Medical Physics Assistant

University of Wisconsin Madison • Madison, WI

360d • $70,000

About The Position

The Radiation Oncology Physics Section at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Human Oncology, is seeking a Medical Physics Assistant (MPA) to engage in radiation oncology physics activities. The successful candidate will assist with quality assurance measurements on proton beam treatment delivery systems. The Radiation Oncology Physics section currently employs 23 physicists and five physics residents with continued future growth expected in 2025 and beyond. The MPA shall function as an extender to the medical physics group within the Department, with supervision requirements and a scope of work aligned with guidelines established by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Medical Physics Practice Guidelines Report 10a and AAPM Policy AP-131-A. Medical physics tasks performed by the MPA shall be reviewed and co-signed by a Qualified Medical Physicist. The primary location for medical physics assistant activities will occur at the UW Health Eastpark Medical Center location, which is part of our dual-hub model located on Madison's east side. The 469,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility opened in October, 2024, initially offering photon treatments with two Varian TrueBeams, a Varian Edge, and an Elekta Flexitron Remote Afterloader coupled with Siemens multi-energy CT on rails, as well as dedicated CT and MR simulators. The proton therapy via a Hitachi gantry room and fixed beam room with first-of-kind upright patient positioning system will be offered at the Eastpark location in April 2026. The incoming MPA will be expected to join our proton team during the commissioning phase, providing an excellent opportunity to gain in-depth experience in QA equipment calibration, proton beam measurement, and system commissioning. Additionally, the MPA will have the chance to contribute to the development and implementation of QA programs for both patient treatment and machine performance. This role offers comprehensive training in commissioning, treatment planning, and a variety of research opportunities, including Monte Carlo simulations, proton treatment planning, novel proton delivery techniques, upright treatment systems, and proton PBS motion management. It is an outstanding opportunity for professional growth and development in the field of proton therapy.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree including coursework equivalent to a minor in Physics, Engineering, or related technical scientific disciplines.
• Critical thinking, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills.
• Minimum of intermediate computer literacy and ability to learn new domain-specific software.
• Ability to demonstrate competency under the supervision of a Qualified Medical Physicist.

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree.
• Experience with coding in MATLAB, Python, or other programming languages.

Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of a Qualified Medical Physicist, collects and analyzes routine quality assurance measurements, assist with various research measurements and analysis, and documents results according to established policies and procedures.
• Perform proton machine and patient-specific measurements, dose calculations, and data analysis. Measurements will include using equipment such as film acquisition and digitization, flat panel detectors, ion chambers, diodes, electrometers, and other dosimetric devices.
• Assist with commissioning a new proton treatment system, including defining proton beam characteristics, baseline data collection, treatment planning system (TPS) data configuration, end-to-end validation, setting up QA programs, and developing new protocols and procedures to meet clinical needs.
• Acquisition, processing, and analysis of various data types including from treatment delivery and imaging systems.
• Assist in the introduction of new technologies, quality assurance equipment, and routine equipment management tasks into proton treatment practice as appropriate.
• Acquire and analyze patient data for retrospective or prospective clinical and protocol studies.
• Generate documentation for new processes and procedures pertaining to the quality assurance program.

Benefits

• Generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
• Competitive insurances and savings accounts.
• Retirement benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree