THE PENN RADIATION ONCOLOGY SPOTLIGHT
September 2024
I hope you had a wonderful Summer as the Academic Year at Penn Medicine kicks into full activity! As you can see, there is a ton going on across the department. Congratulations to Neha Vapiwala, MD who is now the President-Elect for ASTRO, who I am sure will do a fantastic job and represent the department well! We have lots going on at PPMC with the proton planning and transition of leadership with John Plastaras, MD PhD taking over as medical director. Our overall proton plans continue to do well and we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for IBA to supply the equipment for the two proton rooms. We will also be installing a new True Beam linear accelerator in the Spring at PPMC. Doylestown will reopen next month with a new Halcyon linear accelerator. I was happy to attend the official signing of the intent for Doylestown Hospital to merge with Penn Medicine next month. This will be great for the department overall. I know we have busy months ahead with all of our educational programs ramping up and ASTRO later this month. I hope you will check our new section called "Rad Recommendations" where Michele Kim PhD launches a new restaurant review. Welcome to all our new students and employees!
ASTRO Announcements
ASTRO Elections
Dr. Neha Vapiwala, has been voted President-elect of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). This highly regarded position reflects Dr. Vapiwala's leadership ability, clinical expertise, and significant contributions to the field of radiation oncology.
Founded in 1958, ASTRO is the world's foremost professional society for radiation oncology, providing a platform for research, professional development, and patient care excellence in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment. ASTRO comprises more than 10,000 members including physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists, and other healthcare professionals dedicated to treating patients with radiation therapies.
Being elected to such a prestigious role is no small feat. Candidates must have a minimum of ten years as a voting member of ASTRO, previous board experience, and significant participation in a variety of ASTRO activities to be considered for election. Therefore, Dr. Neha's accomplishment speaks volumes about her commitment, acumen, and dedication to the field. As someone who has known Neha since she was a medical student rotating in the department, I am not at all surprised with her continued trajectory to the pinnacle of our field.
With this achievement, Dr. Vapiwala further highlights standards of excellence for the Department of Radiation Oncology and the University of Pennsylvania.
ASTRO Fellows Announcement
Dimitris N. Mihailidis, PhD and Ying Xiao, PhD have both been awarded as ASTRO fellows (FASTRO). The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) selected 48 distinguished members to receive the ASTRO Fellow (FASTRO) designation for its 2024 class of Fellows. These physician leaders will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, October 1 during ASTRO’s 66th Annual Meeting.
The ASTRO Fellows program recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to the Society and to the field of radiation oncology through research, education, patient care and service to the field. Since its inception in 2006, the FASTRO designation has been awarded to just 498 of ASTRO’s 10,000 members worldwide. The 2024 class is the largest since the inaugural Fellows were named nearly two decades ago.
Featured in the Media
RadOnc in the PM Report
Abramson Cancer Center Bulletin
Penn Medicine Announcements
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
Community Engagement
School Supply Drive
Penn RadOnc's Community Engagement Committee has done it again! We thank everyone who contributed to our abundantly successful School Supply Donation drive! All donations benefited the Greater Hope Christian Academy and Community Alliance for Development.
Careers in Radiation Oncology Programs & Tours
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!
Khulood Salman
Khulood joins the department as a Clinical Research Coordinator (Regulatory). She received her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Drexel University. Previously, she worked as a clinical research coordinator at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). During her time at CHOP, she was involved in a culinary nutrition study for cancer patients' caregivers, exploring the feasibility of a food-medicine approach to help alleviate common symptoms experienced by cancer patients undergoing treatment. Prior to that, she worked as a clinical research assistant at CHOP, focusing on a genetic study of vascular anomalies. In her free time, Khulood enjoys hiking, playing badminton, baking, trying new cafes, and traveling to new countries. Contact Khulood at salmank@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Emily Xiong
Emily joins the department as a Clinical Research Coordinator. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, she was a wet lab research assistant at the Smilow Center for Translational Research. In her free time, she enjoys baking, drawing, and swimming. Contact Emily at Emily.Xiong@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Promotions
Paul James
Paul was promoted to Dosimetry Manager for Proton Treatment Planning and has been with the Penn Radiation Oncology department since 1995 and started his career as a Radiation Therapist before he transitioned to Dosimetry Treatment Planning in 2002. Paul began proton treatment planning, became a Lead Dosimetrist shortly thereafter, and since then has been co-managing treatment planning activities particularly related to proton planning.
Student Volunteer Reflection
This summer the Patient Engagement team welcomed student volunteer Maya Nagda, who wrote this reflection on her summer with the team:
I’m Maya Nagda, a rising senior from Friends’ Central School, and this summer I had the opportunity to volunteer with the Patient Engagement team here at Perelman. I was originally drawn to this volunteer opportunity due to my interest in clinical psychology, and because I like interacting with people. This experience has turned out to be what I expected, but also so much more! I have really appreciated my experiences tabling in the waiting room, where I promoted the various Patient Quality of Life programs offered here but was also able to listen to patients and their families, whether they were expressing something positive about their time here or sharing worries about upcoming treatments. I have also had the meaningful opportunity to hear from multiple Alumni patients who are now volunteering as Alumni Ambassadors, and some of them, still making a long commute even after finishing radiation, just to help recruit new patients to our programs and share their stories. It has been great working with Mary, Shelley, and Fern from Patient Engagement, and I will definitely remember my time here. This experience has further strengthened my desire to pursue a degree in psychology, and seek clinical volunteer or intern opportunities in college, and I hope to return in the future!
Appointments
Daniel Baselice
Daniel Baselice has been appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer for our department. Dan has been a member of the Penn Medicine family since 2013, when he joined as a Senior Accountant in the Department of Radiology after beginning his healthcare finance career at Hahnemann University. His journey is a testament to his growth and expertise, culminating in his current role as Director of Finance for the Department of Neurosurgery. With a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Widener University, Dan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our department. He excels in budget preparation, funds flow management, monthly financial reporting, and managing joint venture finances.
Dan's passion for Data Management has led to significant advancements including the installation of a Single-Login Portal in Radiology and streamlining data processes within Neurosurgery. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dan is deeply committed to community service. As an active member in Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill, he not only coaches youth sports but also serves as President of the Friends of Children’s Park.
Please join me in warmly welcoming Daniel Baselice into his new role as CFO where we are confident he will continue fostering financial health and innovation within our department. As he transitions out of his current position, he will starting part-time with us in September and joining us full-time in October.
John Plastaras, MD, PhD
John Plastaras, MD, PhD, has been appointed to the position of Chief of Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy at PPMC. Dr. Plastaras received his Ph.D. and medical degree from Vanderbilt University, and later completed his residency and a distinguished Holman Pathway Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Known affectionately as “JP”, he has been a valued member of the Department for over 17 years.
Throughout his tenure here, Dr. Plastaras has displayed exceptional leadership skills, holding numerous administrative positions within the department and health system. These include, but are not limited to, Chief of the GI/Heme team, Co-Chair of the Abramson Cancer Center Clinical Trials Scientific Review & Monitoring Committee, and Vice Chair for Strategic Clinical Research.
In this newly defined role, Dr. Plastaras will have strategic oversight of the Radiation Oncology department at PPMC. His leadership will be vital as we expand our services at PPMC, with an ultimate aim to establish PPMC as a world-class academic radiation oncology center. This expansion includes plans to install two new single-room proton machines and novel linear accelerator technology within the next three years. Moreover, active clinical trials, translational research opportunities, and continued resident rotations will be key features of our extended services at PPMC. In this highly influential role, Dr. Plastaras will be guiding us in areas such as operations, finances, and the cultivation of strategic partnerships with PPMC, CHOP, and the Cancer Center.
Congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Plastaras for every success in this new role, which in turn will be critical for Penn Medicine’s tripartite missions. His expertise and unwavering dedication are poised to usher in a new era of excellence for our department.
Gabrielle Peters, MD
Gabrielle Peters, MD joins our Department as an Assistant Professor with the Palliative Team! Dr. Gabrielle “Gabby” Peters is an alumna of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. Following the completion of her undergraduate studies, Dr. Peters earned her medical degree at Creighton Medical School, where she was awarded Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA). She continued her training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center with a Preliminary Year Internship; and completed her residency in Radiation Oncology at Yale University School of Medicine. While at Yale, Gabby served in numerous leadership roles, including Chief Resident, Resident Chair of Education, Visiting Professor Director, Interprofessional Lecturer, and Women’s House-Staff Organization Subcommittee member. The Department of Therapeutic Radiology at Yale recognized Dr. Peters’ contributions and appointed her to an Assistant Professor position.
Gabby is an active member of numerous Radiation Oncology societies, including ASTRO, the Society for Women in Radiation Oncology (SWRO), ABR, and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). She is passionate about improving representation of women in the medical field, which is evident in her membership in professional societies and roles that support these initiatives. Since 2020, Gabby has served as the Vice Chair on the Executive Committee of SWRO, as well as a member of the Senior Advisory Committee.
Neha Vapiwala, MD FACR FASTRO FASCO
Neha Vapiwala was awarded the Eli Glatstein, MD Endowed Professorship. This prestigious clinical and educational Professorship, established in 2018, was created to honor Eli Glatstein, MD’s pioneering contributions to the field and his accomplishments in educating academic leaders in cancer treatment. Dr. Glatstein is noted for his work in lymphoma, sarcomas, lung cancer, radiation biology, and photodynamic therapy, as well as for his outspoken advocacy of multidisciplinary treatment for cancer. More than 25 of his students and trainees have become chairs of academic departments, continuing his legacy of excellence in cancer therapy.
Dr. Glatstein was a beloved mentor and educator in the field of radiation oncology and played a critical role in developing its culture of spreading knowledge. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that we pass this Professorship on to Dr. Vapiwala, who truly espouses the fundamental purposes of this endowment through her commitment to educating and mentoring future leaders in our field. Dr. Vapiwala is a recognized leader in undergraduate and graduate education, working to establish national standards for high-quality medical training. Prior to her role as Dean of Admissions, she served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. Dr. Vapiwala also served a six-year term on the Executive Committee of the Association of Directors of Radiation Oncology Programs and just concluded a three-year term as Chair of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's Residency Review Committee for Radiation Oncology. A recent paper in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics outlines some of the significant changes to national training standards as a result of Dr. Vapiwala’s leadership, redefining the future of radiation oncology training in the U.S.
Dr. Vapiwala specializes in the management of patients with genitourinary (GU) cancers; her research interests focus on biological and technological improvements in radiation therapy, as well as molecular imaging and integrative medicine for disease- and treatment-related symptom management. She is the Principal Investigator of multiple therapeutic trials for prostate cancer patients, including the INDICATE study (EA8191), a national NCI-sponsored randomized phase III cooperative group trial exploring the use of PET-directed systemic and focal therapy in patients with recurrent prostate cancer. She has also served as a Project Leader on a Department of Defense program project grant investigating particle therapy.
Dr. Vapiwala holds leadership positions in multiple national societies and cooperative group committees in GU oncology, presently serving on the NCI Prostate Cancer Task Force, as well as the ECOG-ACRIN GU Early Modality committee in the role of Co-Chair. In her various roles, Dr. Vapiwala has helped to shape national and international treatment guidelines as well as cancer conferences. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Nominating Committee of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Clinical Oncology and JAMA Oncology. Dr. Vapiwala is also a member of PSOM’s Academy of Master Clinicians and has consistently been selected with other medical luminaries for Castle Connolly’s Top Docs in America, Exceptional Women in Medicine, and Philadelphia magazine’s Top Docs, among other accolades.
The initial holder of the Glatstein Professorship was Edgar Ben-Josef, MD – who also upheld the core purpose of this endowment, particularly through his mentorship of students and faculty in helping shape their research goals and efforts. Dr Ben-Josef will transition into other leadership roles in the department which I will announce separately. I am grateful for Dr. Ben-Josef’s stewardship of this professorship, and ask that you please join me in congratulating Dr. Neha Vapiwala as the newly named Eli Glatstein, MD Endowed Professor.
Nikhil Yegya-Raman, MD
Nikhil Yegya-Raman, MD joins our Department as an Assistant Professor, as part of the Pennsylvania Hospital team. Nikhil is a graduate of Princeton University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and a certificate in Engineering Biology, with High Honors. Following his undergraduate studies, Nikhil attended Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School where he earned his medical degree and was awarded Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) as a junior inductee. Nikhil continued his training in Internal Medicine at HUP, and recently graduated from Penn’s Radiation Oncology Residency Program, where he served as Chief Resident.
Nikhil will be joining the Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH) Radiation Oncology team. In his role, Nikhil will provide general clinical care to PAH patients, while also developing a clinical focus and expertise in thoracic care. Academically, he will be directly involved in the teaching, training, and mentoring of Radiation Oncology residents that rotate at PAH.
Lingshu Yin, PhD, DABR
Lingshu Yin, PhD, DABR is back in our Department as an Assistant Professor of Physics.Lingshu was a resident here from 2011-2013 and was hired upon graduation as a Medical Physicist from 2013-2021. In 2021, Lingshu joined Johns Hopkins University as an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Sciences. He is currently a member of two American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) groups: AAPM Task Group 350: Multiple institution planning, delivery, and dosimetry comparisons for proton pencil beam scanning: development of standard PBS planning cases and AAPM Work Group on Particle Beams (WGPB). Lingshu also serves as the Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics and as a reviewer for Medical Physics, Practical Radiation Oncology, Physics in Medicine and Biology, Radiotherapy and Oncology, Medical Dosimetry, European Journal of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging, Advances in Radiation Oncology, and many more
We are so pleased to have Lingshu return to our department and Penn Medicine. He officially starts his position tomorrow, August 1st, and will spend his first few weeks re-onboarding at PCAM. His office is located on the 2nd floor in the CMS Physics hallway (2-305CMS).
Retirements
Ping Jin, medical physicist, retired at the end of August 2024 after 19 years of service. We wish Ping all the best in her future endeavors!
Conferences and Speakers
Cancer Moonshot Project
July 15, 2024
Surbhi Grover, MD, MPH visited the White House for the Africa Cancer Care Forum. Hosted by the Biden Cancer Moonshot, the forum helps African countries assess their national priorities in cancer care, highlights the support of U.S. government in developing national cancer care plans, and reaffirms connections between peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology and sustainable development.
AAPM
July 23-27, 2024
The Medical Physics Graduate Programs hosted a booth in the exhibit hall for the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) conference in Houston.
Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee
July 25, 2024
Surbhi Grover, MD, MPH presented and moderated a panel discussion on the Sustained Dialogue on Peaceful Uses which gathers global stakeholders to explore the role of nuclear technologies in addressing development challenges. Areas of focus included improving healthcare, bolstering food safety and security, and managing water and environmental resources.
Awards & Grants
Stephen Avery PhD FAAPM received the 2024 AAPM Arthur Boyer Award for Innovation in Medical Physics Education for the project titled “Harmonizing Medical Physics Education in Nigeria through an Accredited Course: Experiences from a Pilot Program”. Medical physics is not an officially recognized profession in Nigeria. Developing harmonized, credentialed education is a crucial step towards recognition and prepares physicists for clinical training and certification. We aimed to develop and evaluate the impact of a CAMPEP-accredited continuing education course for Nigerian medical physicists. The Arthur Boyer Award is given for an innovative program, presented at the AAPM Annual Meeting, in the medical physics education of physicists, physicians, ancillary personnel and the public.
Clinical Research Unit
RadOnc CRU Invited PI/Speaker Series
This year, the RadOnc Clinical Research Unit (CRU) has launched an Invited Principal Investigator (PI)/Speaker Series in which the investigators of research studies in RadOnc present a research-related topic to the CRU. Recently, we have had the following presentations:
- Jeffrey Bradley, MD - "Proton Beam Therapy 101", July 10, 2024
- Lei Dong, PhD - "Evolution of Modern Radiation Therapy", July 24, 2024
- Neil Taunk, MD, MSCTS - "Clinical Background and Rationale for PROPS GYN", August 14, 2024
- Neal Nizan, - "The Role of Social Work in Our Department and Resources in the Community", August 28, 2024
Summer Student End of Summer Report and Farewell
August 15, 2024
This summer, Sanaa, Michael, and Julania assisted the Radiation Oncology department’s Clinical Research Unit with a major file organization and archiving project. At the end of the summer, the students presented a report of their work and the CRU wished them farewell with thank you gifts.
Medical Residents Wellness Event
August 2024
Philadelphia Eagles Kickoff Celebration at Doylestown
September 6, 2024
Bourbon, Brews, & Blues
Save the Date and buy your tickets now for the annual Bourbon, Brews, & Blues event on November 8.
The Beam of Life Team
https://www.ms-stride.org/breakthroughbikechallenge
The Breakthrough Challenge bike ride will be 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 event has raised more than $2,525,000 over the past ten-years.
Save the Date: This year's Breakthrough Challenge will be on Sunday, September 15, 2024
Registration is now open! Join the team here: https://www.ms-stride.org/breakthroughchallenge/profiles/team/91
There are different ways to participate with the Beam of Life team:
- In-person Cyclist: Sunday, September 15, 2024 in Birdsboro, PA. Choice of 15, 25, or 50 mile ride
- Virtual Challenge: Christina Bach is leading a special Penn RadOnc Beam of Life Pelaton Challenge this year! If you are interested, please reach out to her at christina.bach@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. You can also sign up to do another virtual challenge as a runner, walker, or multi-sport.
- Donor
- Volunteer: free registration
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...
Lingshu Yin, PhD, DABR
Assistant Professor of Physics
1. What is a typical work day like for you? A typical workday for me begins with reviewing time-sensitive clinical tasks, ensuring I'm fully focused on those in the early hours. Following that, I rotate between working on projects, attending meetings, teaching or mentoring trainees, and addressing any new clinical tasks that arise. I find that this approach not only keeps my mind engaged but also helps prevent burnout
2. What led you to work at Penn Radiation Oncology? Well, it’s a bit of a journey. Back in 2013, after finishing my residency, I accepted the position at Penn without much hesitation—I didn’t want to miss the chance to be part of the team developing proton therapy here. This time, my decision to return is driven by more than just opportunity. It’s the team spirit and the friendships I’ve built that drew me back. The efficiency and quality of the workflow also make working in a busy clinic genuinely enjoyable.
3. What is your favorite meal? Any lunar new year eve dinner with family and friends would be my favorite
4. If you could visit anywhere in the world you’ve never been, where would you go? Anywhere with a coast lighthouse, like Maine or Nova Scotia
5. Do you have any favorite fall activities? Definitely hiking and I also want to pick up my routine badminton workouts this time.
Brett Scott
Department IS
1. What is a typical work day like for you? I start a day with a check of all RadOnc application servers, services, apps, and interfaces for any problems that might be affecting our clinical software so we can fix any problems before they become outages. I next work on user accounts, software configurations and address any problems staff in radonc are having in Aria and all the other apps we support. Next I’ll work on long term Dept Projects if we have upcoming software upgrades or new clinical application. If we have an serious outage (like Crowdstrike or treatment rooms down) I drop everything and work with IS team to fix.
2. What led you to work at Penn Radiation Oncology? I worked for 2 other RadOnc centers previously. Got an offer to join the Penn RadOnc IS team and have been here over 5 years now!
3. What’s the best meal you’ve ever had? OR What is your favorite meal? TIED Chopli Kabob/ Fish Biryani
4. If you could visit anywhere in the world you’ve never been, where would you go? Antarctica
5. Do you have any favorite fall activities? I like Boating and Stand Up Paddle boarding in the Fall when bays and the shore are less crowded.
Rad Recommendations
Michele's Menu Musings by Michele Kim, PhD
Welcome to a new section where I will be reviewing restaurants around the city! I love exploring the incredible food scene in Philadelphia and am excited to share my thoughts with you!
This first review will be for the restaurant I went to most recently – Alpen Rose. Alpen Rose is a Schulson Collective restaurant (also includes Harp & Crown, Sampan, Double Knot, Via Locusta and others) that is located on 13th Street just south of Sansom Street. In the middle of the bustling city, Alpen Rose is a tucked away, speakeasy-esque spot with no obvious signage. Ring the doorbell to step inside where the welcoming space is decorated beautifully with dark wood details, old books, and floral paintings that create an elevated yet cozy environment blending both rustic charm and upscale dining.
The menu at Alpen Rose is perfect for sharing with a group and has plenty of options for hot and cold appetizers and sides that are sure to strike a chord with every type of eater. The bone marrow toast is exceptional – simply rich, flavorful, and indulgent. Bone marrow is a carnivore’s ideal butter substitute to spread on a simple piece of toast. It’s just a shame we cannot have it in the house at all times.
Alpen Rose is advertised as a “classic steakhouse, reimagined,” but the standout dish is the beef wellington. Cooked to perfection with a flaky pastry, the bordelaise sauce that comes with it makes every bite a little treat. Their dry-aged beef selection is also a major draw, and the presentation for each steak is stunning. I appreciate that they will also butcher the steak for you after showing you the cook so that I am not ripping meat off the large bone myself and making a mess. Do not skip the dessert menu! One of their offerings is a boozy pineapple upside down baked Alaska that has a cherry sorbet core with pineapple rum cake that is lit on fire in front of you. It’s a delightful little spectacle that will make you feel like you’re celebrating even if it is just a random Tuesday night. The cocktail menu is just as interesting and changes with the season. The No. 21 was a smooth bourbon-based drink with smoked tea that paired perfectly with both the food and ambiance.
Alpen Rose is great for celebrating a special occasion, but don’t forget about it if you’re just in the mood for a great steak. This is the place to go if you’re looking for high-quality meat in an intimate, stylish setting.
Do you have a review you'd like to share? Rad Recommendations is a new section in the newsletter to highlight reviews from our colleagues. In addition to Michele's Menu Musings, we are hoping to include reviews on movies, books, podcasts, or anything else you think we should know about! Please send your reviews to RadOncSpotlight@uphs.upenn.edu at any time to be included in the next edition of the Spotlight. Reviews may be lightly edited for clarity.
Penn Radiation Medicine Institute has a newly renovated space for global education visitors! Our visitors will be able to use this space as they learn about all aspects of radiation therapy as well as having a touch down area which visiting Penn Medicine. Check out the space on the second floor at PCAM.
SUPERS
The SUPERS program wrapped up the 2024 program with a retreat on August 8.
Medical Physics Graduate Program
Happenings
Check out the newest edition of the Radiation Communication, our Medical Physics Graduate Programs’ newsletter, published in July 2024! The Radiation Communication provides a review of our student and program achievements and activities, and is published twice per year. This Summer 2024 edition features Dr. Wenbo Gu, course co-instructor for MPHY 6100 and a first-time MSMP thesis mentor this year, as well as alumnus Kevin Risolo, MMP ’12, senior medical physicist at Doylestown Hospital.
Global Medical Physics Training and Development Program Update
Students Lyna Dinh, second-year MSMP student, Ayoola Okuribido, second-year MSMP student, and Andrew Friberg, PhD in Bioengineering – Medical Physics Concentration student returned from their 5-week long clinical training experience in Ghana in early July. Students completed rotations at five hospitals in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana and summarized their experience with presentations to the virtual and in-person audience at the Global Health Catalyst Summit in Ghana on July 2. In addition to their clinical experience, students visited a number of cultural sites around Ghana. Learn more about our students’ experience in our Summer 2024 Radiation Communication edition! This program is funded through a grant from PennGlobal, the Department of Radiation Oncology and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Penn Medical Physics Educational Programs’ Alumni Reception at the 2024 AAPM Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California
On July 22, the Medical Physics Educational Programs celebrated with current students, residents, faculty and staff along with MPGP and resident alumni at La Casita Rooftop at the Hotel Figueroa. Guests enjoyed a delicious taco bar, drinks and catching up with former classmates and colleagues. A highlight of the event was the introduction of our Educational Programs’ Alumni pins for all Medical Physics Residency and MPGP graduates.
New Student Orientation
On August 23 and 26, the Medical Physics Graduate Programs hosted New Student Orientation for our incoming Master of Science in Medical Physics and Certificate in Medical Physics students. Students participated in an active icebreaker game, heard presentations from program leadership and teaching faculty, visited the library to learn about available resources, and took a tour of campus, led by our second-year students. As always, a highlight of orientation was the all-student social event at Lucky Strike. Additionally this year, students were thrilled to receive three required textbooks for their first-year classes on behalf of the MPGP Program.
Welcome, New Students
This year’s incoming class of MPGP students includes 10 Master of Science in Medical Physics students, one full-time and one part-time Certificate in Medical physics students. This year’s class includes 6 international students from Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and China, as well as 5 US states.
Awards, Achievements & Recognition
Lyna Dinh and Muskan Lather, second-year MSMP students, were selected to participate in the Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Cloud (C4) Cancer Research Education Excellence in Radiotherapy (CaREER) program, which took place over the summer. Muskan and Lyna worked with mentors at Johns Hopkins University on projects related to global health and radiation therapy.
Bolin Li, MS ’24, won first place in the Delaware Valley Chapter AAPM MedPhys Slam competition with his presentation, “AI Agents in Medicine: Extract, Reason and Summarize”. Bolin went on to compete in the national MedPhys Slam competition held at the AAPM Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California in July.
The Department of Radiation Oncology’s Chair’s Summer Research Grant is awarded to students who complete research projects over the summer and submit a manuscript for publication. Congratulations to the following MPGP students and alumnus who received the 2024 grant:
- Alexander Choi, second-year MSMP Student
- Muskan Lather, second-year MSMP Student
- Krista White, second-year MSMP Student
- Christopher Tyerech, MS ‘24
Nehemyah Green, first-year MSMP student, received the 2024 MSMP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion scholarship this year. This scholarship is awarded annually to support a student from an underrepresented background who enrolls full-time in the MSMP Program. Nehemyah Green is from Plano, Texas and is interested in a clinically-focused career in diagnostic imaging.
Jana Shade and Jack Shaw, first-year MSMP students, received our first MSMP Program Scholarships. The MSMP Program Scholarships are awarded to support two incoming students who enroll full-time in our MSMP program. Jana is pursuing a clinically-focused career in radiation therapy and Jack is pursuing a clinically-focused career in imaging or therapy.
Proton radiation boosts the efficacy of mesothelin-targeting chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy in pancreatic cancer. Amit U, Uslu U, Verginadis II, Kim MM, Motlagh SAO, Diffenderfer ES, Assenmacher CA, Bicher S, Atoche SJ, Ben-Josef E, Young RM, June CH, Koumenis C. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Jul 30;121(31):e2403002121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2403002121. Epub 2024 Jul 24. PMID: 39047033
PARP11 inhibition inactivates tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells and improves the efficacy of immunotherapies. Basavaraja R, Zhang H, Holczbauer Á, Lu Z, Radaelli E, Assenmacher CA, George SS, Nallamala VC, Beiting DP, Meyer-Ficca ML, Meyer RG, Guo W, Fan Y, Modzelewski AJ, Spiegelman VS, Cohen MS, Fuchs SY. Cell Rep Med. 2024 Jul 16;5(7):101649. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101649. PMID: 39019005
Local Radiation Enhances Systemic CAR T Cell Efficacy by Augmenting Antigen Cross-Presentation and T-cell Infiltration. Kostopoulos N, Costabile F, Krimitza E, Beghi S, Goia D, Perales-Linares R, Thyfronitis G, LaRiviere MJ, Chong EA, Schuster SJ, Maity A, Koumenis C, Plastaras JP, Facciabene A. Blood Adv. 2024 Aug 30:bloodadvances.2024012599. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024012599. Online ahead of print. PMID: 39213422
Modified C-type natriuretic peptide normalizes tumor vasculature, reinvigorates antitumor immunity, and improves solid tumor therapies. Lu Z, Verginadis I, Kumazoe M, Castillo GM, Yao Y, Guerra RE, Bicher S, You M, McClung G, Qiu R, Xiao Z, Miao Z, George SS, Beiting DP, Nojiri T, Tanaka Y, Fujimura Y, Onda H, Hatakeyama Y, Nishimoto-Ashfield A, Bykova K, Guo W, Fan Y, Buynov NM, Diehl JA, Stanger BZ, Tachibana H, Gade TP, Puré E, Koumenis C, Bolotin EM, Fuchs SY. Sci Transl Med. 2024 Aug 21;16(761):eadn0904. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adn0904. Epub 2024 Aug 21. PMID: 39167664
The ISR downstream target ATF4 represses long-term memory in a cell type-specific manner. Mahmood N, Choi JH, Wu PY, Dooling SW, Watkins TA, Huang Z, Lipman J, Zhao H, Yang A, Silversmith J, Inglebert Y, Koumenis C, Sharma V, Lacaille JC, Sossin WS, Khoutorsky A, McKinney RA, Costa-Mattioli M, Sonenberg N. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Jul 30;121(31):e2407472121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2407472121. Epub 2024 Jul 24. PMID: 39047038
Combined JAK inhibition and PD-1 immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer patients. Mathew D, Marmarelis ME, Foley C, Bauml JM, Ye D, Ghinnagow R, Ngiow SF, Klapholz M, Jun S, Zhang Z, Zorc R, Davis CW, Diehn M, Giles JR, Huang AC, Hwang WT, Zhang NR, Schoenfeld AJ, Carpenter EL, Langer CJ, Wherry EJ, Minn AJ. Science. 2024 Jun 21;384(6702):eadf1329. doi: 10.1126/science.adf1329. Epub 2024 Jun 21. PMID: 38900877 Clinical Trial
A comprehensive cancer center in the cloud powered by AI can reduce health disparities. Wilfred Ngwa, Arthur Pressley, Vanessa M. Wilson, Richard Marlink, Yuri Quintana, Fallon Chipidza, Curtiland Deville, Harry Quon, Stephen Avery, Labenyimoh Patrick, Kenneth Ngwa: Nature Medicine July 2024.
Assessing Radiology and Radiotherapy Needs for Cancer Care in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries: Insights from a Global Survey of Departmental and Institutional Leaders. Advances in Radiation Oncology In Press(Available online), Stephanie A. Parker MS,Joseph Weygand PhD, Beata Gontova Bernat MS,Amanda M. Jackson MS,Osama Mawlawi PhD,Izabella Barreto PhD,Yao Hao PhD,Rao Khan PhD, Afua A. Yorke PhD, William Swanson PhD,M. Saiful Huq PhD,Eugene Lief PhD,Cesar Della Biancia PhD,Christopher F. Njeh PhD, Ahmad Al-Basheer PhD, Oi Wai Chau PhD, Stephen Avery PhD, Wilfred Ngwa PhD, Peter A. Sandwall PhD: August 2024.
FLASH proton reirradiation, with or without hypofractionation, mitigates 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. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Jul 11:2024.07.08.602528. doi: 10.1101/2024.07.08.602528. PMID: 39026805 Free PMC article. Preprint.
Combination anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapy generates waves of clonal responses that include progenitor-exhausted CD8+ T cells. Wang K, Coutifaris P, Brocks D, Wang G, Azar T, Solis S, Nandi A, Anderson S, Han N, Manne S, Kiner E, Sachar C, Lucas M, George S, Yan PK, Kier MW, Laughlin AI, Kothari S, Giles J, Mathew D, Ghinnagow R, Alanio C, Flowers A, Xu W, Tenney DJ, Xu X, Amaravadi RK, Karakousis GC, Schuchter LM, Buggert M, Oldridge D, Minn AJ, Blank C, Weber JS, Mitchell TC, Farwell MD, Herati RS, Huang AC. Cancer Cell. 2024 Aug 26:S1535-6108(24)00306-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.08.007. Online ahead of print. PMID: 39214097
Navigating tumor angiogenesis: therapeutic perspectives and myeloid cell regulation mechanism. Yang F, Lee G, Fan Y. Angiogenesis. 2024 Aug;27(3):333-349. doi: 10.1007/s10456-024-09913-z. Epub 2024 Apr 6. PMID: 38580870 Free PMC article. Review.