Our residents come from graduate schools around the U.S. and outside of the country. They have a love of learning and a compassionate approach to patient care. Our residents come from diverse backgrounds, family statuses, and professional and personal interests. Throughout the residency, residents and faculty foster a collegial environment and education-focused culture that provides an inclusive and collaborative learning experience.

From the senior residents

Welcome to our Radiation Oncology Medical Physics Residency Program! As third-year residents, we are excited to introduce you to a program that has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. Our journey here has been defined by a shared passion for patient care and a commitment to excellence in the field of medical physics.

From the moment you begin, you will be immersed in a collaborative environment where daily interactions with experienced faculty and clinical staff are a key part of the experience. This close-knit approach ensures that you are never alone in learning the ropes. Whether it is during structured education sessions or spontaneous problem-solving moments, there is always someone available to guide you. As you progress, you will gradually take on more responsibility, stepping into roles such as pre-treatment plan checks, brachytherapy planning, and the role of proton gantry physicist. While these responsibilities are taken on independently, the support network remains strong, allowing you to build confidence and competence in a safe and supportive setting.

What truly sets our program apart is the diverse range of experiences it offers. Whether you are drawn to clinical practice, research, or a combination of both, Mayo Clinic provides a wealth of opportunities. With its extensive array of treatments, from regional practices to complex proton therapy, there is something here for everyone. You will have the chance to engage in cutting-edge research, participate in new technology rollouts, and contribute to commissioning projects. The presence of medical physics assistants further enhances our learning experience by allowing us to focus on the most critical aspects of our training without being burdened by routine QA tasks.

Life as a resident here is not just about work; it is also about maintaining balance. Our resident community is strong and supportive, helping each other navigate challenges while also making time for life outside of the clinic. We believe that this balance is essential for thriving both professionally and personally.

If you are looking for a residency that offers rigorous training, diverse opportunities, and a supportive community, we hope you will consider joining the team here at Mayo. We are excited about the future and would love to have you be part of it.

Sincerely,
Xueyan Tang, Ph.D., Shaquan David, Ph.D., and Zach Stottler, Ph.D.
2024-2025 Senior Residents

Current residents

Learn about each resident's background, research/clinical interests, and why they chose to train at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Class of 2025

	Shaquan David, Ph.D. Hometown: Killeen, TX Graduate school: University of Texas at San Antonio (Ph.D.) Research/clinical interests: Developing Spatially Fractionated Radiation Therapy (SFRT) techniques for delivering nonuniform kV energy dose distribution to the tumor sub-volumes while minimizing dose to the surrounding critical structures Hobbies: Hiking, mixed martial arts, basketball, weightlifting Why I chose Mayo: The medical physics residency program at Mayo Clinic involves exceptional clinical training and research centered around solving immediate and potential issues in serving our patients. With excellent clinical training, research, and mentorship, I am confident this residency program will help me attain the necessary skills to become a qualified clinical medical physicist.
	Zachary Stottler, Ph.D. Hometown: Glenwood, MN Graduate school: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Ph.D.) Research/clinical interests: Adaptive therapies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and Monte Carlo dose calculation and optimization in particle therapy Hobbies: Camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and cooking Why I chose Mayo: Growing up in rural Minnesota—far from Rochester—I came to revere Mayo Clinic as a world-class institution from an early age. After pursuing a doctorate in physics with an emphasis on experimental high-energy particle physics, I sought a career in medical physics to put my skillset to use in helping patients in the clinic. The wealth of experts working at Mayo and the established track record of interdisciplinary collaboration make it an ideal place to learn and participate in cutting-edge research aimed at improving patient care
	Xueyan Tang, Ph.D. Hometown: Qingdao, China Graduate school: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (Ph.D.) Research/clinical interests: Automatic treatment planning, adaptive radiation therapy Hobbies: Guitar, violin, camping, video games Why I chose Mayo: It is the No.1 hospital in the world, with cutting-edge equipment and a tier-one medical team. I'll be able to learn from the best to better serve the patients.

Class of 2026

	Dalton Griner, Ph.D. Hometown: Sandy, UT Graduate school: University of Wisconsin (Ph.D.) Research/clinical interests: AI and automation, data management, innovative imaging Hobbies: Rock climbing, backpacking and hiking, guitar Why I chose Mayo: No.1 hospital speaks for itself!
	Daiki Hara, Ph.D. Hometown: Austin, TX Graduate school: University of Miami (Ph.D.) Research/clinical interests: Particle therapies, spatially fractionated radiotherapy, radiobiology Hobbies: Fishing, snowboarding, bonsai Why I chose Mayo: Mayo Clinic's Medical Physics Residency Program has it all. The Radiation Oncology Department is full of state-of-the-art technology operated by experts in the field, and it’s all incorporated into a renowned hospital solving highly complex cases. As one of the longest-running medical physics residency programs filled with friendly, education-focused faculty/staff, I felt I could fully absorb everything these facilities have to offer.
	Cenji Yu, Ph.D. Hometown: Shanghai, China Graduate school: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (Ph.D.) Research/clinical interests: Image-guided radiation therapy, computer vision applications in radiation oncology Hobbies: Creative writing, basketball, skiing Why I chose Mayo: I chose Mayo for our dedication to patient care and education. Our program provides abundant learning opportunities with a variety of complex clinical procedures. We are also supported by caring experts who prioritize our personal growth and well-being.

Class of 2027

	Ruiming Edmondson, Ph.D., M.S. Hometown: Beijing, China Graduate school: University of Wisconsin – Madison (Ph.D.) Research/clinical interests: Image-guided radiation therapy, adaptive radiation therapy, motion management Hobbies: Zumba, pottery Why I chose Mayo: I was impressed by the department and the culture – the dedication to patient care, the commitment to training and education, and the delightful colleagues to work with all gave me great confidence for a successful and memorable residency.
	Darwin Garcia, Ph.D. Hometown:  Tegucigalpa, Honduras Graduate school:  Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (Ph.D.) Research/clinical interests:  Radiobiology, spatially fractionated radiotherapy Hobbies: Playing soccer, distance running, cooking, and fishing Why I chose Mayo: I chose Mayo for the multi-modality and multi-specialty clinical practice. The clinical rotations cover a wide range of clinical procedures, which will give me an excellent, well-rounded training. Additionally, I am thrilled to learn and collaborate with scientists and clinicians that are world-class experts in the field.
	Brandon Reber, Ph.D. Hometown: Sexsmith, Alberta, Canada Graduate school: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (Ph.D.) Research/clinical interests: Knowledge-based radiation treatment planning, deep learning radiation dose prediction, radiation late toxicities Hobbies: Hiking, learning Spanish, film Why I chose Mayo: I chose Mayo due to the incredible facilities, staff, and residents. I also appreciated the research opportunities available to residents.