Chief-Medical Physics and Dosimetry - job 1 of 2

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

The Chief of Medical Physics and Dosimetry (CPD) is the enterprise leader responsible for the strategic vision, operational performance, quality and safety and academic advancement of physics and dosimetry services across Northwestern Medicine’s Radiation Oncology facilities within Northwestern Medicine HealthCare.    

The CPD will develop and monitor performance metrics and work plans to assure activities are executed on time and on-budget and coordinate the internal and external resources to complete activities as assigned. The CPD will effectively communicate at all levels of Management and will work closely with directors, managers, and analysts to achieve the department’s strategic goals and objectives. The CPD will report directly to the Department Chair of Radiation Oncology and Vice President of Administration.

The CPD reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership

• Provides strategic leadership and vision specifically for physics and dosimetry services within the radiation oncology enterprise. Leads the planning and execution of short and long-term initiatives that advance clinical quality, operational efficiency, and technological innovation across all sites. Aligns system-wide physics and dosimetry functions to support integrated, high-performance radiation oncology care delivery.
• Leads operational and clinical excellence, integration, clinical innovation, and system-wide consistency.
• Drives technology innovation and quality.
• Provides academic leadership, talent development and builds succession plans.
• Works in partnership with Northwestern Medicine department leaders, administrators, medical staff, and department chairs to align system goals in quality, technology implementation, and workforce development to enhance system integration and standardization
• Develops and maintains innovative partnerships, research collaborations and vendor strategic partnerships.
• Advises on the future changes or trends in health care and radiation oncology physics and dosimetry practice changes which may be needed to support those changes.

Operational Excellence

• Oversees operational execution and improvement initiatives across the physics and dosimetry teams, ensuring alignment with system priorities.
• Optimizes physics and dosimetry operations through fiscally responsible adoption of technology, automation, and standardized workflows.
• Identifies revenue opportunities and collaborates with finance and procurement leaders.
• Ensures services meet patient care needs while providing safe, effective, and efficient delivery of physics and dosimetry services.
• Advances superior patient care through advancement of best practices by identifying, optimizing, and executing on efficiency gains and automation across the enterprise.

Clinical & Technical Quality

• Responsible for ensuring commissioning, calibration and acceptance testing of radiation therapy equipment are the highest possible quality.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies.

Academic Mission & Talent Development

• Recruits and retains top-tier physicists and dosimetrists with demonstrated leadership, innovation, or academic distinction.
• Leads, inspires and mentors a highly effective team and assures efforts to engage and inspire all team members. Builds collaborative and trusting cross-functional relationships with intra- and inter-division team members to ensure clinical, quality, safety, financial, and performance metrics are achieved.
• Guide teaching and supervision programs for the medical physics residents, students, and clinical staff.

Required:

• PhD in physics, medical physics, or engineering from an accredited institution
• Eligible to be listed on the NMHC radioactive materials license
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in a large, reputable healthcare institution
• Demonstrated success in managing personnel, financial operations, quality programs, and the professional aspects of physics and dosimetry services
• Experience with regulatory and accreditation compliance, including inspections and quality committees
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; professional demeanor across all levels of internal and external stakeholders
• Proven ability to lead change initiatives and implement new policies in response to evolving federal and state regulations
• Competence in analyzing data, formulating strategies, and making sound operational decisions
• Experience preparing operating and capital budgets, including technology evaluation
• Ability to collaborate with industry partners to evaluate or co-develop novel technologies
• Effective problem-solving, goal-setting, and team leadership capabilities

Preferred:

• Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in a large academic center or integrated health system
• Has or has the ability to acquire NIH and other extramural funding
• Leadership in national and international professional societies
• Deep expertise across all modalities of radiation oncology, including external beam, brachytherapy, proton therapy and radiosurgery
• Familiarity with cutting-edge devices, adaptive workflows, and image-guided technologies
• Demonstrated success in securing external funding or eligibility to apply for research grants
• Established relationships with vendors and demonstrated success in driving innovation through partnership

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

If we offer you a job, we will perform a background check that includes a review of any criminal convictions. A conviction does not disqualify you from employment at Northwestern Medicine. We consider this on a case-by-case basis and follow all state and federal guidelines.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.