Medical Physics Graduate Students
M.S. in Medical Physics Program
Anthony Blatnica
Tony.Blatnica@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2002, Southwest Texas State University
Project: Modification and Implementation of the RPC Heterogeneous Thorax Phantom for Remote Verification of Proton Therapy Treatment Procedures
Advisor: Geoffrey Ibbott, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Joseph Dick
jsdick@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2008, Physics, University of Florida
B.S., 2008, Business and Management, University of Florida
Project: Dose Verification System (DVS), A Wireless, Permanently Implantable MOSFET Dosimeter Manufactured by Sicel Technologies
Advisor: Mohammad Salehpour, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Ryan Grant
Ryan.Grant@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2007, Physics, University of Texas - Austin
Project: Design and Implementation of an Anthropomorphic Pelvis Phantom for the Evaluation of Proton Therapy Treatment Procedures
Advisor: Geoffrey Ibbott, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Kenneth Homann
klhomann@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2002, Physics, Northwestern State University
M.S., 2005, Medical Physics, University of Texas HSC - Houston
Project: First Year Student
Advisor: TBD
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Sarah Joy
sjoy@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2009, Physics, University of Florida - Gainesville
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal: Clinical practice
James Kerns
jrkerns@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2008, Physics, Point Loma Nazarene College
Project: Optically Stimulated Luminescent Detector Characteristics in Proton Beams
Advisor: Geoffrey Ibbott, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Kelly Kisling
kdkisling@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2008, Nuclear Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Project: Evaluation of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Dose Delivery Using the Radiological Physics Center Head and Neck Phantom
Advisor: Rebecca Howell, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Brad Lofton
brlofton@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2002, Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University
2003-2004, Biomedical Engineer, The Methodist Hospital
2004-2008, Physics Technologist, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Project: A Quality Control Information System for Nuclear Medicine
Advisor: Richard E. Wendt III, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Jonathan Mueller
jwmuelleer@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2003, Biomedical Engineering, University of Akron
M.S., 2006, Biomedical Engineering, University of Akron
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Sina Najmaei
snajmaei@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2005, Azad University
M.S., 2008, University of Texas - Austin
Career Goals:
Emily Neubauer
ehneubauer@mdanderson.org
2006-2009, Dosimetrist, Massachussetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Kiley Pulliam
kbpulliam@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2007, Physics, Centenary College of Louisiana
Project:
Advisor:
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Paige Summers
pasummers@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2009, Physics, Santa Carla University
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Jackie Tonigan
jrtonigan@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2009, Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Derek Yaldo
dyaldo@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2006, Physics, Wayne State University
Project: Impact of Small Field Data and Detector Size Correction on the Accuracy of IMRT Dose Calculations
Advisor: Rebecca Howell, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
David Zamora
David.Zamora@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2004, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas-Austin
2005-2008, Physics Technologist, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Project: 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography (4D-CT)
Advisor: Tinsu Pan, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Ph.D. in Medical Physics Program
Moiz Ahmad
Moiz.Ahmad@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2005, Physics, University of Texas - Austin
B.S., 2005, Electrical Engineering, University of Texas - Austin
Project: Four-Dimensional Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
Advisor: Tinsu Pan, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Hua Ai
HAi@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2008, Physics, Peking University
Project: Improvement of Dixon Technique in MRI which Involves using Phase Correction and Special Computation Algorithm to Achieve Water-Fat Separation
Advisor: Jingfei Ma, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Chad Bircher
cbircher@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2001, Physics, Abilene Christian College
M.S., 2007, Physics, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Project: What Do Solid State Photomultipliers Have to Offer PET Technology?
Advisor: Yiping Shao, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice or industry
Ryan Bosca
Rjbosca@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2007, Physics, University of North Texas
B.S., 2007, Mathematics, University of North Texas
M.S., 2008, Physics, University of North Texas
Project: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of Radiation Therapy Response
Advisor: Edward F. Jackson, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Laura Broaded
labroaded@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2007, Physics, Butler University
Project: Proton Therapy and Assessing Associated Risks of Late Effects
Advisor: Wayne Newhauser, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Blake Cannon
bcannon@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2003, Physics, University of Georgia
M.S., 2006, Medical Physics, University of Texas HSC-Houston
Project: Image-Guided Radiotherapy and Functional Imaging
Advisor: Lei Dong, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Douglas Caruthers
dfcaruth@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2005, Biomedical Engineering, Washington University
Project: Validation of Spine/Lung Phantom for Remote Dose Verification
Advisor: Geoffrey Ibbott, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Richard Castillo
RiCastillo@mdanderson.org
Research Website: http://www.dir-lab.com/
B.S., 2004, Trinity University
M.S., 2007, Medical Physics, The University of Texas at Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Project: Evaluation of Deformable Image Registration for Improved 4D CT Ventilation Image Generation
Advisor: Thomas Guerrero, M.D., Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Joey Cheung
jpcheung@mdanderson.org
B.A., 2008, Physics, University of California - Berkeley
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal:
Scott Davidson
sedavids@mdanderson.org
B.S., 1989, Electrical Engineering, University of Missouri
M.S., 2005, Medical Physics, University of Texas HSC - Houston
Project: Benchmarking and Implementation of a New Independent Monte Carlo Dose Calculation Quality Assurance Audit Tool for Clinical Trials
Advisor: David Followill, Ph.D.
Career Goal:
John Eley
jgeley@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2004, College of Charleston
M.S., 2009, Louisiana State University
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal:
Samuel Fahrenholtz
sjfahrenholtz@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2009, Kansas State University
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal:
Austin Faught
amfaught@mdanderson.org
B.A., 2009, Physics, Kenyon College
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal:
Annelise Giebeler
agiebeler@mdanderson.org
Project: Patient Specific Monitor Unit Determinations for Patients Receiving Proton Therapy
Advisor: Wayne Newhauser, Ph.D.
Career Goals: Academic Medical Physics
Kenneth Homann
klhomann@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2002, Physics, Northwestern State University
M.S., 2005, Medical Physics, University of Texas HSC - Houston
Project: First Year Student
Advisor: TBD
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Cheuk Kai Hui
ckhui@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2004, Physics, University of Arizona
M.S., 2007, Physics, University of Texas - Austin
Project: Quantitative Perfusion Imaging in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury
Advisor: Ponnada Narayana, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical Practice
Vaibhav Juneja
vjuneja@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2001, Electrical Engineering, Uijain Engineering College
ME, 2004, Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut
Project: Time Efficient Diffusion Spectrum Imaging (DSI)
Advisor: Ponnada Narayana, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Industry
Jason Matney
jematney@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2005, Physics, Ball State University
M.S., 2008, Physics, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
Project: Respiratory-Correlated Gated Proton Radiotherapy
Advisor: Sastry Vedam, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Adam Melancon
amelanco@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2003, Physics, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
M.S., 2006, Medical Physics, University of Texas HSC - Houston
Project: An in vivo Beam Positioning System for Proton Radiotherapy of Prostate Cancer
Advisor: Lei Dong, Ph.D.
Career Goal:
Justin Mikell
jmikell@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2002, Physics, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
B.S., 2002, Cytogenetics Technology - University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Project: Internal Radionuclide Dose Calculation Using Deterministic Radiation Transport Methods
Advisor: Firas Mourtada, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics/Industry
Jessica Nute
jlnute@mdanderson.org
B.A., 2005, Physics, University of Virginia
M.S., 2009, Medical Physics, Duke University
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal:
Peter Park
pcpark@mdanderson.org
A.A., 2005, Chemistry, De Anza College
B.S., 2007, Physics, University of California at San Diego
Project: Scanning Beam Proton Therapy Planning Strategy
Advisor: Lei Dong, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Dustin Ragan
Dustin.Ragan@mdanderson.org
B.A., 2003, Mathematics, Trinity University
M.S., 2006, Medical Physics, University of Texas HSC - Houston
Project: Dynamic 19F Spectroscopy
Advisor: James Bankson, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Adam Riegel
Adam.Riegel@mdanderson.org
B.A., 2004, Physics, Vassar College
2004-2006, Clinical Research Associate, St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center
Project: Thoracic Radiotherapy Planning with Cine PET/CT
Advisor: Tinsu Pan, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Daniel Robertson
dgrobertson@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2008, Physics, Brigham Young University
Advisor: TBD
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Sarah Scarboro
sbscarboro@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2006, Nuclear Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
M.S., 2008, Medical Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
Project: Reducing Radiation-Induced Late Effects for Cancer Survivors
Advisor: Rebecca Howell, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical Practice/Academic Medical Physics
Adam Springer
Adam.Springer@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2004, Physics, University of Southern Mississippi
Project: A Scatter Correction Method for a Commerically Available Positron Emission Mammagraphy (PEM) Scanner
Advisor: Osama Mawlawi, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical practice
Brian Taylor
Brian.Taylor@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2005, Physics, Union University
Project: Dynamic Chemical Shift Imaging for Image-Guided Thermal Therapy
Advisor: R. Jackson Stafford, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Yoshikazu Tsunashima
ytsunash@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2000, Physics, Tokyo University of Science
2000-2005, Radiation Therapist, Proton Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba
Project: Respiratory-gated Beam Delivery Technique with Synchrontron-based Proton Therapy
Advisor: Lei Dong, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Yevgeney Vinogradskiy
yvinogra@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2006, Nuclear Engineering, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
M.S., 2008, Medical Physics, University of Texas HSC - Houston
Project: Dose Response Modeling of Radiation Pneumonitis
Advisor: Mary Martel, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Landon Wootton
lswoottonmdanderson.org
B.S., 2008, Physics, University of Texas - Austin
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal:
Ming Yang
mingyang@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2003, Physics, University of Science and Technology of China
M.S., 2005, Physics, Rice University
Project: Orthovoltage CT and Its Application
Advisor: Lei Dong, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics
Adam Yock
adyock@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2008, Physics, Harvard University
Project: First Year Student
Career Goal:
Henry Yu
zhyu@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2006, Physics, University of Texas at Austin 2006-2008
Research Assistant, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Physics
Project: Adaptive Radiation Treatment Methods for GYN and Proton Therapy and Dose Validation Between Planned and Given Dose
Advisor: Lei Dong, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Clinical/Academic/Industry
Joshua Yung
jyung@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2005, Biomedical Engineering, Duke University 2005-2007
Imaging Research Technician, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Imaging Physics
Project: Motion Correction for MRTI and Thermal Therapy
Advisor: John D. Hazle, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Industry Research and Development
Rui Zhang
Rui.Zhang@mdanderson.org
B.S., 2001, Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China
M.S., 2004, Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China
M.S., 2006, Rice, Applied Physics, Rice University
Project: Proton Therapy vs.IMRT in the Treatment of Craniospinal Pediatric Patients: Radiation Induced Side Effects
Advisor: Wayne Newhauser, Ph.D.
Career Goal: Academic Medical Physics or Industry