Summary

Medical Physics is the branch of physics associated with the practice of medicine - specifically Diagnostic Radiology - Nuclear Medicine - and Radiation Oncology. The practice of Medical Physics in Therapeutic Radiation Oncology involves the use of principles and accepted protocols of therapeutic radiological physics to assure the correct quality - quantity - and placement of radiation during the performance of procedures and treatments in Radiation Oncology.

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: TMPs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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 Physics
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: GS 13 Experience: In addition to the basic requirements - completion of a minimum of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge regarding the safe and efficient use of all radiotherapy devices for external beam radiotherapy
• The ability to evaluate and ensure correct and safe operation of radiotherapy equipment through complex problem diagnosis and scheduled quality assurance
• Knowledge of the scientific - clinical - and technical applications of high dose rate and low dose rate brachytherapy treatment simulation - planning - dosimetry - and treatment methods
• Expertise in the professional - scientific - and technical aspects of shielding methods for external beam radiation delivery systems - radiation survey methods - developing procedures - setting action levels - delivering radiation safety training - developing and documenting competencies - and reporting
• This includes an in-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and guidelines for radiation shielding and personnel protection
• Ability to exercise independent professional judgment in the performance and evaluation of calibration - acceptance testing - and clinical commissioning procedures for all types of external beam photon and electron beam delivery systems
• Skilled in the evaluation of acceptance testing and commissioning results of CT simulators
• Technical skills in 3-D treatment planning - intensity modulated radiation therapy treatment planning - and stereotactic body radiation therapy planning
• This includes specialized knowledge of clinical process steps and resource requirements for planning and delivery of radiation oncology treatments
• Ability to process information from multi-modality imaging datasets for treatment planning - treatment verification - and radiotherapy response assessment
• Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a TMP on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualifications requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following apply
• Creditable Experience: Knowledge of Current Medical Physicist Practices: To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) associated with current professional TMP practice
• The experience must be post-master's degree or above
• Experience satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice - which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional TMP
• Quality of Experience: Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's or doctoral degree in medical physics - physics - or another relevant physical science or engineering discipline from an accredited training program and includes work as a professional TMP directly related to the position to be filled
• Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to TMP experience at the next lower grade level
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher level duties must consist of significantly larger scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience as a professional TMP is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek
• For example - a TMP employed 20 hours a week - or on a 1/2-time basis - would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service
• Clinical Training/Clinical Residency: TMPs go through a post-graduate clinical training program in therapeutic medical physics before they are eligible to work as a TMP
• The post-graduate clinical training may be substituted for creditable experience on a year Preferred Experience: SBRT Respiratory gating Surface imaging Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• This vacancy is at the full performance level - GS 13
• Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs
• and over)
• Heavy Carrying (45 lbs
• and over)
• Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours)
• Pushing (1 - 2 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (up to 8 hours)
• Standing (up to 8 hours)
• Repeated bending (up to 4 hour)
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• Hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• Work Schedule: 7:00am-3:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 92484-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Responsibilities of the Therapeutic Medical Physicist include but are not limited to: Protects patients and others from potentially harmful or excessive radiation
• Assists the work of other Therapeutic Medical Physicists and medical dosimetrists
• Measures and characterizes radiation used for radiotherapy
• Supervises treatment planning
• Determines delivered dose
• advances and implements procedures necessary to ensure delivered dose integrity
• Assists other health care professionals in optimizing the balance between the beneficial and deleterious effects of radiation
• Assesses and monitors image quality for treatment planning (CT simulation) and patient alignment for treatment (Image Guided Radiotherapy - IGRT)
• Independently performs acceptance testing - calibration - and safety surveys of imaging and radiation therapy equipment and assists others who do so
• Supports protocols to ensure compliance with appropriate ASTRO/APEx/AAPM standards - Ensures own maintenance of credentials
• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal and VHA regulations
• abreast of changes in Radiation Oncology Quality Management standards and helps implement new recommendations as they may arise
• Keeps abreast of changes in Radiation Oncology equipment and helps implement new equipment purchases as they may arise
• Participates in medical center Safety and Quality Management initiatives
• Provides education and training in medical physics when applicable
• Serves as consultant to the radiation oncologists - to the chief of bio-medical engineering - to the radiation safety committee - and other physician specialists
• The TMP has the final responsibility for the correct delivery of potentially lethal doses of radiation
• Completes other tasks as may be assigned by the Chief Therapeutic Medical Physicist.