 2024.
For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation, in partnership with Woodloch Resort, is creating the nation’s first Cancer Respite Center for families facing cancer. (You read it right, the FIRST for families of all cancer types). This Center, the very heart of Pete’s dream before his passing at age 30, will serve over 4,000 individuals annually and is expected to open in late 2026.
Let us continue to support this organization! Please join our team Rad for Respite on the For Pete's Sake Walk on April 27th at 3PM at Citizens Bank Park.
Super Bowl Spirit
RadOnc was cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles on the road to victory in the Super Bowl! Across our many locations, it was a sea of green in the days before the big game. Go Birds!!
Doylestown
PCAM
Top left photo: Tori Lane, Lacey Leinheiser, Laura Kendrick, Lou Volm, Naseema Chughtai, Jill Giorgio, Georganna Denneny, Nikki Mulholland, Alex Jankovic, and Angie Natale; Top right photo: Lou Volm, Material Management colleague, Gracie Hassing, Giovanna Sorber, Adam Strogis, Liem Pham, and Tom Bongiorno; Bottom: PCAM Therapy Team
The Beam of Life Team
https://www.ms-stride.org/breakthroughbikechallenge
The Breakthrough Challenge bike ride was on Sunday, September 15. The Radiation Oncology Beam of Life team is lead by co-captains Bill Barbour, Chris Laskey, and Christina McCrohan. The Breakthrough Challenge donates 100% of participant-raised funds to support breakthrough cancer research at the Abramson Cancer Center. This year $300,000 was raised, bringing the total fundraising to more than $2,850,000 over the past eleven-years.
Save the Date: Next year's Breakthrough Challenge will be on Sunday, September 14, 2025
Join the team here: https://www.ms-stride.org/breakthroughchallenge/profiles/team/91
Follow our team Facebook page or go to the ISOCENTER for more details on upcoming Beam of Life team social rides and 3rd Annual Happy Hour Fundraiser at a local Philadelphia Restaurant!
Five Questions With...
Ishani Shah, CRNP, MSN
Nurse Practitioner at Doylestown
1. What is a typical work day like for you?
A typical workday I hit the ground running. I usually have a patient for follow ups and in between patients, I help with symptom management with patients on treatment. Always try to collaborate with staff and the team to provide high quality care. Integrity in the workplace is very important to me. In any of the time in between there are patient messages to be answered or results to be checked. Lunch breaks usually consist of chart rounds or tumor board. I usually schedule blocks to attend APP grand rounds and chalk talks. The end of day has been going towards looking over notes and closing them out. Sometimes we have some student visitors and sometimes we take time to get a laugh or two about mundane or exciting things in life. I always enjoy the occasional visit from Erin Davis from time to time!
2. What led you to work at Penn Radiation Oncology?
I initially saw a position close to home with an surgical oncology background I gravitated towards applying. Now I find myself at home not just in terms of the location and people but the specialty too! I'm so happy to have found radiation oncology!
3. What is your go-to self-care tip?
I always have Yung Pueblo or Case Kenny at my desk! I love listening to some house/ remixes and genres of music can range to Ray LaMontagne too! It all depends on the mood. Talking to a friend is also a lot of self-care for me. I love to get a workout in sometimes and get an occasional girls night in. (Need all of those that I can get with a 6-, 4-, and 2-year-old at home!)
4. What are your hobbies?
My husband and I took up snowboarding about 13 years ago and it has become our go to winter activity. I love to play pickup basketball at the local YMCA. I do have a sewing machine that is crying to be used again. (I would love to sew again but don’t have the time!) My husband and I love to travel! Prior to kids, we loved more international trips. Now we try once a year, but have more local things to explore for now. I love cooking and I love feeding people. I often get made fun of at work for having a revolving door or people over! Love seeing the joy of others through food or a really good conversation.
5. What are you currently streaming?
I am currently finishing season 7 of Love is Blind and will start the new season! I loved Bridgerton and The Summer I Turned Pretty. Some documentaries, such as Quarterback, Receiver, and The Race to the Summit. Four Daughters and The Fall of P. Diddy are on my list next!
Rad Recommendations
Michele's Menu Musings by Michele Kim, PhD
Little Fish – 746 S. 6th St, Philadelphia, PA
Seafood is my favorite genre of food. Little Fish combines that with an intimate BYOB setting in Queen Village, and I am shocked I have not been there sooner, especially since they’ve been around for nearly three decades. Using classic techniques with an Asian influence, chef Alexander Yoon has created a unique, delicious menu that does change based on seasonally available ingredients. Philadelphia has several James Beard Award (the Oscars of the food world) semifinalists again in 2025, and Little Fish is nominated for Outstanding Hospitality.
Truly an intimate space, the whole restaurant seats 16, so a reservation is recommended. The a la carte menu is available Monday through Friday while on Saturdays, only the pre-fixe menu is available. The open kitchen in this small space lets you feel the energy as the food gets prepared. First bites of hiramasa (yellowtail kingfish) crudo with a ponzu vinaigrette with radish and crispy ginger was so flavorful and fresh. Their signature dish that is always on the menu is a raw scallop toast. This dish had just the right balance of textures – soft, bitable raw scallop sitting atop a crunchy buttery toast flavored with spicy chili oil, tamari, and chives. If you like uni like me, the uni chawanmushi (egg custard) had an incredible broth and mix of ocean flavors. The fish of the day was a perfectly grilled branzino with crispy skin served with cannellini bean, escarole, and Aleppo sausage. This dish was a full entrée portion for each diner served after 5 small dishes and bread service. I still had room for the apple crumble with ice cream dessert topped with miso caramel.
Most of the other diners brought a bottle of wine or bubbly, but we brought sake (Drunken Whale, highly recommend), and it was an absolutely perfect pairing. If you’re into sake or just interested in learning more, the chef de cuisine, Jacob Trinh, hosts a sake tasting club at Little Fish. Information for that can be found on Instagram @phillysakeclub. I can’t wait to go back to Little Fish for some well-executed seafood bites again!
Do you have any recommendations you'd like to share with the Spotlight? Email your reviews for movies, TV shows, books, and podcasts to RadOncSpotlight@uphs.upenn.edu
On-Site Clinical Proton Education Course at Penn Medicine
Applications are now open for 2025 On-Site Clinical Proton Education Courses. Designed for Radiation Oncologists, Physicists, Treatment Planners, and Radiation Therapists
March 3 - 7, 2025 and November 3 - 7, 2025, intensive one-week educational courses at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center in Philadelphia, PA. Space is limited. Apply now at RMI.pennmedicine.org/proton-therapy-course.
Course includes: Hands-on learning opportunities, Certificate upon successful completion, Networking opportunities with peers and industry leaders
Global Education Visitors
Penn Radiation Oncology hosted Dr. Jenny Ling-Yu Chen from National Taiwan University Cancer Center from January 27 to February 7, 2025. Dr. Chen's children joined her on her visit to Philadelphia and enjoyed their time here as well!
Medical Residency
Residency Leadership
It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of residency leadership roles to begin in July 2025.
For the Physics residency, Maksym Sharma, PhD will be our next Chief Resident.
For the Physics residency, Yin Gao, PhD will be our next Education Officer for Trainees.
For the Medical residency, Melanie Berger, MD will be our next Chief Resident (working with Cole Friedes, MD).
Please join us in congratulating Drs. Sharma, Gao, and Berger on their respective appointments. We also thank our current senior Chiefs (Michelle Iocolano, MD and Dan Alexander, PhD) as well as our current Education Officers (Jace Grandinetti, PhD and Casey Hollawell, MD) for their exemplary service to the department in these roles.
Medical Physics Graduate Program
Happenings
MPGP Town Hall: Residency Interview Tips & Best Practices
On January 17, MPGP hosted a Town Hall for students that focused on honing their interview skills and provided best practices for the residency application and match process. Penn Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist Barbara Garcia, MS, joined Medical Physics Resident Dan Alexander, PhD and Medical Physics Residency co-directors Jennifer Zou, PhD and Shibu Anamalayil, MS to learn more about the process and ask questions.
MPGP Students Attend the Eagles Victory Parade
Our MPGP Students took to the streets on February 14 to celebrate the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Victory!
MPGP Town Hall: Clinical Practicum Overview
On February 17, MPGP hosted a Town Hall for students that focused on the Clinical Practicum experience. Second-year students gave a brief overview of the clinical practicum site they were assigned to last Summer to help our first-year students choose which opportunities they are interested in for their experience. All MSMP students take MPHY 7000: Clinical Practicum during the summer between their first and second years in the program to gain hands-on experience working alongside a medical physicist. Certificate students also have the option to shadow during this time period.
Scholarly Activity
Alexander Choi, second-year MSMP student, will present his abstract, “Revolutionizing Pediatric Craniospinal Irradiation: Artificial Intelligence-Driven Precision Segmentation and Quality Assurance in Proton Therapy” at the ARS Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, in April.
Baozhu Lu, Certificate student, gave the following oral presentations at the 2025 SPIE Photonics West Conference, held in San Francisco in January:
- “Real-time dosimetry using scintillator technology in external beam radiation therapy (EBRT)”
- “Understanding the impact of patient-specific geometries on Cherenkov emission-to-dose relationship during External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)”
- “A multispectral device for continuous singlet oxygen luminescent dosimetry (CSOLD) for PDT”
Madelyn Johnson, second-year MSMP student, presented the following at the 2025 SPIE Photonics West Conference, held in San Francisco in January:
- “Determination of optimal Photofrin-mediated PDT treatment parameters for long-term survival” (poster presentation)
- “Multispectral singlet oxygen luminescence dosimetry (MSOLD) for direct singlet oxygen monitoring during in-vivo Photofrin-mediated PDT” (oral presentation)
Cardiorespiratory-gated cardiac proton radiotherapy using a novel ultrasound guidance system. Cengel KA, Belal Z, Kim MM, Hagan S, Camps S, Kalinin A, Hsue W, Diffenderfer E, Garonna A, Tschabrunn C. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol. 2024 Dec 21;51:100904. doi: 10.1016/j.ctro.2024.100904. eCollection 2025 Mar. PMID: 39867728
Cancer care and outreach in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries: from epidemiology and the National Cancer Control Programme to screening, diagnosis, and treatment M Saiful Huq, Sandhya C Acharya, Susmita Sharma, Saugat Poudyal, Simit Sapkota, Sunil Shrestha, Manish Gautam, Sudhir R Silwal, Mohammad M Haque, A F M Kamal Uddin, Sanjeeva Gunasekara, K Govind Babu, Ugyen Tshomo, Ahmad J Safi, Ahmed I Masood, Mostafa A Sumon, Mohammad A Hai, Altaf Hossain, Shaila Purvin, Heath Devin Skinner, Stephen Avery, Wilfred Ngwa, Krishni Wijesooriya The Lancet Oncology, Vol. 25, No. 12
FLASH radiation reprograms lipid metabolism and macrophage immunity and sensitizes medulloblastoma to CAR-T cell therapy. Ni H, Reitman ZJ, Zou W, Akhtar MN, Paul R, Huang M, Zhang D, Zheng H, Zhang R, Ma R, Ngo G, Zhang L, Diffenderfer ES, Motlagh SAO, Kim MM, Minn AJ, Dorsey JF, Foster JB, Metz J, Koumenis C, Kirsch DG, Gong Y, Fan Y. Nat Cancer. 2025 Feb 5. doi: 10.1038/s43018-025-00905-6. Online ahead of print. PMID: 39910249
Comprehensive reanalysis of light fluence distribution in pleural photodynamic therapy using standardized anatomical coordinates. Sun H, Kim MM, Ong YH, Dimofte A, Singhal S, Busch TM, Cengel KA, Zhu TC. Photochem Photobiol. 2025 Jan 21. doi: 10.1111/php.14063. Online ahead of print. PMID: 39838651
A Comprehensive Study of Reactive Oxygen Species Explicit Dosimetry for Pleural Photodynamic Therapy. Sun H, Ong Y, Kim MM, Dimofte A, Singhal S, Cengel KA, Yodh AG, Zhu TC. Antioxidants (Basel). 2024 Nov 22;13(12):1436. doi: 10.3390/antiox13121436. PMID: 39765767
Radiotherapy toxicities: mechanisms, management, and future directions. Verginadis II, Citrin DE, Ky B, Feigenberg SJ, Georgakilas AG, Hill-Kayser CE, Koumenis C, Maity A, Bradley JD, Lin A. Lancet. 2025 Jan 16:S0140-6736(24)02319-5. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02319-5. PMID: 39827884
FLASH proton reirradiation, with or without hypofractionation, reduces chronic toxicity in the normal murine intestine, skin, and bone. Verginadis II, Velalopoulou A, Kim MM, Kim K, Paraskevaidis I, Bell B, Oliaei Motlagh SA, Karaj A, Banerjee E, Finesso G, Assenmacher CA, Radaelli E, Lu J, Lin Y, Putt ME, Diffenderfer ES, Guha C, Qin L, Metz JM, Maity A, Cengel KA, Koumenis C, Busch TM.. Radiother Oncol. 2025 Jan 27:110744. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2025.110744. Online ahead of print. PMID: 39880309
Correction of Multispectral Singlet Oxygen Luminescent Dosimetry (MSOLD) for Tissue Optical Properties in Photofrin-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy. Yang W, Johnson M, Lu B, Sourvanos D, Sun H, Dimofte A, Vikas V, Busch TM, Hadfield RH, Wilson BC, Zhu TC. Antioxidants (Basel). 2024 Nov 28;13(12):1458. doi: 10.3390/antiox13121458. PMID: 39765787
AAPM Task Group Report 274: Fluence rate dosimetry for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Zhu TC, Pogue BW, Dimofte A, Finlay JC, Lilge L, Sunar U, Simone CB 2nd, van Veen RLP. Med Phys. 2025 Jan 15. doi: 10.1002/mp.17613. PMID: 39815459