After years of planning, design, and construction, the UW Health Proton Therapy Program is preparing to welcome its first patients in 2026—marking a transformative step forward in cancer care for Wisconsin and beyond. Located at the Eastpark Medical Center, the new Proton Therapy Center represents a major milestone for the Department of Human Oncology. This …
Differences in how cancer cells mutate and what fuels their growth mean that even for two patients with prostate cancer, one treatment approach can work better for one patient than the other. Dr. Shuang George Zhao, associate chair for research in the University of Wisconsin Department of Human Oncology and a UW Carbone Cancer Center …
When Dr. Jennifer Smilowitz boarded a plane to Costa Rica earlier this year, she was stepping into an experience that blended language immersion, community health, academic collaboration, and global professional growth. Over two weeks, she balanced morning volunteer work in a community clinic with intensive afternoon Spanish classes. For Dr. Smilowitz, a medical physicist in …
Eastpark Medical Center has delivered its first treatment using a newly engineered frame designed specifically for Total Skin Electron Therapy (TSET), offering patients with mycosis fungoides a more precise and customizable care option close to home. Mycosis fungoides is a rare form of cutaneous T‑cell lymphoma. While uncommon, the condition is highly responsive to electron‑based …
As she prepares to graduate this June from the University of Wisconsin Department of Human Oncology’s Radiation Oncology Physics Residency Program, second-year resident Elissa Khoudary is already gaining national recognition for her leadership and commitment to the field. Khoudary is one of only five individuals who have been selected for the American Association of Physicists …
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Grace Blitzer has been selected as the 2025–2026 recipient of the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology (ARRO) Educator of the Year Award—an honor driven by enthusiastic resident nomination and recognition of her exceptional dedication to teaching, mentorship, and clinical excellence. A graduate of our own program, Dr. …
The following are descriptions of several proton therapy research projects that our medical physicists are currently pursuing: Single Energy Bragg Peak (SEBP) Delivery Technique A major area of ongoing research within our group is the development and clinical translation of Single-Energy Bragg Peak (SEBP) proton therapy. SEBP is a novel treatment approach that uses a …
The following are descriptions of several theranostics and radiopharmaceutical therapy research projects that our medical physicists are currently pursuing: Tumor Segmentation for RPT Dosimetry Michael Lawless, PhD Radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) represents a rapidly advancing approach in oncology, enabling the delivery of targeted radiation to malignant tissues. Despite its promise, variability in tumor segmentation methods across …
The following are descriptions of several special procedure research projects that our medical physicists are currently pursuing: Total Body Irradiation (TBI) Abby Besemer, PhD Total body irradiation (TBI) is a specialized form of radiation therapy in which the entire body is treated with radiation, most commonly as part of the preparation for a bone marrow …
The following are descriptions of several treatment planning research projects that our medical physicists are currently pursuing: Introduction of 6 MV Flattening Filter Free Photon Beams Dustin Jacqmin, PhD The physics team in the Department of Human Oncology has prepared a new treatment modality for fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) on …