Faculty

Meet Our Faculty

Manuj Agarwal
Manuj Agarwal, MD

Prostate Cancer Institute of America

Click for Bio Dr. Manuj Agarwal is an interventional radiation oncologist specializing in prostate brachytherapy and survivorship-focused quality-of-life outcomes. He co-founded the Prostate Cancer Institute of America (PCIA), where he works with urology and radiation oncology teams to expand access to high-quality LDR seed implant programs and improve consistency of technique and patient experience. He also founded Blue Wellth, a physician-led longevity and integrative care practice that supports patients and high performers with evidence-informed strategies to optimize health, performance, and recovery.
Manik Aima
Manik Aima, PhD

Stanford University

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Beth Anderson
Beth Anderson, MD

University of Wisconsin

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Janna Andrews
Janna Andrews, MD

Northwell Health

Click for BioDr. Janna Andrews, MD is a radiation oncologist in Sleepy Hollow, NY and has over 25 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine in 2000. She is affiliated with Phelps Hospital.
Rojine Ariani
Rojine Ariani, MD

UCLA

Dr. Rojine Ariani is a native of Los Angeles, CA. She received Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Biological Science from USC. She then earned her M.S. In Global Medicine from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where she also afterward earned her M.D. Prior to joining the UCLA Radiation Oncology Residency Program, Dr. Ariani completed her Internal Medicine internship at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, CA. Her areas of interest include brachytherapy and gynecologic malignancies, head and neck cancer, outcomes research, and cancer survivorship.
Khush Aujla
Khush Aujla, MD

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Click for BioDr. Aujla is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Dr. Aujla graduated from the University of Mississippi Medical Center and completed residency in radiation oncology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. Dr. Aujla practices general radiation oncology and specializes in the treatment of gynecological and genitourinary cancers, and in the use of brachytherapy for various disease sites.

On a personal note - "My name Khush means Happy in my native language. My goal is to embody my name by maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude while staying prepared and respectful of the challenges faced by cancer patients."
Diandra Ayala-Peacock
Diandra Ayala-Peacock, MD

Duke University Medical Center

Click for BioDr. Ayala-Peacock received her BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. She received her MD degree and completed both internship and subsequent Radiation Oncology residency and chief year at Wake Forest University Medical Center. She is now an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at Duke University. Dr. Ayala-Peacock's research interests include advancement of brachytherapy-focused technologies including imaging fusion, guidance and tracking, as well as pelvic phantom development for evaluation of these technologies. She is also active in national clinical trial development for gynecologic malignancies where she holds several leadership positions and has additional roles in several institutional studies regarding sexual health concerns among cancer survivors.
Arjit Baghwala
Arjit Baghwala, PhD

Houston Methodist University

Click for Bio Arjit Baghwala is a Senior Radiation Physicist and Lead for Brachytherapy at Houston Methodist Hospital. He is nationally recognized for his expertise in brachytherapy and serves as faculty for the American Brachytherapy Society, including the 2025-2026 Annual Meeting. Arjit is board certified by the American Board of Radiology and is a Fellow of the AAPM. He is actively engaged in professional service, including serving as past president of the SWAAPM chapter of the AAPM. He has also contributed to national education and clinical practice initiatives, including organizing and leading ABR MOCK examinations. He is known for his collaborative leadership, commitment to clinical excellence, and dedication to advancing high-quality, patient-centered radiation oncology care.
Jonathan Bear
Jonathan Bear, MD

Palomar Health Medical Group

Click for Bio Jonathan Bear, MD, DABR, is a distinguished Radiation Oncologist based in Escondido, CA. With more than a decade of experience in the field of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Bear is deeply committed to delivering patient-centered care, meticulously addressing the unique values and needs of each individual patient.
 Dr. Bear's journey in medicine is profoundly influenced by his extensive military background. As a retired Navy veteran with over 26 years of dedicated service, he brings a strong sense of duty and commitment to his medical practice. His transition from military service to healthcare is driven by a steadfast desire to continue serving the community, particularly in the challenging and rewarding field of cancer treatment.
 At Palomar Health, Dr. Bear collaborates with a team of highly skilled professionals to ensure that every patient receives exceptional care. He views the opportunity to treat cancer patients of all ages as both a privilege and a significant responsibility. Dr. Bear's dedication to making a positive impact on his patients' lives is evident in his approach, striving to provide world-class cancer care and support throughout their treatment journey.

Dr. Bear specializes in the following procedures:
•High Dose Rate Brachytherapy
•Stereotactic Radiosurgery
•SpaceOAR
•Genitourinary Cancer
•Breast Cancer
•Gynecologic Cancer
•Lung Cancer
•Head and Neck Cancer
•Gastrointestinal Cancer
•Brain Tumors
•Pediatric Cancer
•Lymphoma
•Skin Cancer

 During the first part of his naval career, Dr. Bear was a decorated combat F/A-18 pilot for 10 years before transitioning to the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from the United States Naval Academy and Medical Degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He is board certified by the American Board of Radiology and is a member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, American Brachytherapy Society, Children's Oncology Group, Radiosurgery Society and NRG Oncology Research Group
Sushil Beriwal
Sushil Beriwal, MD, FABS

Allegheny Health Network

Click for Bio Sushil Beriwal MD, MBA, FASTRO, FABS; FICRO Sushil Beriwal MD, MBA, FASTRO, FABS, FICRO, is the academic chief at Allegheny health network and a professor of radiation oncology at Drexel University. He completed his residency in radiation oncology at PGIMER in 1997, India and Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. He specialized in gynecologic, breast, and prostate cancers, with an emphasis on IMRT/IGRT and MRI-based HDR Brachytherapy for gynecological cancers. He is actively involved with clinical research and has more than 325 peer-reviewed publications plus book chapters. Dr. Beriwal served as ABR board examiner and on the editorial board of Brachytherapy as a senior editor for Red journal and received ABS president award, ARRO teacher of the year award, and fellowship from ABS and ASTRO.
Julie Bolin
Julie Bolin, MS, CMNT

GateWay Community College

Click for BioJulie Bolin, MS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, is a nuclear medicine technologist, educator, and national leader with extensive experience spanning clinical practice, academic leadership, and professional service. She currently serves as Program Director and Residential Teaching Faculty for the Bachelor of Applied Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology and Computed Tomography at GateWay Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, and as a Nuclear Medicine Technology Instructor at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts. She also works as a per diem nuclear medicine technologist at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona.
Kristin Bradley
Kristin Bradley, MD

University of Wisconsin

Click for Bio I am a gynecologic radiation oncologist and associate chair of education at the University of Wisconsin. I serve on ABS as the president-elect.
Ivan Brezovich
Ivan Brezovich, PhD

University of Alabama at Birmingham

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Jason Chan
Jason Chan, MD

University of Califonia
San Francisco

Click for BioDr. Jason Chan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He specializes in the treatment of head and neck, skull base, cutaneous, and thoracic malignancies, with particular expertise in first-time and re-irradiation strategies, including high-dose-rate brachytherapy.
Albert Chang
Albert Chang, MD, PhD

UCLA

Click for BioDr. Albert Chang is Professor and Vice Chair of Surgical Services and Director of Brachytherapy in the Department of Radiation Oncology at UCLA, with joint appointments in Urology and the Department of Physics and Biology in Medicine. An internationally recognized leader in genitourinary and gynecologic cancers, Dr. Chang specializes in image-guided brachytherapy and radiation-immunotherapy/systemic therapy combinations. He directs one of the world’s leading brachytherapy fellowship programs and serves on multiple national committees including the American Brachytherapy Society Board of Directors, NRG GU Core Committee, and the American Board of Radiology GU Examining Committee.

Dr. Chang has led numerous investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored clinical trials. He serves as IMRT Co-Chair on NRG Oncology/RTOG 0924 and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and multiple textbook chapters. A dedicated educator and mentor, he has received accolades including the ARRO Educator of the Year Award and multiple “Top Doctor” recognitions. Dr. Chang earned his MD/PhD in Molecular Medicine from Boston University and completed his radiation oncology residency at Washington University in St. Louis.
Vorakarn Chanyavanich
Vorakarn Chanyavanich, PhD

Callaway Young Cancer Center
Valley View Hospital

Click for BioVorakarn Chanyavanich, PhD is the Chief Medical Physicist at Calaway-Young Cancer Center at Valley View Hospital, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Working closely with Dr. Pete Rossi, we have an active MRI-based prostate HDR brachytherapy program.
Alisha Childs-Foster
Alisha Childs-Foster, RN, MSN, OCN, NE-BC

Northside Hospital

Click for BioAlisha is a nurse leader with 17 years of oncology nursing experience, including 10 years in leadership roles. She serves as Service Coordinator for Radiation Oncology Nursing at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, overseeing nursing teams across 17 clinics in the Atlanta area. Her work focuses on operational excellence, clinical quality, and team development within a large, complex radiation oncology program.
Junzo Chino
Junzo Chino, MD

Duke University Medical Center

Click for Bio Dr. Chino is an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Director of Brachytherapy at the Duke Cancer Center and is a Fellow of ASTRO and the American Brachytherapy Society. He has authored over 130 publications in the peer reviewed literature, and his research interests are concentrated in radiation therapy and brachytherapy for gynecologic and ocular cancers, radiation in low/middle income countries, as well as health services and disparities. He was lead author of the ASTRO guidelines task force for cervical cancer, and served as the GYN section editor at the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology and Physics.
David Chiu
Tsuicheng David Chiu, PhD

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Click for Bio Dr. Tsuicheng David Chiu is a medical physicist specializing in brachytherapy, with a particular emphasis on the customization and fabrication of plesiotherapy applicators for surface and complex treatments. His work bridges hands-on applicator design with clinical implementation to provide highly tailored and effective brachytherapy solutions. While his primary focus is on personalized brachytherapy, Dr. Chiu also brings experience in adaptive radiotherapy using the Elekta Unity MR-Linac, supporting a comprehensive approach to individualized radiation therapy.
Gil'ad Cohen
Gil'ad Cohen, MPH

NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Click for Bio Gil'ad Cohen has over 30 years of experience as a radiotherapy physicist. Most of his time is dedicated to the advancement of brachytherapy both through the practice of brachytherapy, mentoring and program developments, and through involvement in ABS and AAPM. He currently serves as faculty at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and is the director brachytherapy physics at the department of radiation oncology.
Timothy Daskivich
Timothy Daskivich, MD

Cedars-Sinai

Click for BioTimothy J. Daskivich, MD, MSHPM is an Associate Professor and the Director of Academic Urologic Oncology in the Department of Urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He graduated magna cum laude in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard College in 2001 and earned his MD from Harvard Medical School in 2006. He then completed residency in Urology at UCLA in 2012 and did a combined health services research and urologic oncology fellowship with the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program and Institute of Urologic Oncology at UCLA. Dr. Daskivich’s clinical practice includes comprehensive management of all genitourinary malignancies, including open and robotic approaches, with a focus on single and multiport robotic surgery and focal therapy for prostate cancer. His main research interests are longevity assessment and improving risk communication to optimize shared decision making in prostate cancer. He won the AUA/Urology Care Foundation Astellas Rising Stars in Urology Research award in 2018. His work has been published in Annals of Internal Medicine, JAMA Surgery, JAMA Oncology, JAMA Internal Medicine, Cancer, European Urology, and the Journal of Urology, among others. He has been funded by the NCI/NIH, Department of Defense, American Cancer Society, and American Urological Association.
John David
John David, MD

Comprehensive Hematology Oncology

Click for Bio Dr. John David is a board-certified radiation oncologist. He has advanced sub-specialized training in brachytherapy and extensive expert training in radiopharmaceuticals. His other interests include stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy/stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SBRT/SABR). Prior to joining Comprehensive Hematology Oncology, Dr. David served as the Director of Brachytherapy Services and Lead Physician of Radiopharmaceuticals at the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital. Dr. David also gained valuable experience in one of the most contemporary radiation treatment modalities, proton therapy, while working with physicians at the New York Proton Center. Dr. David has received many awards including ASCO Merit award, Gold Humanism nominee, American College of Physicians Young Achievers Award and he was top 1% in his medical class. Dr. David enjoys caring for his patients, sports, and spending his free time with family. He is fluent in English and Arabic.
Christopher Deufel
Christopher Deufel, PhD, FABS

Mayo Clinic

Click for Bio Christopher L. Deufel, Ph.D. is a Professor of Medical Physics and a faculty medical physicist in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He serves as Chair of Research for the Division of Medical Physics and practice leader for brachytherapy, where he oversees clinical operations and innovation in this subspecialty. Dr. Deufel earned his Ph.D. in experimental physics from Cornell University and completed his residency in therapeutic medical physics at Mayo Clinic. His research focuses on brachytherapy, spatially fractionated radiotherapy, novel treatment device development, and radiation treatment planning optimization. He holds multiple patents and has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including Nature Methods, Radiotherapy and Oncology, and International Journal of Radiation Oncology–Biology–Physics.

An internationally recognized speaker, Dr. Deufel has delivered invited lectures at ESTRO, AAPM, the World Congress of Brachytherapy, and the American Brachytherapy Society. His work has been honored with the Mayo Clinic Radiation Oncology Distinguished Researcher Award, Educator of the Year awards from both Mayo Clinic and AARO, and the Judith Stitt Award at the World Congress of Brachytherapy. He is a Fellow of the American Brachytherapy Society and has served for nine consecutive years on its Board of Directors, including as Secretary, helping guide the society’s scientific direction and strategy. He currently chairs the AAPM Working Group on Brachytherapy Clinical Applications, contributing to the development of national standards of care.
Agnes Ewongwo
Agnes Ewongwo, MD, MPH

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Click for Bio Agnes Ewongwo, M.D., M.P.H., is an Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center and is part of the Department of Radiation Oncology. She came to UT Southwestern after completing her residency at Stanford University.

Dr. Ewongwo earned her bachelor’s degree in health science at the University of Arizona before receiving her Master of Public Health and M.D. from the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Dr. Ewongwo joined Stanford University’s Radiation Oncology Residency Program after spending a transitional year at the Tucson Hospitals Medical Education Program.

Dr. Ewongwo has a diverse background in public health, nonprofit leadership, and global medical education. She developed and led a web-based radiation oncology training program for residents in Kenya and Tanzania, and mentored clinical and physics trainees at Kenyatta National Hospital and Ocean Road Cancer Institute. She also has a strong passion for improving access and delivery of oncologic care in low- and middle-income countries.
Andrew Farach
Andrew Farach, MD

Houston Methodist University

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Clara Ferreira
Clara Ferreira, PhD, DABR

University of Minnesota

Click for Bio Clara Ferreira, PhD, DABR, is an Associate Professor and Medical Physicist in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, where she has served since 2016. Board-certified by the American Board of Radiology in Therapeutic Radiologic Physics since 2018, Dr. Ferreira specializes in intracranial brachytherapy, with a focus on GammaTile implants and COMS Eye Plaque brachytherapy. Her research advances treatment planning through Monte Carlo simulations and consensus guidelines for target volume delineation. She has published extensively in journals such as Brachytherapy and Neuro-Oncology Advances and is a frequent presenter at international and national conferences, including ESTRO and AAPM. Dr. Ferreira earned her PhD in Biomedical Physics from East Carolina University and completed a CAMPEP-accredited medical physics residency at the University of Oklahoma. Committed to education, she mentors graduate students and residents, shaping the next generation of medical physicists.
Christine Fisher
Christine Fisher, MD, MPH

University of Colorado Anschutz

Click for Bio Dr. Christine M. Fisher is a radiation oncologist in Aurora, Colorado and is affiliated with UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. She received her medical degree from Chicago Medical School/Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine Science and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
Michael Folkert
Christine Fisher, MD, MPH

University of Washington

Click for Bio I am an academic radiation oncologist specializing in brachytherapy, intraoperative radiation therapy, and radiopharmaceuticals, and a Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Washington and the Division of Radiation Oncology at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. I also serve as the Brachytherapy Representative on the Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, where I chair the Training and Experience Subcommittee.
David Gaffney
David Gaffney, MD, PhD, FABS

Huntsman Cancer Institute

Click for Bio Professor of Radiation Oncology. I have a long association with the Gyn Cancer Intergroup, past co-Chair of NCI Gyn Steering Committee, past president of ABS, and current co-Chair of Gyn committee in NRG Oncology.
Aurelie Garant
Aurelie Garant, MD

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Click for Bio Aurelie Garant, M.D., is an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Director of the Brachytherapy Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is board certified in radiation oncology by the American Board of Radiology.
Jose Garcia-Ramirez
Jose Garcia-Ramirez, MS

Washington University St. Louis

Click for BioJose Garcia Ramirez, MS, is an assistant professor of radiation oncology. He joined the faculty in 2006. He earned an MS in Medical Radiation Physics from Finch University of Health Sciences/Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago in 1997 and completed a residency in medical physics, CAMPEP accredited, at Washington University School of Medicine in 2001. His responsibilities include Brachytherapy Physics Service, Implementation of Novel Radiopharmaceutical therapies, and XOFT Treatments. He is certified in Therapeutic Radiological Physics by the American Board of Radiology.
Scott Glaser
Scott Glaser, MD

City of Hope

Click for BioDr. Glaser is an associate professor of radiation oncology at City of Hope and chief of brachytherapy and gynecologic radiotherapy.
Yesenia Gonzalez
Yesenia Gonzalez, PhD

UT Southwestern
Medical Center

Click for BioYesenia Gonzalez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University, followed by her Ph.D. at UT Southwestern Medical Center. After completing her medical physics residency in the Department of Radiation Oncology at UT Southwestern, she stayed on as faculty in the Division of Medical Physics and Engineering.

Dr. Gonzalez's clinical focus is on Unity, EROC TPOD, and brachytherapy; her research interests include adaptive radiotherapy and deep learning for medical applications.
Daniel Gorovets
Daniel Gorovets, MD

Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center

Click for BioDaniel Gorovets, MD is a radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York specializing in the treatment of genitourinary malignancies. He has expertise in advanced radiation techniques, including SBRT, proton therapy, adaptive radiotherapy, and brachytherapy. Dr. Gorovets leads multiple clinical trials focused on optimizing treatment through risk stratification, thoughtful treatment de-intensification and intensification strategies, and the integration of radiation with novel systemic therapies. Dr. Gorovets also serves as Program Director of the Radiation Oncology Residency Program and Associate Program Director of the Brachytherapy Fellowship at MSKCC.
Matt Harkenrider
Matt Harkenrider, MD

Loyola University Chicago
Stritch School of Medicine

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Yasmin Hasan
Yasmin Hasan, MD

University of Chicago Medical Center

Click for BioDr. Yasmin Hasan is a nationally recognized leader in gynecologic brachytherapy at the University of Chicago, where she serves as Director of the Gynecological Brachytherapy Program, Residency Program Director, and Wellness Director for the Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology. Dr. Hasan has developed one of the most comprehensive gynecologic brachytherapy programs in the Midwest. Her program draws complex cases regionally for advanced procedures including triple tandem and interstitial brachytherapy, utilizing MRI-based image guidance.Her clinical expertise is matched by significant research contributions, with over 50 peer-reviewed publications, 6 book chapters, and numerous national presentations. Dr. Hasan is Principal Investigator on multiple investigator-initiated trials and serves as Co-Lead for the ROBIN U54 Cross-Training Core, an NCI-supported network investigating radiation-immune system interactions. She is a member of the NRG Oncology Breast Committee and an invited reviewer for Brachytherapy and the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology and Physics.Dr. Hasan’s recent recognitions include induction to the 2026 Biological Sciences Division’s Academy of Clinical Excellence (ACE) and the 2024 Residency Program Director of the Year Award at the University of Chicago.
Jaroslaw Hepel
Jaroslaw Hepel, MD

Brown University Health

Click for BioJaroslaw Hepel, MD, FACRO, is director of the stereotactic radiotherapy and radiosurgery program and director of academic affairs for the department of radiation oncology at the Brown University Health Cancer Institute and Rhode Island Hospital. He also serves as associate professor at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and as adjunct associate professor at Tufts University. He is board certified in radiation oncology by the American Board of Radiology.

Dr. Hepel received his undergraduate degree at Cornell University in 1997 with distinction. He earned his medical degree at the University of Rochester in 2001, and then completed an internal medicine residency at the University of California Irvine Medical Center. He then went on to complete his residency in radiation oncology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

The author of numerous scientific papers, Dr. Hepel’s clinical and research interests include breast and lung cancer treatment and stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy for diseases involving the brain, spine, lung, and other sites.

He serves as the medical director of the American College of Radiation Oncology, where he is also on the board of chancellors. He is also a member of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, the American Brachytherapy Society, the American Medical Association, and the Massachusetts Medical Society.

He has been awarded the Brown University Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award and named a Rhode Island Monthly “Top Doctor” four times, among other awards.
John Hollman
John Hollman

Texas Oncology

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Kelly Hosier
Kelly Hosier, MS

Sutter Medical Foundation

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Alex Hsi
Alex Hsi, MD

University of Washington
Fred Hutch Cancer Center

Click for Bio Dr. Hsi is a Radiation Oncologist who completed residencies in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan and Radiation Oncology at The University of Pennsylvania. He has served as Section Chief in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, WA, co-founder of the Peninsula Cancer Center in Poulsbo, WA and is currently the Medical Director of the Fred Hutch Cancer Center Peninsula and President of the Board of the Prostate Cancer Free Foundation.

Dr. Hsi specializes in prostate brachytherapy and also has special expertise in stereotactic body radiation therapy, MRI fusion transperineal prostate biopsies and focal therapy for prostate cancer.
Brenda Ibarra
Brenda Ibarra
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Justin Jagodinsky
Justin Jagodinsky, MD, PhD

Stanford University

Click for BioDr. Justin Jagodinsky attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned both an MD and a PhD. He completed his graduate work in the laboratory of Dr. Zachary Morris, studying the effects of radiation on the tumor immune microenvironment. In his preclinical work, he elucidated how various forms of radiation, including external beam radiation and radiopharmaceuticals, impact immune activation both locally within the tumor and systemically. Additionally, his research has explored the combination of brachytherapy and immunotherapy to enhance anti-tumor immune responses, particularly in metastatic cancer. He has received recognition for his research, including an NIH F30 award supporting his studies on how radiation and immunotherapy can be combined to improve outcomes for patients with “cold” tumors that are less responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Dr. Jagodinsky has published several peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals, including Science Translational Medicine and Nature Communications, holds two patents related to his graduate work, and has presented at national oncology conferences. He serves as a review editor for Frontiers in Oncology and as an ad hoc reviewer for several other radiation journals.
Kayla Kafka-Peterson
Kayla Kafka-Peterson, RN, BSN

UCLA Health

Click for Bio Kayla Kafka-Peterson RN BSN is a nurse from Los Angeles, California, USA. She provides operations leadership and oversight for the UCLA Department of Radiation Oncology HDR Brachytherapy Program and greater Radiation Oncology locations. Kayla coordinates all aspects of patient care, program operations, case scheduling, staffing, program flow and is responsible for ongoing quality improvement, education and process development for the division. Kayla also teaches direct bedside patient care for nurses and teams. Since 2022, Kayla has worked to promote a global brachytherapy nursing and RTT community and works extensively with teams around the world providing brachytherapy nursing and team education. She also consults with physicians and teams on how to optimize efficiency, safety, and education for their brachytherapy programs to promote growth. Prior to working in brachytherapy, Kayla was a trauma ICU nurse. Kayla serves as the nursing liaison to the board of the American Brachytherapy Society and serves as the chair of the ABS Brachytherapy Nursing/Dosimetry/RTT Council. Kayla continues to collaborate with multiple medical societies and non-profit organizations on creating educational resources for brachytherapy nurses worldwide.
Sophia Kamran
Sophia Kamran, MD

Harvard Medical School

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Mitchell Kamrava
Mitchell Kamrava, MD

Cedars-Sinai

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Elizabeth Kidd
Elizabeth Kidd, MD

Stanford Cancer Center

Click for Bio Elizabeth Kidd works as a Radiation Oncologist at Stanford University with a focus on treating gynecologic cancers and a particular interest and expertise in performing brachytherapy for cervical, endometrial, and vaginal cancer patients. Her research focuses on optimizing and individualizing treatment approaches for gynecologic cancers to improve long-term patient outcomes with better disease control, decreased side effects and improved quality of life. She has particular interest in enhancing brachytherapy procedure quality, increasing efficiency, optimizing treatment planning and expanding access for advanced brachytherapy techniques.
Martin King
Martin King, MD, PhD

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Click for Bio I am a board-certified, fellowship-trained radiation oncologist, who specializes in treating gynecologic and genitourinary malignancies. For the latter, I perform both low dose rate and high dose rate prostate brachytherapy in the localized, locally advanced, and radiorecurrent settings.
Ann Klopp
Ann Klopp, MD

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Click for BioAnn Klopp is a Professor of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She leads the gynecologic section in the Department of Radiation Oncology and serves as the Director of Brachytherapy. Her clinical research is focused on the use of advanced radiation techniques to reduce toxicity from radiation treatment and improve outcomes for women with gynecologic cancers. To accomplish this, she has expanded the use of intraprocedural CT and MRI for brachytherapy to facilitate the use of advanced brachytherapy applicators. MD Anderson is the only site in the US offering both inpatient and outpatient brachytherapy. Additionally, she led a phase III randomized trial demonstrating that IMRT reduces the toxicity of pelvic radiation. Dr. Klopp’s lab is focused on understanding effects of the microenvironment on the biology of gynecologic cancers, including host stromal cells which infiltrate cancers and microbial organisms which infect mucosal cancers. She co-leads the MD Anderson moonshot program for HPV cancers aimed at improving outcomes through targeted molecular and immunologic treatments. She has national leadership roles including co-chairing the corpus committee at NRG and chairing the oral boards for gynecologic cancers through the American Board of Radiology.
Daniel Krauss
Daniel Krauss, MD

Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital

Click for Bio Dr. Krauss received his B.S. from the University of Michigan and his M.D. from Wayne State University in 2000 and is currently Professor of Radiation Oncology at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. He completed his residency training in radiation oncology at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI in 2005 and has been a member of the clinical faculty there since that time. He has been the Department of Brachytherapy section head since 2011. Dr. Krauss has first- or co-authored nearly 200 published manuscripts and abstracts in peer-reviewed journals. Current academic interests emphasize primarily clinical research in the area of genitourinary malignancies on both the local and national level. He was the primary author of RTOG 0815, investigating the role of androgen suppression in the context of dose-escalated radiotherapy and remains active in national clinical research, serving as brachytherapy co-chair of NRG GU 009 as well as development of new clinical protocols on the institutional level for prostate, bladder, and renal malignancies.
Jeremy Kunz
Jeremy Kunz, PhD

University of Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute

Click for Bio Jeremy N. Kunz, MS, PhD, DABR is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Utah and a Medical Physicist at Huntsman Cancer Hospital. Dr. Kunz received a BS in Physics and Applied Mathematics from Weber State University and completed his doctoral work at Baylor University where his thesis focused on quantum biophotonics. Dr. Kunz received a MS in Medical Physics from the University of Toledo and then completed his residency training at the University of Utah-Huntsman Cancer Institute in therapeutic medical physics. Dr. Kunz's clinical and research interests include brachytherapy, patient safety and quality assurance, and resident education.
Eric Leung
Eric Leung, MD

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center

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Yixiang Liao
Yixiang Liao, PhD

Rush University

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Anna Likhacheva
Anna Likhacheva, MD

Sutter Health

Click for Bio Anna Likhacheva is a Radiation Oncologist at Sutter Health. She received her medical degree at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. She is board certified in Radiation Oncology. Her interest is Cancer Services, Gastroenterology, Gynecology and Women's Health, Imaging, Neuroscience, Urology.
Andrew Lim
Andrew Lim, MD

Keck Medical Center of USC

Click for Bio Dr. Lim specializes in advanced interventional radiation oncology, treating a variety of conditions including prostate, gynecologic, and metastatic cancers. In addition to his clinical work, he is an active entrepreneur who develops AI-driven software and tools designed to improve medical predictions and put patients in control of their own care journey.
Umesh Mahantshetty
Umesh Mahantshetty, MD

Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research
Centre Visakhapatnam

Click for BioBetween 2005 - 2020: Professor, Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai

Specialized in GYN, GI & Urology Cancers with special interest in Brachytherapy

Visiting Professor - Medical University of Vienna, Austria
International Expert for establishing guidelines at National (ICMR Guidelines for Cervical Cancer) & International bodies [European Society GYN Oncology / European Society for Radiation Oncology (ESTRO) Guidelines for Vulvar and Cervical Cancer Management]

Publications : > 250 peer reviewed articles

Consultant to IAEA missions, WHO, ICRU 89 Report on GYN Brachytherapy

Senior Editor of various prestigious International and National Journals.

Vice President (Senior): AROI & IBS

May 2025: Honorary ESTRO Member for outstanding contributions in Research & Education
Nancy Marou
Nancy Marou, RN

Highland Hospital

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Mahta McKee
Mahta McKee, MS, DABR, FABS

Wake Forest University
School of Medicine

Click for Bio Mahta M. McKee, MS, DABR, FABS is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She holds a Master of Science and is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology, with fellowship recognition in brachytherapy physics. At Wake Forest, Dr. McKee is involved in clinical practice, teaching, and research focused on radiotherapy and brachytherapy techniques used in cancer treatment. Her work includes contributions to the development and application of advanced radiation planning and delivery methods, and she participates actively in professional organizations in medical physics and therapeutic radiology. McKee also serves as a faculty member in national educational programs on prostate seed implant procedures and other radiation oncology topics.
Cynthia Menard
Cynthia Menard, MD

Institut Du Cancer De Montreal

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Firas Mourtada
Firas Mourtada, PhD, FABS

Thomas Jefferson University

Click for Bio Dr. Mourtada is the Enterprise Clinical Director of Medical Physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University–Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia. He was the president of the ABS in 2020. He is a fellow of the ABS, ASTRO, and AAPM.
Arash Naghavi
Arash Naghavi, MD

Moffitt Cancer Center

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Thomas Niedermayr
Thomas Niedermayr, PhD

Stanford University Hospital

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Karina Nieto
Karnia Nieto, MD, MBA

Mayo Clinic

Click for Bio Karina Nieto, M.D., M.B.A., is a board-certified radiation oncologist with specialized expertise in gynecologic and interstitial brachytherapy. She serves as the Director of Brachytherapy in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
 Dr. Nieto earned her medical degree from Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and completed her residency in radiation oncology at Wake Forest. She also holds an Executive M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where she focused on strategic leadership and healthcare innovation.
 Dr. Nieto's clinical practice focuses on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care with an emphasis on complex brachytherapy techniques, including interstitial and image-guided approaches for gynecologic and pelvic malignancies. Her multidisciplinary work emphasizes improving efficiency, safety, and outcomes in brachytherapy through innovative protocols and team-based workflows.

 Her professional interests include:
•Interstitial brachytherapy and gynecologic oncology
•Multidisciplinary quality improvement
•Health system leadership and operational strategy
•Mentorship of underrepresented trainees in medicine
•Patient advocacy and culturally responsive care
•Clinical program development

 Dr. Nieto is committed to advancing the field of radiation oncology through leadership, clinical excellence, and inclusive innovation.
Shelbie O'Hara
Shelbie O'Hara, BSN, RN

Allegheny Health Network

Click for BioRN Program Coordinator and Brachytherapy Coordinator from Allegheny Health Network, Cancer Institute, Division of Radiation Oncology (Pittsburgh, PA).
Pretesh Patel
Pretesh Patel, MD

Emory Winship Cancer Institute

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Tarun Podder
Tarun Podder, PhD

SUNY Upstate Medical Center

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Surendra Prajapati
Surendra Prajapati, PhD

MD Anderson Cancer Center

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Allison Quick
Allison Quick, MD

Ohio State University
Medical Center

Click for Bio I am a radiation oncologist at the Ohio State University Medical Center. I specialize in Gynecologic cancers and Gynecologic brachytherapy. I have research interests in quality of life, vaginal health, and sexual function in female cancer survivors.
Jill Remick
Jill Remick, MD

Emory Winship Cancer Institute

Click for Bio I am an Assistant Professor and board-certified Radiation Oncologist in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University. My clinical expertise includes MRI-guided intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy for gynecologic (gyn) malignancies. Over the past 4 years since I graduated residency training, my research has focused on understanding and reducing late symptom burden associated with radiation therapy and exploring ways to mitigate toxicity using novel treatment strategies. I have a keen in interest in using advanced technology to improve gyn brachytherapy treatment planning and delivery.
Mark Rivard
Mark Rivard, PhD, FABS

Brown University Health Cancer Institute

Click for Bio Mark Rivard is full Professor of Radiation Oncology at Brown University and a clinical medical physicist, serving as Director of the Brachytherapy Physics service at Rhode Island Hospital. He is past president and chair of the New England chapter of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine as well as having served as an officer and on boards for other radiation-related professional societies such as the American Brachytherapy Society. Dr. Rivard serves as editor or is on the editorial board of several radiation physics journals, is a board-certified medical physicist with expertise in brachytherapy, and has authored 154 scientific publications with his students and colleagues. These papers and his extramurally-funded research include investigations on radiation dosimetry for radionuclide calibrations and internal dosimetry, radiation shielding and safety, and nuclear policy and source utilization. Mark is also on the adjunct faculty of several universities in New England and mentors students on a wide range of translational topics towards clinical integration of new radiation technologies.
Amanda Rivera
Amanda Rivera, MD

University of Miami

Click for Bio Dr. Rivera’s research focuses on treatment optimization for gynecologic cancers, the patient experience, and workforce diversity. She has previously collaborated with the American Cancer Society and the NFL Crucial Catch Project to improve cervical cancer screening rates in the Bronx. She aims to study the interplay of resource availability and how to combat the perpetuation of disparities along the cancer continuum in underserved communities, now in south Florida. Dr. Rivera was a founding member of The Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee (ARRO EISC) and spearheaded it’s nationwide virtual mentorship initiative for underrepresented groups in medicine. She currently sits on ASTRO’s HEDI Workforce Diversity Committee. Dr. Rivera was featured on Good Morning America with the first lady, Dr. Jill Biden, and Robin Roberts to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer screening and promote awareness. She enjoys treating patients and personalizing her encounters based on individual needs and collaboration.
Kamber Rodriguez
Kamber Rodrigez, BS, M.Ed, RT

US Oncology

Click for Bio Kamber Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology (2009) and a Master’s in Secondary Education in Life and Earth Sciences (2013). She later earned her degree in Radiation Therapy and currently serves as the Radiation Services Manager at Silicon Valley Oncology – US Oncology. Passionate about professional development and collaboration, Kamber is committed to being a resource within the Radiation Therapy community. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Nursing/Dosimetry/Radiation Therapist Council for the American Brachytherapy Society.
Peter Rossi
Peter Rossi, MD, FABS

Calaway Young Cancer Center
Valley View Hospital

Click for Bio Dr. Peter J. Rossi, FABS, FASTRO is a radiation oncologist with a specialized focus on advanced technologies and innovative management strategies in cancer care. With particular expertise in prostate brachytherapy techniques, he is dedicated to enhancing patient quality of life (QOL) through precision treatments and personalized care plans. Dr. Rossi is committed to a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating closely with other specialists to deliver comprehensive care tailored to each patient's unique needs. In addition to his clinical work, he is deeply invested in education and mentorship, teaching the next generation of Urologists and Radiation Oncologists and sharing his insights on outcomes-driven care. His practice, located at Valley View Hospital in beautiful Glenwood Springs Colorado, focuses on advancing radiation oncology to improve patient outcomes and expand therapeutic options in the field.
Michael Roumeliotis
Michael Roumeliotis, PhD

Johns Hopkins University

Click for BioDr. Michael Roumeliotis is the Director of Brachytherapy Physics and Faculty in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also serves as the Chair of the ABS Research Council and has a significant personal research portfolio in the application of artificial intelligence to brachytherapy and patient outcomes.
Kamran Salari
Kamran Salari, MD

Emory Winship Cancer Institute

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Matt Scala
Matt Scala, MD

Kaiser Permanente

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Dan Scanderbeg
Dan Scanderbeg, PhD, FABS

University of California
San Diego

Click for Bio Dr. Dan Scanderbeg is a Professor and Associate Director in the Division of Medical Physics at the University of California, San Diego, He oversees Brachytherapy and Regulatory Affairs at all UCSD treatment centers.

He is a dedicated clinical physicist with considerable expertise and experience in the use of low-dose-rate (LDR) and high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy covering a wide variety of tumor types and sites, including breast cancer, head & neck cancer, skin cancer, soft tissue sarcomas, gynecological cancers, ocular melanomas and prostate cancer.
Chirag Shah
Chirag Shah, MD

Allegheny Health Network

Click for Bio Chirag Shah, MD is the Division Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology for Allegheny Health Network. He specializes in breast cancer including breast brachytherapy.
April Shorthouse
April Shorthouse, MS

West Virginia University Medicine

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Samantha Simiele
Samantha Simiele, PhD

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Click for Bio Samantha Simiele, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine. She joined UAB in October 2023 and specializes in medical physics within radiation oncology. Dr. Simiele earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health/Medical Physics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2017. Her work focuses on advancing radiation therapy practices through clinical application, research, and education.
Abhishek Solanki
Abhishek Solanki, MD

Loyola University Medical Center

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Teresa Soriano
Teresa Soriano, MD

UCLA

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Alexandra Stewart
Alexandra Stewart, DM, MRCP, FRCR

St. Luke's Cancer Centre
Royal Surrey County Hospital

Click for Bio Alex is a Clinical Oncologist specialising in gynaecologic and lower GI cancers. She has a specialist interest in dynamic optimisation of dose distribution particularly using brachytherapy and adaptive external beam radiotherapy. She qualified in 1997 and trained at Charing Cross and the Royal Marsden Hospitals with a Fellowship at Harvard University in Boston. She works at the Royal Surrey in Guildford, leading the brachytherapy service. She is the chair of GI-GEC ESTRO, focussing on research, education and quality improvement in radiotherapy.
Nitika Thawani
Nitika Thawani, MD

Dignity Health Cancer Institute

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Christopher Tien
Christopher Tien, PhD, DABR

Yale School of Medicine

Click for Bio Dr. Christopher J. Tien is an Associate Professor and Lead Brachytherapy Physicist in the department of Therapeutic Radiology. In addition to his appointments at Yale, Dr. Tien is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Brown University.
Dr. Tien practiced at a community hospital in suburban Chicago for 3 years after completing his residency at Brown University/ Rhode Island Hospital. He completed his PhD by the time he was 25 years old from the University of Florida on a full fellowship following his accelerated 5-year combined Master's & Bachelor's Degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences obtained summa cum laude at the University of Michigan.
Clinically, he is a board-certified therapeutic medical physicist appointed as a Medical Physicist at Yale-New Haven Hospital. His current translational research is largely inspired by his clinical duties in brachytherapy (gynecological, prostate, ocular, and skin) applications and radiobiological modeling.
In 2024, Dr. Tien was elected as a Fellow of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), making him one of the youngest elected Fellows in the AAPM's 66 year history. With AAPM, he is currently the chair of the national AAPM Task Group on high-dose-rate brachytherapy (TG59). He has served terms on the national AAPM Board of Directors and as the president of the Connecticut chapter of AAPM. He is a member of the national AAPM Medical Physics Education Subcommittee and ABS National Education Subcommittee.
Dr. Tien is a full member of the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS), the American Society for Radiation Oncology, and the Yale Cancer Center.
Gabriella Wernicke
Gabriella Wernicke, MD, MS

Northwell Health

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Abe Wu
Abe Wu, MD

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

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Ema Yoshioka
Ema Yoshioka, RN, MSN

UCLA Health

Click for Bio Ema Yoshioka, RN, MSN, is a brachytherapy nurse at UCLA specializing HDR brachytherapy. Her work focuses on improving care delivery through nursing-led research, quality improvement, and multidisciplinary collaboration. She is actively involved in developing patient education initiatives and advancing the role of nurses in brachytherapy practice.
Jacqueline Zoberi
Jacqueline Zoberi, PhD

Washington University, St. Louis

Click for Bio Jacqueline Esthappan Zoberi is a Professor of Radiation Oncology in the Division of Medical Physics at the Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, MO. She serves as the Chief of Brachytherapy Physics at the Siteman Cancer Center. She is currently involved in projects that explore treatment planning, delivery, and quality assurance methods for brachytherapy and radiopharmaceutical therapy.