Overview
Program Overview:
The Clinical Physics Residency Program at the University of Virginia, established in 2008 and achieving CAMPEP accreditation in 2010, is designed to provide comprehensive clinical training in radiation oncology physics. Led by Program Director Jeff Siebers, Ph.D. (js2ub@uvahealth.org), and Program Coordinator Rebekah McComb (rm5dg@uvahealth.org), this two-year program immerses residents in essential aspects of the field, including dosimetry, quality assurance (QA), machine commissioning, brachytherapy, and advanced treatment techniques. Residents will gain expertise in Total Body Irradiation, Motion Management, Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), preparing them for a successful career in radiation oncology physics.
Department Overview:
The Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Virginia is located within the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center, a state-of-the-art facility at the forefront of cancer care and treatment. Our dedicated team comprises eight radiation oncologists, eight medical physicists, and four dosimetrists, all committed to delivering the highest standard of patient care. With a vibrant medical residency program that includes six residents, we create an educational environment conducive to learning and professional growth.
The department is equipped with advanced technology, including a Varian TrueBeam, TomoTherapy HD, and Viewray MRIdian, supporting a wide range of treatment modalities such as Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Total Body Irradiation (TBI), and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT). Gamma Knife procedures are performed in the Department of Neurosurgery using a Gamma Knife Icon, highlighting our interdisciplinary approach to comprehensive cancer care.
We treat a diverse patient case mix, including a busy brachytherapy service, reflecting our wide-ranging expertise in radiation oncology. Our clinical facilities extend beyond the main site to the Moser Radiation Therapy Center and UVA Culpeper Medical Center, broadening the scope of experiences available to our residents. This ensures they are well-prepared to navigate a comprehensive range of clinical scenarios and treatment settings, embodying our commitment to excellence in patient care, education, and research in the field of radiation oncology.
Recruitment:
The program currently admits one resident each year, for a total of two residents in the program at one time. The position is posted, in October of each year, on the AAPM website, as well as the AAPM Common Application Program website (aapm.org/CAP), with an application deadline in mid-December. Offers to the residency program are made the first Friday in March. The program has a July 1 start date; although an alternate start date can be negotiated.
Program Graduates:
Graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers, including those with academic appointments at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Duke University and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Program History:
| Program Academic Year | # Applicants | # Accepted | # Graduated | # Now Certified | # Currently Clinically Employed | # Currently Academically Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020-21 | 45 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 47 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2018-19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2017-18 | 49 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016-17 | 53 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015-16 | 52 | 1 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2014-15 | 76 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013-14 | 145 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012-13 | 90 | 1 | 0* | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011-12 | 103 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2010-11 | 75 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009-10 | 47 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2008-09 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007-08 | 1 | 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
*The resident who would have graduated in 2013 left the program after 1 year to take an academic position.