The Division of Physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School invites applications for The 2024 Karen Doppke Award for Women in Medical Physics, in honor of Karen P. Doppke, MS, DABR, FAAPM, FACR, for her many contributions to the field of medical physics during her illustrious 50-year career. The deadline for applications is April 12, 2024.
Karen Doppke earned an M.S. in Radiation Physics from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1967 and then started there as an instructor. In 1974, she joined the Department of Radiation Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital, with a faculty appointment at Harvard Medical School in 1981. Karen has always been passionate about dosimetry and treatment planning, recognizing the direct impact physicists could have on patient care by improving the accuracy of dose delivery. For many years she was the director of Treatment Planning at MGH and a leader both in the local chapter (New England AAPM president, 1983-1984, and chapter representative to the board, 1998-2000) and at the national level in the AAPM, notably serving as co-author on TG-25, Clinical electron-beam dosimetry, and TG-53, Quality assurance for clinical radiotherapy treatment planning. Karen is also well-known as a mentor, and she feels strongly about encouraging and supporting women to join the field of medical physics. She was heavily involved in the development of the Harvard Medical Physics Residency Program (CAMPEP accredited since 2011) and served as the treatment planning mentor in the residency program until her retirement in 2017.
Mid-career, female-identifying, physicists are sought from all areas of medical physics, including therapeutic, diagnostic, nuclear medicine, and radiation safety. Applicants will be evaluated for their contributions to medical physics in clinical practice, clinical innovation, education, mentorship, leadership, and professional community service such as with local and national organizations. Special consideration will be given to work that applies to radiation dosimetry and treatment planning, and a demonstrated commitment to advocacy for women in science.
The award will include an honorarium and a visiting lecture at Massachusetts General Hospital.
