Radiation oncology group names Al-Ghazi an Educator of the Year
October 26, 2011
UC Irvine’s Muthana Al-Ghazi, PhD, has been recognized as an Educator of the Year by the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology, in partnership with the American Society for Radiation Oncology. Al-Ghazi is a professor and director of medical physics in the UC Irvine Department of Radiation Oncology.
“Dr. Al-Ghazi is an excellent teacher,” says Nilam Ramsinghani, MD, professor and chair of the department of radiation oncology. “He is very passionate and takes personal responsibility for ensuring that residents receive the best instruction.”
Al-Ghazi came to UC Irvine in 1998 from the Fraser Valley Cancer Centre, in British Columbia, Canada. He earned his PhD in nuclear physics at University of Manitoba in Canada and conducted his residency in medical physics at London Regional Cancer Centre, Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation in Canada
Medical physicists work directly with radiation oncologists to develop individual therapy plans for patients in the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at UC Irvine Medical Center. The medical physicist takes precise measurements of radiation beam characteristics to ensure that complex treatments are properly tailored for each patient’s needs.
ARRO sponsors the annual Educator of the Year Award to identify and recognize outstanding teachers and mentors of radiation oncology residents. Residents from all radiation oncology programs were given the opportunity to select one faculty member from their program for the award. The choice of faculty members is not limited to clinical staff and is open to physicists, biologists or other faculty, if appropriate.
Thirty-nine educators from across the country were selected this year.
“Proper education and training are not only essential to the foundation of medicine; they also provide the keys to advancing the field. The award recipients have demonstrated their ability to challenge residents to progress beyond their potential,” says Eric Donnelly, MD, chairman of the ARRO Senior Executive Committee. “We are honored to recognize these individuals for their contributions to the future of radiation oncology.”
About the American Society for Radiation Oncology: ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 10,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society’s mission is to advance the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results, and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic health care environment.
About UC Irvine Medical Center: Orange County’s only university hospital, UC Irvine Medical Center offers acute- and general-care services at its new, 482,000-square-foot UC Irvine Douglas Hospital and is home to the county’s only Level I trauma center, American College of Surgeons-verified regional burn center and National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. U.S. News & World Report has included UC Irvine for 11 consecutive years on its list of America’s Best Hospitals, giving special recognition to its urology, gynecology, kidney disorders and cancer programs.
Contact:
John Murray,
UCI Health
714-456-7759
