Medical Physics Group Sponsors Radiation Oncology Seminars
Photo available for download. Captions available at end of release.
Dr. Faiz Khan, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota; and Dr. Peter R. Almond, research professor in the Department of Radiation Physics -- Division of Radiation Oncology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX -- presented seminars in April to interested staff and students during their respective visits to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and LSU.
Dr. Khan, who presented on April 2, is a close professional colleague of Dr. Kenneth Hogstrom, chief of physics, MBP. "Dr. Khan is a world famous medical physicist and is the author of the well-known textbook "'The Physics of Radiation Therapy'" said Dr. Hogstrom. He is a past AAPM president, recipient of the AAPM Coolidge award, the ACMP Williams award, and director of one of the first two medical physics residency programs. Dr. John Gibbons, chief of clinical physics, MBP was his first resident.
Drs. Khan and Hogstrom worked together leading the effort to develop AAPM electron beam dosimetry protocols and CAMPEP residency education review guidelines. Khan is also author of a recently published non-medical physics book titled: 'Our Universe" A Scientific and Religious View of Creation." Dr. Almond's Radiation Oncology Physics Seminar, presented on April 23, was titled "Gilbert Fletcher and Leonard Grimmett."
Dr. Gilbert Fletcher was one of the grandfathers of radiotherapy and editor of the "Textbook of Radiotherapy." Drs. Gilbert and Leonard Grimmett were the first chairs of the departments of radiotherapy and physics, respectively, at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute. Their brief time together included their initiating the development of the M. D. Anderson cobalt-60 machine. This lecture, to be given at the May meeting of the Fletcher Society, included anecdotes that characterized the contentious personalities of these great men.
Almond's seminar on April 24th, "A Brief History of Dosimetry, Calibration Protocols and the Need for Accuracy," will also be presented at this year's AAPM summer school, "Clinical Dosimetry Measurements in Radiotherapy," and will provide anecdotal examples illustrating the need for accuracy in dose calibration protocols for external beam therapy and brachytherapy.
Photo 1 Caption
Dr. Faiz Khan, author of ?The Physics of Radiation Therapy,? autographs his textbook for the books? owners, radiation therapists Yolanda Augustus (left) and Tammy Asmus (right).
Photo 2 Caption
Pictured with Peter R. Almond, PhD, prior to a lecture he presented to LSU medical physics students and MBP staff, are (l to r) Dr. Robert Fields, radiation oncologist, MBP; Dr. Kenneth Hogstrom, chief of physics, MBP; Dr. Almond; John Gibbons, chief of clinical physics, MBP and LSU adjunct professor.