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Medical Physics is a branch of physics that is associated with the practice of medicine. The practice of Medical Physics means the use of principles and accepted protocols of physics to assure the correct quality, quantity, and placement of radiation during the performance of a radiological procedure. Recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants. 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. 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). Grade Determinations: GS-14 Therapeutic Medical Physicist (Advanced Level) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Advanced expertise and experience in the safe and efficient use of all radiotherapy devices for external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy. 2. Highly developed expertise with commissioning linear accelerators and treatment planning systems for complex clinical use, to include project management, performance testing, data acquisition, beam modeling, and validation testing. 3. Advanced knowledge (treatment simulation, planning, dosimetry, and treatment methods) of the scientific, clinical, and technical applications of one or more specialized procedures including, but not limited to, high dose rate brachytherapy, low dose rate brachytherapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy, stereotactic radiation therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy, total body irradiation, advanced image-guided therapy, and adaptive therapy. 4. Advanced expertise in acceptance testing, clinical commissioning, and (when applicable) calibration procedures for a variety of ancillary radiation oncology delivery, imaging, dosimetry, metrology, and computational systems. Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Employees at this level who are not supervisors are able to carry out assigned tasks independently in all areas of radiation therapy requiring TMP competencies which substantially exceed the full performance level and require advanced knowledge in all areas of radiation therapy. Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment, the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this grade level. References: VA Handbook 5005/83; Part II, Appendix G48. This position is above the full performance level. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light to medium heavy items and QA equipment such as Map Check/ Arc Check , Water Phantoms, Solid Water, Electron cones. These devices range from 10-40 lbs. and sometimes need to be lifted overhead and into the treatment machine. ["Therapeutic Medical Physicists (TMPs) work in Radiation Oncology and have responsibilities that include: protection of the patient and others from potentially harmful or excessive radiation; establishment of adequate protocols to ensure accurate patient dosimetry; the measurement and characterization of radiation used for radiotherapy; the performance and supervision of treatment planning; the determination of delivered dose; advancement of procedures necessary to ensure delivered dose integrity; the assessment and monitoring of image quality; development and direction of quality assurance programs; assistance to other health care professionals in optimizing the balance between the beneficial and deleterious effects of radiation; and compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.\nLinac QA. Participates in the calibration of radiation beams from treatment units. This involves\n(a) maintaining the calibration of quality assurance devices such as ion chambers and electrometers, (b) measuring beam parameters via ion chambers in solid water or a scanning water tank, film, and TLDs,\n(c) and comparing this data against the commissioning data using established guidelines (e.g., AAPM Task Group).\nExternal Beam Treatment Planning. Supervises treatment planning, the components of which are:\n(a) supervision of patient contours and/or imaging studies (e.g., CT),\n(b) determination of dose at different points within the treatment volume,\n(c) selection of beams (together with their angles, weights, collimation, and filtering),\n(c) generation of isodose curves or other information and dosimetry, and\n(d) selection of wedges, bolus, and other devices necessary for proper treatment. Cross-checks hand calculation and computer calculations made by others.\nRadiation Modifier Fabrication. Participates in the preparation of radiation therapy treatment devices such as custom field blocks, tissue compensators, and build-up boluses. Participates in the planning and the production of molds, casts and other immobilization devices.\nPatient Positioning Supervision. Establishes and supervises accuracy in patient positioning for treatment.. Responsible for follow-up plans; treatment setups during the course of patient treatment; and proposing changes, depending on the initial plan of treatment, such as reduced field size, and changes needed for safety purposes, such as blocking of spinal cord or other sensitive structures and organs, etc.\nPerforms other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Tuesday thru Friday (10 hour days); may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays.\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Available\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Title/Functional Statement #:Therapeutic Medical Physicist/PD21Y88A\nRecruitment Incentives: Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]