Summary

The Advanced Performance Level Therapeutic Medical Physicist expertly applies the principles and accepted protocols of physics to ensure the correct quality - quantity - and placement of radiation during radiological and radiation oncology procedures. Manages the development and implementation of advanced techniques and special initiatives in radiotherapy - collaborates with radiation oncologists on new clinical protocols - and directs specialized clinical and research projects.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) Education
• Master's degree or higher in a physics - science - or engineering discipline recognized by an accredited college or university with at least 30 semester hours in medical physics - health physics - radiological science - physics - engineering - chemistry - or biology
• or an equivalent foreign degree and coursework substantiated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services
• Board Certification
• Persons hired or reassigned to TMP positions in the VHA must be board certified in the field of therapeutic medical physics by an approved certifying body
• The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education
• Approved Certifying Bodies: (a) The American Board of Radiology (ABR) in any of the following field titles: 1- Therapeutic Medical Physics 2
• Therapeutic Radiologic or Therapeutic Radiological Physics 3
• Radiologic Physics or Radiological Physics (b) The American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics
• (c) The Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Language Proficiency
• TMPs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.GS-14 Therapeutic Medical Physicist (Advanced Level) Experience
• In addition to the basic requirements - completion of a minimum of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and range of variety - and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Employees at this level who are not supervisors are able to carry out assigned tasks independently in all areas of radiation therapy requiring TMP competencies which substantially exceed the full performance level and require advanced knowledge in all areas of radiation therapy
• Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment - the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform at this grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Advanced expertise and experience in the safe and efficient use of all radiotherapy devices for external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy
• Highly developed expertise with commissioning linear accelerators and treatment planning systems for complex clinical use - to include project management - performance testing - data acquisition - beam modeling - and validation testing
• Advanced knowledge (treatment simulation - planning - dosimetry - and treatment methods) of the scientific - clinical - and technical applications of one or more specialized procedures including - but not limited to - high dose rate brachytherapy - low dose rate brachytherapy - stereotactic body radiation therapy - stereotactic radiation therapy - intensity modulated radiation therapy - volumetric modulated arc therapy - total body irradiation - advanced image-guided therapy - and adaptive therapy
• Advanced expertise in acceptance testing - clinical commissioning - and (when applicable) calibration procedures for a variety of ancillary radiation oncology delivery - imaging - dosimetry - metrology - and computational systems
• References: VA Handbook 5005/83 - Part II - Appendix G48

Duties

• Primary Duties Plans - delivers - verifies - and monitors the quality assurance of radiotherapy at all levels of complexity
• Recommends optimal modalities and treatment techniques for patients - and evaluates the safety and accuracy of planned and delivered radiation treatments
• Plans and directs specialized programs encompassing all physics and clinical aspects of external beam and advanced treatments - such as Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) - from simulation through delivery
• Expertly operates Varian Eclipse - Varian Aria - Varian TrueBeam systems - CT Simulators - and specialized QA equipment/software
• Provides technical oversight and expert guidance for the work of developmental TMPs - medical dosimetrists - and radiation therapists
• Oversees - designs - and approves treatment plans - and monitors the accuracy of treatment data recorded in patient medical records
• Provides specialized consultation to radiation oncologists regarding difficult treatment cases
• Serves as a subject matter expert capable of providing consultative services to the National Radiation Oncology Program (NROP) - the National Health Physics Program (NHPP) - and other federal or professional organizations
• Develops - operates - and fully documents the medical physics quality assurance program
• Ensures strict compliance with federal and state regulations - working closely with the Radiation Safety Officer's radiation safety program
• Collaborates with staff to create clinical protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in strict conformance with ASTRO APEX standards - and actively participates in the APEX accreditation process
• Educates and trains radiation oncology team members-including radiation oncologists - radiation therapists - and dosimetrists-on safety issues related to radiotherapy planning and delivery
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 42025F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized