Chief Radiology Physicist

Yale New Haven Health•New Haven, CT

About The Position

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day. The Chief Medical Physicist will manage the diagnostic medical physics team at YNHHS, who provide services to Radiology and Biomedical Imaging as well as the Heart and Vascular departments. The clinical services provided by the team encompass different imaging modalities, including: breast imaging, radiographic and fluoroscopic imaging using x-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine imaging using SPECT and PET, and ultrasound imaging. Clinical team responsibilities include: maintenance of ACR accreditation certifications, acceptance or annual testing of imaging equipment to comply with state, federal and institutional regulations, image quality optimization studies, protocol review investigations to reduce patient exposure to radiation, overseeing a patient dose monitoring program to identify and investigate high peak skin dose fluoroscopic studies, and radiology resident education. In addition to the above, the Chief Medical Physicist will act as the Program Director of the established CAMPEP approved YNHH diagnostic medical physics residency program and will also function as team liaison to the Yale School of Medicine Radiology resident training program. EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran

Requirements

Ph.D. in medical physics, physics, radiation biology, or related discipline and training in clinical diagnostic medical physics required.
The ideal candidate should have completed residency training at a CAMPEP approved program and have at least 8 - 10 years of post-degree experience in a clinical hospital environment.
Supervisory experience required.
Certification in Diagnostic Medical Physics by the American Board of Radiology or other equivalent board required.
Certified in diagnostic medical physics by the American Board of Radiology or American Board of Medical Physics.
Thorough knowledge of the principles and techniques of medical imaging, medical physics, and dosimetry.
Ability to apply the concepts of all the above to the diagnostic imaging process and to communicate these concepts to the diagnostic radiologists and technical staff for implementation.
Mathematical and computer skills for imaging science including data management and picture archiving systems.
A thorough knowledge of human anatomy as related to clinical diagnostic imaging.
Ability to interpret and execute relevant in-house and national imaging protocols.
Knowledge of radiation safety and the rules and regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and State Department of Health.
Knowledge of the department's imaging equipment and software programs for imaging and archiving.
Knowledge of departmental/organizational policies and procedures.
Interpersonal communication skills.
Organizational skills.
Teaching skills.
Advanced computer skills.

Responsibilities

Provide overall strategic direction for the Diagnostic Imaging Medical Physics Section.
Supervises the medical physics team in participating with professional and technical staff on selection, location, and implementation of new imaging equipment.
Evaluates new imaging modalities and advises professional and technical staff on the selection and implementation of these advances into the hospital's services.
Ensures that professional and technical staff correctly utilize protective equipment and techniques to minimize occupational, patient, and public dose.
Ensures that professional and technical staff correctly utilize imaging equipment to optimize clinical image quality.
Serve as the primary physics advisor to the Radiology Director, with a dual academic advisory relationship to Radiology Department Chair.
Oversee section budgeting, resource allocation, capital planning, and workload distribution.
Oversee established diagnostic quality assurance programs for medical imaging in Diagnostic Radiology at YNHHS. Supervises and mentors Medical Physicists I and II staff in the Radiology Diagnostic Medical Physics team.
Like all staff in the diagnostic medical physics team, will also partake in the annual QA testing of diagnostic x-ray equipment to ensure compliance with imaging and dosimetry standards, but the commitment shall not exceed more than 35% of FTE time allotment .
Performs and/or manages acceptance tests of all newly installed equipment to ensure its proper function and adherence to applicable Federal, State and industry standards.
Participate in the development and ongoing review of imaging protocols to ensure patient doses are kept as low as possible while maintaining optimal clinical image quality.
Directs the medical physics team in investigating overexposures, accidents, spills, losses, thefts, unauthorized receipts, uses, transfers, disposal, misadministration?s, and other deviations from approved radiation safety practice. Participation in the section management in creating and implementing corrective action plans, as necessary.
Directs the selection, hiring, training, and supervision of Medical Physicists in the Radiology Diagnostic Medical Physics team.
Directs the medical physics team to perform dosimetry calculations for clinical and human research purposes.
Assists researchers in quantifying the doses from imaging studies so the HIC and RSC can determine their compliance with FDA limits.
Maintains a dosimetry database so patient doses can be calculated whenever clinical need exists.
Performs fetal dose estimates whenever a clinical need is identified.
Promote collaborations among staff with radiologists, technologists, IT, and clinical operations leaders to support service line performance, workflow improvements, and technology adoption.
Guide system-wide radiation dose management systems and governance activities.
Establishes and directs the medical physics team to train professional, technical and resident staff in the sciences of diagnostic imaging and the minimization of patient and occupational doses.
Conduct educational seminars and lectures to educate professional, technical, and resident staff in imaging physics and radiation safety practices.
Assists and educates technical staff to implement individualized technique protocols to optimize imaging and minimize dose.
To assist and/or provide opportunities for individual staff to develop in their desired career path.
Performs the duties of the Program Director of the CAMPEP approved YNHH diagnostic medical physics residency program, and is assisted by an assigned Medical Physicist, who acts as the Associate Program Director. Collaborates with the Program Director of the Diagnostic Imaging Ph