Whitney Warren, M.S., DABR
Cypress,TX
Summary
Accomplished Lead Medical Physicist at Houston Methodist Hospital, adept in quality assurance and treatment planning. Proven track record in launching cancer centers and optimizing radiation protocols. Skilled in vendor management and staff training, ensuring compliance and enhancing patient safety. Specialized knowledge in Varian systems and strong communication skills propel successful multidisciplinary partnerships.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lead Medical Physicist, RSO for Cypress
Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston, TX
08.2021 - Current
- Oversee suitable physics coverage throughout all satellite cancer centers
- Opened a cancer center at a new Houston Methodist facility in the Cypress area.
- Identified all machines and equipment essential for launching new cancer center, securing quotes from vendors
- Developed and implemented quality assurance protocols for radiation equipment.
- Trained staff on safety procedures and equipment usage in radiation oncology
- Executed commissioning of Siemens CT simulator and TrueBeam linear accelerator on schedule to ensure timely opening
- Secured credentialing for multiple clinical trials at hospital
- Participant in residency steering committee
Senior Medical Physicist, RSO for Willowbrook
Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston, TX
11.2010 - Current
- Completed acceptance and commissioning processes for a TrueBeam linear accelerator
- Developed accurate beam models to optimize treatment protocols; and carried out calibration procedures to guarantee equipment performance.
- Vault shielding layout, calculations, and measurements of LINAC facility
- Vision RT acceptance/commissioning on the Truebeam accelerator
- Eclipse v. 13 and v. 15 commissioning for Truebeam and Clinac
- Directed department through two transitions, Pinnacle to Eclipse and Mosaiq to Aria
- System administrator and support, including upgrades for all sites, for Atlas, RadCalc, and Pinnacle
- Member of the Medical Physics Residency Committee
- Mosaiq upgrades-sequencer and departmental evaluations post-upgrade for seamless transition
- Formulated and sustained quality assurance and treatment planning policies and procedures, achieving compliance during state inspections
- SBRT, VMAT, and IMRT Quality Assurance and Treatment Planning with Pinnacle and Eclipse
- Initial Plan check, Weekly, and Final Chart check using Mosaiq and Aria
- Quality Assurance of Philips Wide-Bore CT
- Secured TX RAM license for Houston Methodist Willowbrook Cancer Center
- Acceptance and commissioning of a Varian Varisource iX HDR unit
- Annual Radiation Safety Training for staff and dosimeter oversight
- Participated in Radiation Safety Meetings at Hospital, acting as liaison to hospital and Cancer Center
- Formulated HDR treatment plans utilizing advanced radiation therapy techniques, including Gyn Tandem/Ring and Cylinders; skin through Leipzig applicator, and breast via Savi/Contura devices.
- Conducted quality assurance tests on radiotherapy equipment and systems.
- Analyzed complex patient data to enhance treatment accuracy and effectiveness.
- Mentored resident medical physicists in clinical procedures and equipment usage.
- Participated in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss patient progress and care plans.
- Advised healthcare providers on best practices for delivering radiation treatments safely and effectively.
- Coordinated closely with vendors when ordering replacement parts or supplies for radiation equipment.
- Reviewed patient records regularly to ensure compliance with established standards of care.
- Evaluated new technology trends in the field of medical physics and recommended appropriate upgrades or modifications to existing equipment.
- Taught Radiation Therapy Physics subjects to Radiation Oncology residents
Medical Physicist
The Don & Sybil Harrington Cancer Center
01.2008 - 10.2010
- Monthly and annual machine calibrations and quality assurance for Varian 21EX, 23EX, Trilogy, and Tomotherapy Hi-Art
- Facilitated initiation of 4DCTs utilizing Varian RPM and Siemens CT Patient QA with MapCHECK
- Executed IMRT and Tomotherapy delivery quality assurance protocols to ensure precision.
Developed and implemented solid compensator techniques for enhanced treatment accuracy.
Utilized irregular surface compensators to improve patient treatment outcomes. - Conducted weekly quality assurance review of patient charts
- Develop Tomotherapy treatment plans to optimize patient outcomes
- Supported Chief Physicist in commissioning and acceptance testing of Varian Trilogy 2300iX
- Executed intraoperative Pd-103 and I-125 prostate seed implants utilizing VariSeed treatment planning
- Nucletron HDR Ir-192 source calibration
- Gyn LDR Brachytherapy Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy Planning and Treatments including Tandem and Ovoids, Eye Plaques, and Permanent Prostate Seed Implants
- Executed ACR accreditation application for radiation therapy department
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, USA
01.2005 - 01.2007
- Developed metrics to assess the regularity of respiratory motion
- Made measurements to study the effects of ambient pressure on the temperature pressure correction of well ionization chambers
- Examined the effects of different radiographic markers on proton dose distributions
- M.S. Thesis: 'Evaluation of BANG polymer gel dosimeters in proton beams'
Radiation Safety Student Technician
Environmental Health and Safety Dept., Texas A&M University
01.2003 - 01.2005
Radiation Safety Intern
Iso-tex Diagnostics
Friendswood, USA
01.2003 - 01.2003
- Reviewed safety data sheets to ensure proper handling of hazardous materials.
- Researched best practices in occupational health and safety management systems.
Education
Master of Science - Medical Physics
University of Texas Health Science Center
Houston, Texas12.2007
Bachelor of Science - Radiological Health Engineering
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas05.2005
Skills
- Windows
- Unix
- Philips Pinnacle3
- Tomotherapy Hi-Art
- Varian Eclipse
- Varian Variseed
- MIM Software
- IMPAC Medical Systems MOSAIQ
- Lifeline RadCalc
- Mobius and DoseLab Pro
- Varian Argus
- Varian MLC Shaper Software
- Sun Nuclear MapCHECK and ArcCHECK
- Sun Nuclear Profiler
- Sun Nuclear RfIVD
- Sun Nuclear DQA3
- Sun Nuclear ATLAS
- Image Owl
- Philips TumorLoc
- IBA OmniPro
- IBA MyQA
- Microsoft suite
- MathWorks MATLAB
Affiliations
- American Association Of Physicists In Medicine
- American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology
- Southwestern American Association of Physicists in Medicine
- Health Physics Society (HPS), Student Association Secretary
Certification
- Texas Board for Professional Medical Physicists, FMP00010486
- American Board of Radiology, Therapeutic Radiological Physics, 06/01/12
Fellowships And Awards
- 2002-present, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center CAP scholarship
- 2003-2005, American Nuclear Society scholarship
- 2003-2005, Medical University of South Carolina, U.S Department of Energy fellowship
- 2003-2004, South Texas Chapter Health Physics Society Scholarship
- 2003-2004, Tau Beta Pi, Engineering Honor Society
Publications
- Helical TomoTherapy System, W. Warren, W. Grant, B. Teh, 04/01/10, Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, pg 67-77. SS Lo, BS Teh, et al (eds.) Springer, Berlin Heidelberg
- Tomotherapy Treatment of a Pediatric Synovial Sarcoma of the Hand, 2010, Tomotherapy User Education Symposium
- Dosimetric characterization of a 131Cs brachytherapy source by thermoluminescence dosimetry in liquid water, 07/01/07, Med. Phys. 35(12):5861-5868
- Evaluation of BANG polymer gel dosimeters in proton beams, 07/01/07, American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Annual Meeting, Poster Session SU-FF-T-284 (Corresponding Author)
- Dosimetric characterization of model CS-1 131Cs source by thermoluminescence dosimetry in liquid water, 07/01/07, American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Annual Meeting, Moderated Poster - Brachytherapy- SU-DD-A1-3
- Metrics for assessment of reproducibility of respiratory motion for four-dimensional computed tomography imaging, 07/01/06, American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Annual Meeting, Poster Session SU-FF-J-94 (Corresponding Author)
- Survey of Co-60 Teletherapy Machine, 04/01/04, South Texas Chapter Health Physics Society Spring Meeting, Student Presentations
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Lead Medical Physicist, RSO for Cypress
Houston Methodist Hospital
08.2021 - Current
Senior Medical Physicist, RSO for Willowbrook
Houston Methodist Hospital
11.2010 - Current
Medical Physicist
The Don & Sybil Harrington Cancer Center
01.2008 - 10.2010
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
01.2005 - 01.2007
Radiation Safety Student Technician
Environmental Health and Safety Dept., Texas A&M University
01.2003 - 01.2005
Radiation Safety Intern
Iso-tex Diagnostics
01.2003 - 01.2003
Master of Science - Medical Physics
University of Texas Health Science Center
Bachelor of Science - Radiological Health Engineering
Texas A&M University