Youssef M. Charara
Home Address:
Fairfax Station, VA 22039
Phone: 571-***-****
Email: ********@*****.***
Professional Experience
Virginia Cancer Specialists, Fairfax, VA
July 2013 - Present Medical Physicist
Responsible for all aspects of medical physics. This
includes acceptance, commissioning, beam modeling, monthly
and annual calibration of treatment linear accelerator,
quality assurance procedures for Elekta Synergy Linac,
Nucletron HDR, GE 16 slice CT, Seed Implants, and Pinnacle
and Xio treatment planning systems. Manage vendor
relationships including upgrades. Serve as radiation safety
officer.
West County Radiology, Saint Louis, MO
Aug 2012 - June 2013 Medical Physicist
Plan and execute customer acceptance testing,
commissioning, and beam modeling for multiple Linacs,
imaging systems, and treatment planning systems. Plan and
QA prostate seed implants, HDR, 3D-CRT, IMRT, IGRT, SRS,
and SBRT treatments. Calibrate Siemens, Varian, Elekta,
and Tomotherapy Linacs monthly and annual. Train physician
residents and therapy/dosimetry students on physics
procedures. Manage vendor relationships, including system
upgrades and part replacements.
Elekta Inc, Saint Louis, MO
Oct 11-Aug 2012 Medical Physicist
Responsible for research, product design, development, and
validation, including the invention and implementation of
unique solutions, algorithms, and features, as well as
providing technical documentation.
Provide support by participation in technical conferences,
sales demos, training, and phone support for physics-
specific questions from customers.
Develop training course material and teach general
treatment planning, IMRT, and beam modeling courses for
dosimetrists and physicists using XiO, Focal, and Monaco.
Sibley Memorial Hospital, Washington, DC
Mar 09-Sep 11 Medical Physicist, Radiation Oncology Department
Monthly and annual calibrations of Varian, Tomotherapy, and Primus
Linacs. Responsible for treatment planning and patient-
specific QA using Tomotherapy and Pinnacle planning
systems. Experience in real-time and preplanned prostate
seed implants, eye-plaque seed implants and Nucletron HDR
treatments. Patient chart check and special physics
procedures.
Thompson Cancer Survival Center, Knoxville, TN
Aug 2006 - Feb 09 Medical Physicist, Radiation Oncology Department
Monthly and annual calibrations of Varian and Tomotherapy Linacs
Responsible for treatment planning and patient-specific QA
using Tomotherapy and Pinnacle planning systems.
Experience in real-time prostate seed implants and
Nucletron HDR treatments. Patient chart check and special
physics procedures.
Research interests: Ion Therapy Dosimetry and Applications
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
January 05 - Feb 09 Graduate Research Assistant, Nuclear Engineering
Department
Modeling of Linear Energy Transfer (LET) response of the CRaTER
detector, launched in April 2009 to characterize the lunar
radiation environment and its impact on human tissue
Research interests: Particle production of high energy charged particles
beams in thick targets
Education
University of Tennessee - College of Engineering, Knoxville, TN
August 2006 - May 2009 PhD, Nuclear Engineering
Jan. 2005 - August 2006 M.S., Nuclear Engineering
Jan. 2000 - May 2004 B.S., Nuclear Engineering
Honors and Awards and Certificates
2004 Finalist at the ANS student Senior Design Competition
2007 Finalist in the 49th Annual AAPM's Young Investigator Symposium
2008 Invited Student Speaker at the Annual SEAAPM Meeting
2008 Finalist in the 50th Annual AAPM's Young Investigator Symposium
2010 NASA Group Achievement Award (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Team)
2012 ABR Certification in Therapeutic Medical Physics
Organizational Activities
2000 - American Nuclear Society, Member
2006 - American Association of Physicist in Medicine, Member
2007 - American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and
Oncology, Member
Clinical Skills
Linear Accelerators: Varian 21EX, Siemens Primus, Tomotherapy, Elekta
Axess, Elekta Synergy
Treatment Planning: Elekta Xio, Elekta Monaco, Philips Pinnacle, Varian
Variseed, Nucletron Plato, Tomotherapy, Eclipse, Ergo ++, Oncentra, MIM
Info. Management: IMPAC MultiAccess, IMPAC MOSAIQ, ARIA
Brachytherapy: Nucletron MicroSelectron Remote afterloaders. Iodine,
Palladium, and Cesium Seeds
QA Tools: MapCheck, ArcCheck, Daily QA3, Wellhofer Blue Scanning System,
RIT, MATRIXX, RadCalc
Other Skills
Computer OS/Codes: UNIX, Microsoft Office suite, HETC-HEDS, Fortran, Xio,
Monaco, Focal
Languages: English, French, Arabic
Publications
Journal Publications
Charara, Y.M.; Townsend, L. W.; Gabriel, T.A.; Zeitlin, C. J.; Heilbronn,
L. H.; and Miller, J.: HETC-HEDS Code Validation Using Laboratory Beam
Energy Loss Spectra Data. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. 55,
No. 6, December 2008, pp. 3164-3168.
Mansur, L. K.; Charara, Y. M.; Guetersloh, S. B.; Remec, I.; and Townsend,
L. W.: Fragmentation Calculations for Energetic Ions in Candidate Space
Radiation Shielding Materials. Nuclear Technology, Vol. 166, No. 3, June
2009, pp. 263-272.
Spence, H. E.; Case, A.; Golightly, M. J.; Heine, T.; Blake, J. B.;
Caranza, P.; Crain, W. R.; George, J.; Lalic, M.; Lin, A.; Looper, M. D.;
Mazur, J. E.; Salvaggio, D.; Kasper, J. C.; Stubbs, T. J.; Doucette, M.;
Ford, P.; Foster, R.; Goeke, R.; Gordon, D.; Klatt, B.; O'Connor, J.;
Smith, M.; Onsager, T.; Zeitlin, C.; Townsend, L.; and Charara, Y.: CRaTER:
The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation Experiment on the
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission. Space Science Review, Vol. 150, Nos.
1-4, January 2010, pp. 243-284, doi:10.1007/s11214-009-9584-8
Townsend, L.W.; Moussa, H.M.; and Charara, Y.M.: Monte Carlo Simulations of
Energy Losses by Space Protons in the CRaTER Detector. Acta Astronautica,
Vol. 66, Nos. 5-6, March-April 2010, pp. 643-647.
doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2009.08.007
Townsend, L. W.; Charara, Y. M.; DeLauder, N.; PourArsalan, M.; Anderson,
J. A.; Fisher, C. M.; Spence, H. E.; Schwadron, N. A.; Golightly, M. J.;
and Cucinotta, F. A.: Parameterizations of the Linear Energy Transfer
Spectrum for the CRaTER Instrument During the LRO Mission. Space Weather -
The International Journal of Research and Applications, Vol. 8, S00E03,
March 2010, doi:10.1029/2009SW000526
Conference Publications and Presentations
Charara, Y. M.; Townsend, L. W.; Mansur, L. K.; Frame, B. J.; Gallego, N.
C.; Geutersloh, S. B.; Johnson, J. O.; and Klett, J. W.: Fragmentation of
High Energy 16O Beam in Carbon and Polymer Materials: Comparisons Between
Data and Model. 14th Biennial ANS Radiation Protection and Shielding
Division Topical Meeting, Carlsbad, NM, April 2-6, 2006. Proceedings on CD-
ROM.
Charara, Y.; Townsend, L. W.; and Moussa, H. M.: LET Spectra of High Energy
Proton Beam on A-150: Model Predictions for the CRaTER Detector. 36th
International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES), Norfolk, VA, July
17-20, 2006. SAE Technical Paper No. 200*-**-****. Proceedings on CD-ROM.
Mazur, J. E.; Blake, J. B.; Looper, M. D.; Spence, H.; Kepko, L.; Kasper,
J.; Townsend, L.; and Charara, Y.: The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects
of Radiation (CRaTER) Investigation for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
2006 IEEE Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conference, Ponte Vedra
Beach, FL, July 17-21, 2006.
Charara, Y.; Townsend, L. W.; Moussa, H. M.; Hatcher, R. L.; Anderson, J.
L.; Dudney, C.; McKee, S. A.; McKinnis, P.; and Ottinger, K. : Calculated
Energy Loss Spectra in the CRaTER Detector for Selected Cosmic Ray Ions.
2007 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, March 3-10, 2007. Proceedings
on CD-ROM.
Mansur, L. K.; Charara, Y. M.; Guetersloh, S. B.; Remec, I.; and Townsend,
L. W.: Fragmentation Calculations for Energetic Ions in Candidate Space
Radiation Shielding Materials. Space Nuclear Conference 2007, Boston, MA,
June 24-28, 2007. Proceedings on CD-ROM.
Charara, Y. M.; Townsend, L. W.; Spence, H.; Blake, J. B.; Golightly, M.
J.; Kepko, E. L.; Kasper, J. C.; Looper, M. D.; Mazur, J. E.; and Farmer,
C. M.: Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER):
Comparison Between Experiment and Computer Simulations. Space Nuclear
Conference 2007, Boston, MA, June 24-28, 2007. Proceedings on CD-ROM.
Farmer, C. M.; Charara, Y. M.; and Townsend, L. W.: LET Spectra of Iron
Particles on A-150: Model Predictions for the CRaTER Detector. 37th
International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES), Chicago, IL, July
9-12, 2007. SAE Paper No. 200*-**-****. Proceedings on CD-ROM.
Charara, Y.; Townsend, L. and Ramsey, C.: Development of a Novel Detector
for Measuring Proton Energy Spectra. 49th Annual Meeting of the American
Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), Minneapolis, MN, July 22-26,
2007.
Charara, Y.; Townsend, L. and Ramsey, C.: Energy Deposition Contributions
from Secondary Particles in Proton Therapy. 49th Annual Meeting of the
American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), Minneapolis, MN,
July 22-26, 2007.
Charara, Y.; Townsend, L.; and Ramsey, C.: Secondary Particle Energy
Deposition for Proton and Carbon Therapy Beams. Proceedings of the American
Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, 49th Annual Meeting, Los
Angeles, CA, October 28-November 1, 2007, International Journal of
Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, Vol. 69, Issue 3, November 1, 2007, pp.
S192-S193.
Charara, Y. M.; Townsend, L. W.; and Farmer, C. M.: A Benchmark Study:
Comparisons Between HETC-HEDS and Experimental Data. 2008 IEEE Aerospace
Conference, Big Sky, MT, March 1-8, 2008. Proceedings on CD-ROM.
Charara, Y.M.; Townsend, L. W.; Gabriel, T.A.; Zeitlin, C. J.; Heilbronn,
L. H.; and Miller, J.: HETC-HEDS Code Validation Using Laboratory Beam
Energy Loss Spectra Data. 2008 IEEE Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects
Conference, Tucson, AZ, July 14-18, 2008.
Charara, Y.; Ramsey, C.; and Townsend, L.: Carbon Foam Collimators for
Proton Therapy. American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)
Annual Meeting, Houston, TX, July 27-31, 2008.
Charara, Y.; Ramsey, C.; and Townsend, L.: Distribution of Secondary
Particles in Carbon Ion Therapy. American Association of Physicists in
Medicine (AAPM) Annual Meeting, Houston, TX, July 27-31, 2008.
Charara, Y.; Ramsey, C.; and Townsend, L.: Neutron Production with Carbon
Therapy Beams. 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic
Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), Boston, MA, September 21-25, 2008.
Moussa, H.M.; Charara, Y.M.; and Townsend, L.W.: Monte Carlo Simulations of
Energy Losses by Space Protons in the CRaTER Detector. 59th International
Astronautical Congress, Glasgow, Scotland, September 29 - October 3, 2008.
(Proceedings on CD-ROM)
Anderson, J. A.; Townsend, L. W.; and Charara, Y.: Secondary Particle
Effects on Linear Energy Transfer. 2009 American Nuclear Society Annual
Meeting, Atlanta, GA, June 14-18, 2009.
Charara, Y.; Townsend, L.; Usynin, A.; and Ramsey, C.: Fragmentation in
Carbon Therapy Beams. 12th International Conference on Nuclear Reaction
Mechanisms, Varenna, Italy, June 15-19, 2009.
Anderson, J. A.; Townsend, L. W.; and Charara, Y. M.: Linear Energy
Transfer Estimates for the CRaTER Instrument on LRO. 2010 IEEE Aerospace
Conference, Big Sky, MT, March 6-13, 2010. (Proceedings on CD-ROM)
References are available upon request