There are more than 50 faculty members involved in the Radiation Oncology Clinical Medical Physics Residency. Over 40 of the faculty are board-certified medical physicists, and the remaining physicists are on track to board certification. The faculty includes Ph.D. and M.S. medical physicists who collectively have a wealth of experience in every aspect of radiation oncology medical physics.  Areas of expertise include all areas of clinical practice, basic and applied research, and education and professional activities, as demonstrated through leadership in national organizations, the certification and peer-review process, and educational involvement.

Many of our faculty members have published and lectured extensively and are highly regarded in their fields. Throughout your training, you will have direct access to the Department of Radiation Oncology faculty members.

In addition, there are more than 30 radiation oncologists who work directly with the physics faculty.

From the program director

Thank you for taking the time to research the therapeutic medical physics residency program here in Rochester, Minnesota.

Residents are trained on cutting-edge equipment in a busy practice with a wide variety of procedures. A physics faculty-to-resident ratio of over 3-to-1 means that residents have ample one-on-one training with ABR-certified physicists. 

Our residency program is structured a bit differently than most: instead of just two years of clinical training, we incorporate an extra year that allows residents to spend approximately one-third of their residency in clinically focused medical physics research. 

Having both three-year and two-year programs in the past, we find this three-year format better prepares our residents for the mixed responsibilities of junior medical physics faculty. The structure allows a resident’s clinical training experience and research experience to inform and complement one another, allowing our residents to enhance their training and develop lasting improvements in the quality of patient care. 

Minnesota Community has more information about Rochester, Minnesota, and the surrounding area. I expect you might be surprised by what the area has to offer. 

On a more personal note, I was a resident in this program myself before joining our physics faculty and eventually becoming the program director. I can still remember the sense of wonder I experienced in my first visit to the Mayo Clinic campus, and my words hardly do justice to the dedication the people of Mayo Clinic. As you explore our website, please do not hesitate to reach out to Elaine Eckheart or myself if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Nicholas Remmes, Ph.D.
Program Director, Assistant Professor of Medical Physics

Core faculty

Advisers and mentors

Faculty are excited to help you learn and grow in your professional career, and you will have the opportunity to build relationships and connect with experts in the physics field throughout your residency. 

When you arrive, you will be assigned a primary mentor and a research mentor.  These mentors will meet with you regularly throughout your residency, providing comprehensive educational advice and personal support.  They will review your progress and career goals and ensure that your educational needs are being met.

In addition, every rotation has faculty mentors who will train and guide you.  Half of our physics faculty are a mentor for a rotation, and all our faculty participate in teaching residents through clinical shadowing.