Sutter Health and UC Davis Health announce clinical physicist residency program partnership

Sutter Health and UC Davis Health leaders at signing ceremony

Sutter Health and UC Davis Health are proud to announce a strategic partnership and affiliation to establish a new residency training program for clinical medical physicists. The specialists plan radiation treatments for cancer patients. The collaboration aims to provide UC Davis physicist residents with enriched clinical learning experiences primarily at Sutter Health’s facilities.

“We are confident that our new program will offer residents a comprehensive and enriching training experience, preparing them for successful careers in medical physics,” said, Vice Chair of Clinical Physics at UC Davis Health Stanley H. Benedict. “We look forward to our partnership with Sutter Health.”

The affiliation not only enhances the training program but also reinforces the commitment of both institutions to improve patient care and community health. Throughout the program, residents will be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to contribute effectively to the health care community, ensuring high-quality care for patients.

“We are thrilled to partner with UC Davis Health,” said Ahmad Al-Basheer, director of physics with Sutter Health’s Sutter Medical Foundation Radiation Oncology. “The residency program will enhance our educational training and support our mission to prepare the next generation of medical physicists while adhering to the highest standards of education and clinical practice.”

The program has been approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP).

To commemorate the partnership, a signing ceremony took place at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center on July 29, 2024. Along with Al-Basheer, other representatives from Sutter Health included radiation oncologist Mark Logsdon, chief physicist Chuan Wu and area director Nancy Mathai. From UC Davis Health, Benedict was joined by Richard Valicenti, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, and residency directors Peter Park and Sonja Dieterich.

The Medical Physics Residency Program aims to:

• Educate and Train: Develop physicists to a competency level sufficient for independent practice in radiation oncology physics.
• Prepare for Certification: Prepare graduates for certification in Therapeutic Radiological Physics by the American Board of Radiology.

Both organizations will share responsibilities to ensure the success of the program. UC Davis Health will establish and maintain the educational goals and objectives of the program, ensuring they meet accreditation standards. Sutter Health will provide the necessary clinical environment and oversight to support the trainees’ educational activities.

Together, they will ensure that all activities comply with relevant regulations and maintain the highest standards of patient care and safety.