MENU Donate Now Pay My Bill Log In PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION We set high standards for cancer care – now and for the future. That is why CARTI is proud to offer accredited training, including our Radiation Therapy Program and our Medical Physics Residency Program. RADIATION THERAPY PROGRAM MEDICAL PHYSICS RESIDENCY RADIATION THERAPY PROGRAM CARTI offers a one-year educational program to meet the demand for qualified radiation therapists. The program is a continuous resource for well-educated, quality-oriented, professional radiation therapists and is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT, www.jrcert.org/). The program has a full eight-year accreditation with the next review date in 2024 and is licensed by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. School Handbook Mission Statement Our mission is to provide competent and compassionate entry-level radiation therapists to meet the needs of today’s changing health care community in an educational atmosphere of distinction. A Tradition of Excellence The performance of the program is demonstrated through program goals, student learning outcomes and program effectiveness data as defined by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Effectiveness data for the programs is available at the following links. This information can also be obtained at www.jrcert.org/resources/program-effectiveness-data. Goals and Student Learning Outcomes Program Effectiveness Data Admissions/Applications Students are selected on the basis of their applications, official transcripts, professional references, interviews and within the limits of the program’s student capacity. Please keep in mind that selection for the program is highly competitive. CARTI is unable to select every applicant due to limitations of program capacity and availability of clinical space. Program Brochure and Admission Requirements Application for Admission Form For more information or questions concerning the radiation therapy program, please email the CARTI Education Department at Tiffany.Young@CARTI.com or call 501.660.7621 or toll free at 1.855.552.2784 ext. 7621. For questions concerning accreditation of this program, you may contact the JRCERT at the following: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850 Chicago, IL 60606-3182 Phone: 312.704.5300 Fax: 312.704.5304 www.JRCERT.org mail@jrcert.org MEDICAL PHYSICS RESIDENCY PROGRAM Each year, CARTI offers a Medical Physics Radiation Oncology Residency Program to prepare students entering the field of medical physics. This program is CAMPEP accredited. The 24-month program is strongly clinical and professional, not didactic. CARTI offers the resident a dynamic clinical learning environment with a vigorous and aggressive adoption of new and proven technology. Admissions Pre-Requisite Requirements Graduate of a CAMPEP-approved medical physics program with a master’s or doctoral degree Graduated with at least a 3.0 cumulative overall GPA Meets CARTI employee requirements Application Process CARTI is participating in the AAPM Common Application Program and MedPhysMatch. Please see the following website for more information: http://www.aapm.org/CAP/ The position will be posted by November 1. Number of Residents The physics residency program is designed to handle a maximum of 2 residents. One resident is accepted per year. New Resident Orientation Upon entering the program, the resident will be given a residency handbook that covers all resources, opportunities and requirements for successful completion of the CARTI residency program. The program director and all staff physicists will always be available to answer questions and give clarification, should the resident request it. In addition, the resident will be given his/her own CARTI employee manual. During the two-year residency program, continuing education will be required on a monthly basis. This continuing education is the same as that required of CARTI employees and covers areas such as radiation protection, patient confidentiality, infection control and clinical expectations. Evaluation of Resident Progress Residents are monitored throughout the program by the program director. Residents will meet with the program director, as well as the assigned resident mentor, at least once a month. In addition, at the completion of each rotation, the resident will receive written feedback on his/her performance. By the completion of the residency, the physics resident is expected to be able to perform all radiation oncology physics functions. Financial The medical physics residency position at CARTI will be a full-time salaried new employee. As such, this position will qualify for the same benefits as any other new employee, including health and dental insurance plans, CARTI holidays, paid time off, 403(b) tax-deferred annuity and retirement plan (the retirement plan is not fully vested for five years). This position also includes paid registration, travel and lodging, and meals to one meeting or workshop, as well as membership dues to one related professional society. Transportation to CARTI sites outside of Little Rock is provided by CARTI, or reimbursed at the current mileage level set by CARTI. All other financial burdens are the responsibility of the resident, including all travel and living expenses, out-of-pocket health care, books, supplies, uniforms/lab coats, etc. Training Requirements For Completion The requirements for completion of the 24-month residency will be the demonstrated ability to perform independently all tasks generally recognized as fundamental clinical physics duties, as outlined in Task Group 249 of the AAPM. The objective of the first year will be the attainment of the ability to manage, with necessary supervision from the CARTI clinical physics staff, the broad range of clinical duties necessary for the daily operation of a radiation oncology clinic; primarily the safe planning and delivery of radiation therapy to cancer patients, state licensing maintenance, radiation safety issues, etc. The objective of the second year will be to build on the first year and to develop areas of specialization and expertise, and to develop a greater level of responsibility and independence. One advantage that CARTI offers residents is its multiple (6) clinical sites, each staffed with its own radiation oncologist(s), dosimetrist(s), therapists and administrative staff. It is expected that in the second year of the residency, the resident will join the clinical travel rotation with the other staff physicists. This will enhance the resident’s ability to work independently; while at the same time having access to support from the other physics staff. It is expected that the resident will attend or participate in departmental and clinical conferences, in-services and e-learning programs which have direct or indirect educational or clinical relevance. Examples of ongoing conferences include weekly physics staff meetings, chart rounds, stereotactic conferences and radiation oncologist case reviews; as well as monthly medical physics journal club and e-learning clinical programs. Clinical Rotations Sections Introduction to the Treatment Process External Beam Treatment Planning and Delivery (non-SRS/SBRT) Linacs, Treatment Planning Systems, and Radiation Detection Brachytherapy SRS/SRT SBRT Imaging in Radiation Oncology Education, Communication, and Research Evaluation The method for evaluating the resident’s performance in each clinical rotation will be determined by the CARTI physics staff. Possible methods for evaluation include: Oral exams Written exams Performance of a specific task (e.g. independent performance of annual calibration) Oral presentations by the resident to physics or other staff Journal article reviews Program Administration Role of Program Director The program director is Paul Bruce M.S., DABR. The program director will be responsible for maintaining routine documentation for compliance with CAMPEP certification, directing annual and quarterly reviews of the residency program with the residency advisory board, and conducting monthly reviews with each resident to assess progress through the program. The program director will also delegate mentoring responsibilities to the staff physicist on a monthly rotating basis. Role of Admissions Committee and Review Board The following standing committees will meet as needed, but at least annually: the Admissions Committee and the Medical Physics Residency Review Board The Admissions Committee will meet starting in December of each year to begin the review process, and to interview new program applicants. It will continue to meet as necessary until an offer has been made and accepted by an applicant. The Medical Physics Residency Review Board will review the entire program annually and make changes to the curriculum, rotations and competencies based on feedback from the faculty, residents and other staff. Quarterly reviews will be conducted by the review board to address any pressing matters that may arise. Review Board Committee Members Include: Paul Bruce, M.S., DABR Scott Yakoubian, M.S., DABR Vance Keeling, M.S., DABR Alan Cohen, M.S., DABR Ashley Matsushita, M.S. Christopher Pope, M.D., DABR Michael Johnson, CMD Equipment and Facilities The resident will use all CARTI facilities, with occasional travel to satellite centers. Technology available includes: Varian TrueBeam and/or C-series linear accelerators equipped with HD or Millenium 120 leaf MLC with integrated imaging systems and/or BrainLab ExacTrac IGRT Phillips large bore 4D CT and/or conventional simulator Varian Eclipse TPS v13.6 Phillips Pinnacle3 TPS v9.10 Mosaiq Record and Verify system The CARTI Cancer Center also has a Varian TrueBeam accelerator with a 6D table used for cranial stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). TLow dose rate (LDR) prostate implants using I-125 and Pd-103 seeds are performed at the CARTI Cancer Center and Mountain Home at a local, or adjacent hospital. For example, the CARTI Cancer Center implants are performed in the operating room at St. Vincent Infirmary. In addition, CARTI/Baptist treats high dose rate (HDR) treatments using Nucletron MicroSelectron v3. HDR is primarily used for gynecological applications and Mammosite breast therapy. Brachytherapy planning utilizes Oncentra for HDR and Variseed planning system for LDR seed implants. Physics equipment available is extensive, and includes two iba Blue Phantom scanning system systems with micro-diamond, diode and ion chamber detectors, an iba linear diode array (LDA), assorted phantoms and phantom materials, cylindrical, parallel-plate and well type ionization chambers of various sizes, electrometers and a MOSFET system for in-vivo measurements. Additional QA phantoms include a MapCheck2, ArcCheck and Quasar. There is also a Profiler diode array system. Special CT phantoms and a Victoreen Nero mAx radiation output detector are used for CT- simulator QA. Educational facilities include conference rooms with video teleconferencing at each site. Office space for the resident’s use is provided. There are at present no formal library facilities within the physics department; however, the department purchases necessary and useful textbooks and reference materials and several online subscriptions to journals which are made readily available to department members, including residents. In addition, extensive personal libraries of the department members are available for sharing. The resident will have ready access to the internet and other electronic resources. Program History: Contact Paul Bruce at pbruce@CARTI.com for more information. ABOUT CARTI About CARTI Choose CARTI Mission & Vision Careers FAQ Professional Education CARTI Board Of Directors CHOOSE CARTI CARTI has been Arkansas’ cancer specialists since 1976. Our expert medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists and additional medical providers deliver the world’s most advanced forms of cancer care with genuine compassion. As a CARTI patient, you will receive a full range of treatment options, all within a single, statewide network of care. Even better? It’s all available close to home. LEARN MORE LEADING-EDGE TALENT AND SERVICES CARTI is committed to providing the best treatment for every patient. Our team is here for you. MISSION & VISION To provide exceptional cancer treatment and care while continuing research. LEARN MORE FAQS Get answers to CARTI's most frequently asked questions. LEARN MORE PROVIDERS Read on to learn more about your cancer care team. LEARN MORE WORLD-CLASS CANCER CARE CLOSE TO HOME CARTI is committed to serving patients in Arkansas. We have resources and treatment facilities throughout the state, bringing expert cancer care into local communities where our patients live. Find a Location Contact Careers Media eLibrary Copyright ©2021 CARTI. All Rights Reserved The CARTI Foundation is 501(c)(3). The charity number is 71-0589907.