THE PENN RADIATION ONCOLOGY SPOTLIGHT
May 2025
Wow!! It is amazing how many things are going on in the department…I thought as we moved to monthly Spotlights things would get a bit shorter, but there is more going on than ever! I want to congratulate our amazing MPGP students who graduated this month. They are all moving on to amazing opportunities for the next steps in their careers. Also, thank you to all the faculty and staff that contribute to the MPGP program throughout the year. This would not be so successful without all your engagement! We are in graduation season with our medical and physics residents also graduating next month. Please participate in the upcoming events as we sendoff our outstanding residents. It is so important for us to pause and recognize our team members that have worked so hard and moving onto their next roles. We have launched a ton of major projects including Montgomeryville constructions, construction of our 4th proton center at PPMC, and the addition of a new linear accelerator at PPMC. More to come, but Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology continues to push forward!
Groundbreaking Celebration at PPMC
April 28, 2025
We celebrated the groundbreaking for our fourth proton therapy location and second Roberts Proton Therapy Center which is set to open for patient care in late 2027. The new center will include two state-of-the-art Proteus®ONE proton therapy systems and involve a 43,000-square-foot expansion, extending PPMC’s footprint. We will also add another treatment room for photon therapy, doubling PPMC’s capacity with the TrueBeam® photon therapy system by fall 2025.
Proton Patient Alumni Reception
The 12th Annual Proton Patient Alumni Reception was held in Smilow Commons on May 8, 2025. Over 130 patients and their guests, in addition to faculty and staff, attended the event. We were thrilled to invite Arianne Missimer Shuma to share her story as our alumni patient speaker.
Montgomeryville Groundbreaking
Penn Medicine officially broke ground on Friday, April 11, for a 162,000-square-foot, four-story multispecialty outpatient center in Montgomeryville. Set to open in late 2027, Penn Medicine Montgomeryville will provide comprehensive cancer care, including radiation oncology services and chemotherapy provided by the Abramson Cancer Center
RadOnc in the PM Report
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 Residency Program
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.
Employee Recognition Submissions
January - March 2025
Congratulations from Radiation Oncology ACES committee to all employees who received recognition from January through March 2025.
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!
Jennifer Scott
Jennifer joins the department as a Clinical Dietitian Specialist. Previously, Jennifer worked at Clinical Dietitian Specialist on the inpatient side at HUP in the Intensive Care Nursery for the last 2 years and previously in the Neurocritical Care Unit for 15 years. She earned her BS from Pennsylvania State University and MS from New York Institute of Technology. In her spare time, she enjoys reading a good mystery book, cheering on the Philadelphia sports teams & Penn State, and playing outside with her kids and watching their sporting activities. You can contact Jennifer at Jennifer.scott2@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Schenika Wilks
Schenika joins the department as a Staff Assistant. Previously, Schenika worked as a Patient Services Associate in the Hematology Oncology department and before coming to Penn, she worked as an English teacher in Guangzhou, China. She earned her Bachelor's degree in apparel design, production and management from the University of Technology, Jamaica. In her spare time, Schenika loved everything Arts and plans events to keep her creative edge as a Jamaican creative, her favorite color is Black, she loves to cook and share Jamaican dishes, and her favorite quote is "We do what we have to do, so we can do what we Want to do." You can contact her at Schenika.Wilks@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Open Positions
Below are open job positions within the department. The job requisition ID number is in bold for reference.
Staff Open Positions
Please go to Careers.PennMedicine.org to see the full job posting for staff open positions.
- 263936 Radiation Therapist – full time, days – Lancaster, PA
- 262812 Dosimetrist Treatment Planner – full time – HUP – Philadelphia, PA
- 262401 Physicist – full time, days – Lancaster, PA
- 262335 Accounts Resolution Specialist II – Radiation Oncology – Philadelphia, PA
- 257110 Accountant - Radiation Oncology – Philadelphia, PA
- 253802 Nurse Navigator Oncology (Full Time/Days) – Lancaster, PA
- 240373 Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant – Radiation Oncology Head & Neck (PCAM Location) - Philadelphia, PA
- 237634 PRN Rad Therapist – PAH Philadelphia, PA
- 225299 Radiation Therapist – PRN – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania/PCAM - Philadelphia, PA
- 225098 Radiation Therapist NJS Eligible (Per Diem) - Plainsboro, NJ
- 269591 Patient Services Associate – West Chester, PA
- 268436 Patient Services Associate - PAH Philadelphia, PA
- 265545 Clinical Nurse 2 - Cherry Hill, NJ
- 265239 Physicist - Lancaster, PA
- 263837 Radiation Therapist - Philadelphia, PA
- 246493 Chief Medical Physicist - Lancaster, PA
- 244010 Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Philadelphia, PA
- 235789 Senior Therapy Manager - Philadelphia, PA
Faculty Open Positions
Please click on the link below to view the full job description for faculty open positions on Workday.
- Penn Medicine Clinician - Chester County (Job Requisition ID: JR00094977)
- Penn Medicine Clinician - Cherry Hill (Job Requisition ID: JR00103891)
Appointments
Emily Lebow, MD
Emily Lebow, MD has been appointed as the next Helene Blum Assistant Professor in Radiation Oncology, effective immediately. The purpose of the Helene Blum Assistant Professorship is to recognize a junior faculty as an “expert clinician and clinical investigator of sarcoma in the Department of Radiation Oncology." Emily specializes in all CNS and soft tissue sarcoma tumors and has expertise in various treatment modalities, including proton therapy, IMRT/VMAT, IGRT, stereotactic radiosurgery, as well as Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. She has published over 20 peer-reviewed publications and continues to share her expertise through oral and poster presentations at national conferences.
Dr. Lebow also has first author publications in high-impact journals, which include JAMA Oncology and JAMA Network Open. This past year, she published a manuscript in Nature Communications - an impressive accomplishment thus far as a junior faculty member. Dr. Lebow continues to submit numerous manuscripts, especially to high impact journals, and has been applying for research opportunities, including an RSNA writing grant program.
Through her ongoing research and publication efforts Emily strives to improve care for patients with CNS malignancies and sarcoma. She continues to demonstrate outstanding qualifications as a clinician, researcher, teacher, and leader; her contributions to the Department and sarcoma cancer care are perfectly aligned with the purpose of the Helene Blum Assistant Professorship.
Jufri Setianegara, PhD
Jufri Setianegara, PhD, has joined our Department as an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology on the CE Track in the Medical Physics Division. Dr. Setianegara brings with him an impressive academic background and valuable clinical experience. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Physics (First Class Honors) from the National University of Singapore. He then pursued his graduate studies at Washington University in Saint Louis (WashU), where he completed both a Master of Arts in Physics and a PhD in Physics. Dr. Setianegara completed his clinical training at WashU through their Medical Physics Residency Program, simultaneously serving as a Clinical Fellow where he specialized in proton therapy techniques.
Most recently, Dr. Setianegara was an Assistant Professor and Proton Physicist in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Kansas (KU) since 2023. He is skilled in providing both proton and photon physics support, particularly on the Proteus®ONE system. His research has focused primarily on proton dosimetry where he contributed to the proton FLASH commissioning effort for small animal FLASH radiobiology experiments. Dr Setianegara has also developed impressive scripting capabilities that enable proton SFRT treatment planning with the Proteus®ONE system at KU, as well proton LATTICE planning for the Mevion system at WashU.
Dr. Setianegara's expertise in proton therapy on the Proteus®ONE system, FLASH and innovative research contributions will be invaluable assets to our department as we continue to advance our clinical and research initiatives. His office is located on the 2nd floor, along the CMS hallway (CMS 2-303).
Yun Yang, PhD
Yun Yang, PhD, has been appointed as the new Chief of Physics at Penn Medicine | Virtua Health! Yun has been an instrumental part of the team at Penn Medicine | Virtua Health for the past 3 years, especially on the proton unit, as well as serving as the interim chief for the past 2 months. He has been an invaluable team member, bringing expertise and dedication to the team. In his new role, Yun will oversee the day-to-day operations of the physics & dosimetry team, take over the role of particle accelerator safety officer (PASO) for the proton unit & continue to support the proton therapy unit.
Conferences and Speakers
International Symposium on Proton Therapy (ISOP)
April 25-26, 2025
IBA's International Symposium on Proton Therapy was hosted in Philadelphia this year and co-chaired by Jim Metz, MD and Jeff Bradley, MD. Panels and presentations featured Jeff Bradley, MD, Eric Diffenderfer, PhD, Sebastian Haines, Fabian Marechal, MS, Jim Metz, MD, Andrew Minn, MD, PhD, Courtney Misher, MPH, BS RT(T) and Kevin Teo, PhD.
National Proton Conference
April 26-28, 2025
The National Proton Conference was also held in Philadelphia this year, with Penn Medicine as the host proton center. Highlights from the conference included a tour of the Roberts Proton Therapy Center and welcome reception at the Perelman Center. Presentations and panels featured faculty and staff from across the Department, including: Christina Bach, MBE, LCSW, OSW-C, FASOW, Pam Boimel, MD, PhD, Jeff Bradley, MD, Joy Godby, Kate Gray, MSN RN, Sebastian Haines, Pam Lee, RN BSN, Charlie Magee, Fabian Marechal, MS, Rafe McBeth, PhD, Jim Metz, MD, Courtney Misher, MPH, BS RT(T), Bill Oresick, MHA, CMD, John Plastaras, MD, PhD, Debra Stephen, BS, Megan Thacker, RN, and Neha Vapiwala, MD.
Awards & Grants
Awards
Anna Castiglia, CRNP received the PAH 2025 Care Lead Innovate Award for the category of Advanced Practice Provider which was presented during Nurses Week on May 6th at the PAH awards ceremony. She was nominated by colleague Mary Houton RN.
Pamela Lee, RN, BSN was awarded the Patient Care Award at the 2025 National Proton Conference on April 28, 2025. The Patient Care Award Celebrates caregivers within the proton therapy community who demonstrate outstanding commitment to patient support, compassion, and comprehensive care for patients and their families.
James Metz, MD, chair of Radiation Oncology, served as the 2025 commencement speaker for his alma mater, Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA, where his experiences—both in the classroom and on the football field—helped prepare him for a career on the forefront of cancer treatment.
Congratulations to Gina Wierzbowski, BSN, RN (Doylestown), Cathy Albert, RN, BSN, OCN (Doylestown), Mary Thomas, BSN, RN, OCN (Valley Forge), and Erin Conway, MSN, RN, OCN (Valley Forge) on receiving their Level 3 Advancement!
Grants
The PA Breast Cancer Coalition presented a $100,000 grant to Ioannis Verginadis, PhD to advance his research on FLASH proton radiation therapy. With support from the PBCC, Dr. Verginadis plans to produce further findings on proton therapy, exploring its potential to reduce toxicities and improve therapeutic outcomes for breast cancer patients. The check was presented to Dr. Verignadis and Dr. Metz on May 13, 2025.
Certifications
Team Retreats & Symposiums
Clinical Trials Research Sprint 2025
From May 5 through May 9, 2025, members of the department participated in the Clinical Trials Research Sprint 2025. Multiple novel therapeutic clinical trials were discussed and refined with assistance of senior faculty and staff in the department. In addition, lectures were delivered by speakers from the departments of Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Medical Oncology, and Biostatistics; the RadOnc Clinical Research Unit; Johns Hopkins University; and Varian.
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 Spring. Be sure to stop by and admire Linda's hard work the next time you are on the second floor of PCAM!
Spring Breakfast
April 15, 2025
For Pete's Sake Walk
April 27, 2025
On April 27th our team, Rads For Respite, participated in the For Pete's Sake Walk. This year, our team had over 100 members, and was led by team captain Maureen Rogers, RT(R)(T). The team raised over $3,000, and was made up of many of our nurses, therapists, physicians, and other valuable personnel from across our department, as well as our family and friends.
May Cover of the Red Journal
Bill Levin's photo is the May cover of ASTRO's Red Journal. He noted that "this past summer, I was fortunate to check a photo expedition in Indonesia off my bucket list. As with my previous journeys, the first few days were spent reacquainting myself with my complicated and heavy digital camera. Those initial days were spent in the jungles of Borneo. When we reached the national park to photograph orangutans, I was so focused on achieving the correct exposure and focus that I neglected my creative instincts. I shot continuously, capturing hundreds of images, hoping that at least one would turn out well."
Dr. James Kolker holds the remants of the Cyberknife Unit at PAH, which was officially removed in April 2025.
Nurses Week Celebrations
May 5 - 9, 2025
As the weather finally warms up, the RadOnc Clinical Research Unit enjoyed a nice walk to and delicious ice cream at Van Leeuwen.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game!
Join us for a RadOnc night out at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, June 9 at 6:45pm when the Phillies face the Chicago Cubs. ACES has coordinated with the Phillies to offer group-rate tickets at $32.00 each to the entire department. Each employee is able to buy up to 12 tickets for family and friends! To purchase tickets, visit www.phillies.com/pennradonc and enter the password PENNMEDRADONC after you click “Buy Now” on the Phillies’ website. Tickets will be delivered electronically.
The Beam of Life Team
https://runsignup.com/Race/175770/Donate/dGqBdwIpsS2njrQq
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. Last year $300,000 was raised, bringing the total fundraising to more than $2,850,000 over the past eleven-years.
This year's Breakthrough Challenge will be on Sunday, September 14, 2025. Registration is now open - Early Bird Discounted Registration ends May 31.
Join the team here: https://runsignup.com/Race/175770/Donate/dGqBdwIpsS2njrQq
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...
Stephen Avery, PhD, FAAPM
Professor of Radiation Oncology; Director, Global Radiation Physics
1. How does your role as Director of Global Radiation Physics help bring global oncology to Penn
As Director of Global Radiation Physics, I serve as a bridge between Penn and global cancer centers, leading partnerships that focus on advancing access, education, and innovation in radiation oncology. Through collaborative programs in training, research, and technology implementation, we work to address the disparities that exist in cancer care delivery worldwide.
These global engagements do more than extend Penn’s reach—they strengthen our mission at home. Collaborating across a range of healthcare systems exposes us to implementation challenges, workforce limitations, and new models of patient-centered care. The tools and strategies we co-develop in resource-limited settings—such as AI-enabled treatment planning and scalable education platforms—often translate into more efficient, equitable care at Penn.
This work is closely aligned with the Department of Radiation Oncology’s commitment to developing transformative therapies and leading with purpose on a global scale. By integrating global oncology into our research, clinical practice, and education, we are preparing the next generation of leaders with the skills, perspective, and purpose needed to drive innovation and equity in a rapidly evolving era of cancer care.
2. What are some of the global initiatives you’re leading, and how can people get involved?
We’re leading a series of global initiatives that align with our department’s mission to advance innovation, equity, and impact in cancer care—both globally and here at Penn.
One current major initiative is the 9-session digital course on ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy (U-HFRT) for breast cancer, created in partnership with Global Oncology University (GO-U) and BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH) as part of the African Access Initiative. This course brings together international experts to train oncology professionals across Africa.
We also support the Global Medical Physics Continuing Education Program (ghcuniversity.org/physics), which provides free, accessible continuing education in medical physics to help build global capacity and foster collaborative learning.
We have launched MPHY 5000: Introduction to Global Oncology, a new interdisciplinary course at Penn open to students across medicine, engineering, and public health. The course explores global disparities in cancer care, international clinical trials, regional cancer epidemiology, global health policy, and the role of AI and innovation in global health solutions.
We’re also actively involved in the HypoAfrica Trial, a landmark, Africa-led study investigating hypofractionated radiotherapy for prostate cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. This effort led to a recent AAPM webinar on global clinical trials, where we highlighted the collaborative role of medical physicists, clinicians, and nonprofit partners in addressing real-world challenges in resource-limited settings.
Most recently, we launched the Global Medical Physics Training and Development Program (GMPTDP), a first-of-its-kind bilateral training initiative with Ghana. This program offers Penn students clinical practicum and biomedical engineering research opportunities in Ghana, along with hands-on experience implementing AI-based radiation planning tools. It also supports Ghana in its goal of becoming a CAMPEP-accredited training center, further strengthening sustainable, equitable partnerships in medical physics education.
There are many meaningful ways to get involved— as a mentor, guest lecturer, research collaborator, or program supporter - whether you’re passionate about teaching, implementation science, expanding access to care, or simply looking for a way to contribute, we welcome all who are committed to advancing a more collaborative, innovative, and equitable model of cancer care worldwide.
3. How do global collaborations enhance the research and clinical missions of Penn Radiation Oncology?
Global collaborations are essential to advancing both the research and clinical missions of Penn Radiation Oncology. By engaging with cancer care systems in diverse settings, we uncover unique clinical, cultural, and logistical challenges that drive innovation in real time. These experiences inform the development of more adaptable technologies and implementation science frameworks that can improve care delivery—not only abroad, but also here at home.
Through this work, we remain unwavering in our commitment to CARE—Clinical Access, Advocacy, Research, and Education—as guiding pillars for equity-driven innovation. Our global partnerships expand our capacity to deliver life-saving cancer care that is not only technologically advanced, but also inclusive, community-informed, and sustainable.
Clinically, these collaborations enhance cultural competence and prepare our trainees to lead in a globalized healthcare landscape. Research-wise, they empower us to ask better questions and design more impactful solutions. Ultimately, global oncology challenges us to think bigger, act more urgently, and build a future where high-quality cancer care is accessible to all—regardless of geography or circumstance.
4. Do you have any book/audiobook or podcast recommendations?
I wanted to share a powerful audiobook I recently finished and immediately listened to again!! You Are Your Best Thing, curated by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown. It’s a collection of personal essays by Black voices from many different perspectives. Some contributors are well known, like Marc Lamont Hill and Laverne Cox, while others were new to me, prompting me to learn more about their stories and work. Each essay explores themes like vulnerability, identity, and resilience with honesty, courage, and depth.
What makes the audiobook especially compelling is hearing each contributor narrate their own story. Their voices bring a deeply personal and human dimension that I found both humbling and inspiring. I also learned things I hadn’t known or hadn’t fully appreciated before.
One quote that really stuck with me: “This is not about bringing people to the table who have never had a voice. This is about amplifying the voices that have always been speaking but have long been ignored.”
Regardless of your background, whether your work is in patient care, research, education, or community outreach, this book is a powerful reminder of how listening, empathy, and inclusion help us show up more fully for our patients, colleagues, students, and ourselves. I highly recommend it.
5. Do you have a tip for relaxing or unwinding?
One thing that helps me relax is going for a walk, especially outside, even if it’s just for 10 or 15 minutes. It gives me space to clear my head, breathe deeply, and reset. When I can’t get outside, I turn to good music, get creative in the kitchen, and maybe even enjoy an old-fashioned. It’s a simple ritual that helps me unwind and recharge.
Rad Recommendations
Michele's Menu Musings by Michele Kim, PhD
Messina Social Club – 1533 S. 10th St, Philadelphia, PA
Messina Social Club is one of Philly’s historic “clubs” that has deep roots in South Philly. From the outside, you wouldn’t even notice that it’s a restaurant. Originally, Messina was created in the early 1900’s for Italian immigrants new to the city. But in this modern era, Messina is making innovative dishes and drinks that focus on seasonal availability in an elevated way but in an unstuffy atmosphere.
Eddie Konrad, a Top Chef contestant and former chef de cuisine at Laurel, is now the executive chef at Messina social club. He has described the menu as “progressive Italian American,” but I think it leans more fusion American and modern than Italian American. Due to the nature of the revamped rowhome setting, Messina is another intimate space with an ever-evolving menu that has tasting menu and a la carte options (do you see a trend here? I know what I like). Dishes in April included a salmon crudo with blood orange, cured beets, fennel, and black olive and a slow roasted cobia with honeynut squash butter, cured butternut squash, and sesame. Every bite was fresh and tasted as though someone had put a lot of thought into the flavors. The scallop with pistachio, citrus chutney, clam jus, shiso, and rutabaga was my favorite bite of the night.
Messina also has an amazing bar. Their cocktails, both classic and new, are well executed and the drink selection is vast. If you so choose, there is a pairing with the tasting menu that comes with a drink for each of the six courses. This pairing was not limited to wine, which I liked. Ours also had a sake course and an espresso martini to go with dessert.
Don’t let the idea of a membership-required club intimidate you. Joining is quite easy (see their website for information). Or find a friend who is a member – you’re likely to know at least a few people that have memberships already.
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
November 3 - 7, 2025, intensive one-week educational courses at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center in Philadelphia, PA. Registration opens June 1. Space is limited.
Course includes: Hands-on learning opportunities, Certificate upon successful completion, Networking opportunities with peers and industry leaders
Global Education Visitors
Penn Radiation Oncology welcomed Dr. Yanhong Zheng, a physicist from Tongji Medical Hospital in Wuhan, China, for a week of comprehensive training in the PRMI Proton Training Program.
Team Update: Ian “Lou” Volm has been appointed as the new Therapy Education Coordinator for Global Education! Lou will be dedicating two days a week to collaborate with both the Global Education and OncoLink teams on various projects designed to support and achieve the department's goals.
Proton Therapy Education for Canadian Radiation Oncologists
April 21 - 24, 2025
Dr. Samir Patel and Dr. Ankur Sharma recently visited Penn Radiation Oncology for proton therapy education. Dr. Patel is a radiation oncologist at Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta Hospital and Stollery Children's Hospital. He is also Professor of Oncology & Pediatrics at University of Alberta.
Dr. Sharma is a radiation oncologist at Central Alberta Cancer Centre and on the faculty at University of Alberta and University of Calgary Medical Schools.
Both radiation oncologists are long-time proponents of proton therapy and have been instrumental in advancing the establishment of the proton center in Edmonton, Alberta.
PRMI at PTCOG
Going to PTCOG in Buenos Aires? Come see our team at booth #10! Exciting announcement will be shared during the Scientific Welcome Reception on Tuesday, June 3rd at 6:00pm
Medical Residency
Awards, Conferences, and Grants
Daniel Alexander, PhD received the Medical Physics Resident Teaching Award at the Medical Physics Graduate Programs 2025 Graduation.
Michelle Iocolano, MD received the 2025 ASTRO ROI Innovation Award with funding for an osteoarthritis clinical trial.
Abby Pepin, MD received the RSNA Roentgen Resident Award 2025.
Ahmad Sakaamini, PhD was one of six recipients who received the AAPM Science Council Associates Mentorship Program (SCAMP) Award, 2025-2026 nationwide. The award provides up to $2,000 in reimbursable funding to support travel to both the 2025 and 2026 AAPM Annual Meetings. Beyond that, the award includes structured mentorship with an AAPM leader, participation in committee activities, and the opportunity to undertake a dedicated SCAMP project.
ARS 2025
Resident Proton Course
Congratulations to our incredible 2nd year physics residents on successfully leading and completing another resident proton course! Your hard work, dedication, and expertise truly shone through, and it's clear that the 11 participating residents walked away with valuable knowledge on proton radiotherapy and inspiration. Your leadership throughout the workshop was especially impressive—you guided the sessions with confidence, clarity, and a collaborative spirit that engaged every participant. Teaching each one of these course modules is no small task, and you prepared so well and handled it with professionalism and enthusiasm. We’re so proud to have talented residents as you —great job!!
Medical Physics Graduate Programs
Happenings
MPGP 25th Anniversary Event on the Ben Franklin Yacht
On April 11, the Medical Physics Graduate Programs celebrated their 25th anniversary aboard the Ben Franklin Yacht. Over 100 MPGP alumni, students, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate. Alumni from 12 states and across 16 graduating classes were represented at the event, along with three program directors. Rad Onc leadership and MPGP program directors gave reminisced on program history and accomplishments and gave toasts to the future of the program. Everyone enjoyed dinner, drinks, and dancing despite the rainy weather.
MPGP Admissions Appreciation Lunch
On April 21, the MPGP Team invited everyone involved in our admissions efforts to join us for a burger bar in the JMEC to show our appreciation. Our admissions and recruitment season runs so smoothly because so many folks participate in the process, including individuals from department leadership, Rad Onc and Radiology faculty and staff, our current students, residents, and alumni. In Fall 2025, we expect to introduce 12 new MS students and three Certificate students – stay tuned!
Student Advisory Committee End-of-Semester Event at Dave & Buster’s
The MPGP Student Advisory Committee organized and end-of-semester event at Dave and Busters for all MPGP students to celebrate the end of the Spring semester.
MPGP Thesis Defenses
On May 6 and 7, our second-year Master of Science in Medical Physics students defended their theses. Each MSMP candidate presented their thesis and answered questions from faculty, staff, residents and students. As a requirement of the MS program, Master students must complete a two-semester original research project under the guidance of a physics faculty member that culminates in a thesis paper and defense. Several students will present their research as an oral or poster presentation at the upcoming AAPM Annual Meeting in Washington, DC in July. Congratulations to all our students on their excellent defenses!
MSMP Student Thesis Topics
- Erika Bilokon | Mentor: Wenbo Gu, PhD - "Isocenter Optimization Towards Robust Single Isocenter Multiple Mestateses Linac-Based SRS"
- Alexander Choi | Mentor: Rafe McBeth, PhD - " Investigation of AI-Driven Auto Segmentation for Pediatric Proton CSI”
- Lyna Dinh | Mentor: Theresa Busch, PhD - “5-ALA as a heme oxygenase inducer for murine pleural mesothelioma”
- Logan Fisher | Mentor: Eric Diffenderfer, PhD & Rodney Wiersma, PhD - “Improving FLASH Proton Therapy Safety through Real-Time 3D Surface Patient Tracking and Gating”
- Alejandro Garcia | Mentor: Kevin Teo, PhD - "Characterization of a novel variable density range modulator for proton therapy”
- Peter Hovland | Mentor: Alireza Kassaee, PhD - “An AI-driven lung motion evaluation tool for proton treatment planning”
- Madelyn Johnson | Mentor: Tim Zhu, PhD - "Photofrin-mediated PDT for determination of long-term survival ideal dose and MSOLD practicality in-vivo”
- Muskan Lather | Mentor: Rafe McBeth, PhD - “Language Vision Models for Lung Radiotherapy: Adding Critical Context”
- Ayoola Okuribido | Mentor: Andrew Maidment, PhD - "Investigating the Effects of Magnification on Tomographic Breast Imaging"
- Krista White | Mentor: Dimitris Mihailidis, PhD - “Development of a 3D End-to-End QA Protocol for Proton FLASH Utilizing New Generation 3D Dosimetry”
Medical Physics Graduate Programs’ Class of 2025 Graduation
May 16, 2025 | Gaulton Auditorium & Biomedical Research Building Lobby
We are thrilled to celebrate our MPGP Class of 2025 graduates! MPGP hosted a graduation ceremony and reception on May 16 in the Gaulton Auditorium and Biomedical Research Building lobby to celebrate the accomplishments of our 10 Master of Science in Medical Physics and one Certificate in Medical Physics graduates. This year’s graduation keynote speaker was M. Saiful Huq, PhD, DABR, FAAPM, FInstP, Professor of Radiation Oncology and Director of Medical Physics at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh, PA and former AAPM President. We wish our graduating class the best of luck in their next endeavors!
Student Achievements
Congratulations to Xiaokun Teng, PhD, first-year MSMP student, who placed first in the DVC AAPM Spring Symposium MedPhys Slam, with her talk, “We Used a Stack of Metal Plates to Catch Protons - and Make Cancer Therapy Safer”
Scholarly Activity
Andrew Friberg, current PhD in Bioengineering – Medical Physics Concentration student, presented his poster, “Physicochemical Indication of the FLASH Effect from Shoot-through Proton Pencil Beam Scanning Parameters Delivered under Ultra-high Dose Rate” at ESTRO 2025 in Vienna, Austria in early May.
One Step Ahead: Preventing Tumor Adaptation to Immune Therapy. Braverman EL, Mognol GP, Minn AJ, Vignali DAA, Varner JA. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2025 Jun;45(3):e481556. doi: 10.1200/EDBK-25-481556. Epub 2025 May 7. PMID: 40334183 Review.
PD-1 blockade mitigates surgery-induced immunosuppression and increases the efficacy of photodynamic therapy for pleural mesothelioma. Cramer GM, Davis RW, Papasavvas E, Klampatsa A, Miller JM, Carter S, Ikpe R, Yuan M, Widura S, Majumdar RS, McNulty S, Putt M, Kossenkov AV, Montaner LJ, Singhal S, Moon EK, Albelda SM, Cengel KA, Busch TM. Cancer Res Commun. 2025 May 7. doi: 10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-24-0571. Online ahead of print. PMID: 40331601
Verification of dose and dose rate for quality assurance of spread-out-Bragg-peak proton FLASH radiotherapy using machine log files. Oliaei Motlagh SA, Vander Stappen F, Kim MM, Labarbe R, Hotoiu L, Pin A, Nilsson R, Traneus E, Cengel KA, Zou W, Teo BK, Dong L, Diffenderfer ES. Med Phys. 2025 Apr 1. doi: 10.1002/mp.17792. Online ahead of print. PMID: 40170430
Salvage thoracic reirradiation for recurrent non-small cell lung cancer: Clinical efficacy and the impact of consolidative immunotherapy. Rocchetti J, Yegya-Raman N, Iocolano M, Levin WP, Cengel KA, Bradley J, Feigenberg SJ, Friedes C. Radiother Oncol. 2025 Apr 27;208:110911. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2025.110911. Online ahead of print. PMID: 40300728
Incidence and Outcomes of Brain Metastasis in Pleural Mesothelioma in the Era of Immunotherapy. Stalker M, Walker SL, Lebow E, Pai EL, Watts A, Hwang WT, Banihashemi A, Anderson E, Roshkovan L, Katz SI, Litzky L, Haas AR, Singhal S, Langer CJ, Cengel K, Marmarelis ME. JTO Clin Res Rep. 2025 Mar 10;6(5):100823. doi: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2025.100823. eCollection 2025 May. PMID: 40255866