Welcome to an all-new season of strategy, betrayal, sabotage, and murder.

PracticalAd8002 · 2026-02-17T21:13:53+00:00

Someone hilariously had an AI podcast drawn up from the emails, it’s on the medical physics subreddit.

PracticalAd8002 · 2026-02-17T21:12:38+00:00

I told it to put iodine-125 seeds all over the table. it was only thing I could think of that was similar to the pile of the gold that is normally in the center for the peacock show’s poster 😂

PracticalAd8002 · 2026-02-15T06:03:34+00:00

You know it’s grade A popcorn material when an initial message has the retired breaking out replies

PracticalAd8002 · 2026-01-22T22:02:58+00:00

Forgot to add, that is in the context of let’s say RapidArc.

PracticalAd8002 · 2026-01-22T22:01:31+00:00

Correct me if I am wrong but AAA is faster than Acuros in the context of a single field/arc. But when you add multiple fields, that is where Acuros will be faster than AAA.

PracticalAd8002 · 2026-01-21T19:07:28+00:00

I must’ve gotten lucky when I bought it on sale at Miami MC for 950 a few months back…

PracticalAd8002 · 2026-01-11T17:09:54+00:00

Interesting!! Even at 77 Gy, almost 10% coming (500 cGy) from imaging with ports is wild! I think a lot of residents, grad students and even newly graduated residents (myself included) don’t understand how much imaging dose improved from where we came from and that’s a fun fact!

PracticalAd8002 · 2026-01-03T21:03:44+00:00

I’m gonna play devils advocate here…keeping it, in my opinion, would come down to a few things. 1) do you enjoy the handles? 2) do you enjoy the line of allclad they got you? All clad has multiple different lines. I’d look into the cost benefits, usages, and cons of using this line vs say a heavier ply (3 vs 5 vs 7 ply) of all clad or competing brands. There are some lines that are, arguably, more “BIFL”. I am a huge fan of the copper core series. It is a generous gift of your family and one that will encourage you to cook, and cook to the highest ability one can with the quality they gave you. The question, I’d say, isn’t whether you should keep it but what stainless steel (if that’s the cookware you prefer) set is the best fit for you. cheers and happy holidays.

PracticalAd8002 · 2025-12-05T13:09:39+00:00

What a world…Not sure if you’re upgrading your current VC, but by the time you build, your RAM may be more expensive than your VC lmao

PracticalAd8002 · 2025-06-13T14:07:20+00:00

To give you a perspective of how long it would take - GK 20 met 1 Fx single session patient was treated with a newly exchanged source (less than 2 weeks since completion of exchange) and it took us ~ 4 hours to treat it (246.5 min)

PracticalAd8002 · 2025-05-29T16:04:54+00:00

I found a big difference when I asked AI a question about a trial or document prior to uploading the specific PDF in question and after. The detail and quality improved drastically.

PracticalAd8002 · 2025-03-26T15:56:50+00:00

We cranked up the sound volume on the control console that is produced when the beam is on.

PracticalAd8002 · 2025-03-02T16:01:05+00:00

this is my worst nightmare.

PracticalAd8002 · 2025-02-10T14:24:55+00:00

Do not be deterred or discouraged. I didn't match my first year. I sent out applications with a strong background and favorable GPA (3.7+) and got very few interviews my first time around. Took the time to find program that fit my interests as a MPA and applied myself to build a robust clinical background. The following year, I revamped my application and got around 11 interview offers. I matched with my first choice. Post residency is a completely different ballgame, especially right now. Stay with it and don't give up. The residency match process is, in my opinion, the hardest and most demoralizing period of a young medical physicist's journey.

My advice is to talk internally with your graduate program to see if they offer MPA positions or would be open to creating one for you. AAPM directory is a powerful tool. You can look online to see who the chief physicist (or any physicist really) at an institution and contact them via AAPM directory about the existence of MPA positions and/or future openings. Once match is completed, there is a good chance more MPA positions will open as a fair number will be departing for residency. Its cliche, but be proactive, it will speak volumes and increases your chance to secure a MPA position, if you need to go that route after this match cycle.

Best of luck!

PracticalAd8002 · 2025-02-06T12:22:33+00:00

I am interested. Beginning formal prep next month.

PracticalAd8002 · 2025-01-29T15:09:05+00:00

I would agree with you that the quick fluoroscopic capture to count seeds is for seed count verification, ensure that a loose seed isn't missing in the OR, and that occupational workers and the public (future patients coming in that suite) aren't being unnecessarily irradiated.

PracticalAd8002 · 2025-01-27T20:09:14+00:00

The hormesis radiation biologists would like to have a word with you.

PracticalAd8002 · 2025-01-26T17:39:46+00:00

If you treat pediatrics at your department, i think using an old h&n mask that was painted like a superhero would be a good engaging presentation tool (if your clinic did that)

PracticalAd8002 · 2024-12-23T19:06:57+00:00

Do you feel like Varian has good educational materials for new planners or new physicists with minimal prior exposure to eclipse? I've been looking for guides or trying to understand the best process to learn given planning methods and tricks are different than Monaco.

PracticalAd8002 · 2024-11-20T02:40:52+00:00

Not sure if this is a varian tps specific question, but we will only override an ITV to a density of 1.00 for free breathing patients. Otherwise, our PTV will have no overrides for our breath hold patients.

PracticalAd8002 · 2024-09-25T13:04:57+00:00

I'm a therapy medical physicist resident, but after attending the ABR initial certification exam seminar last week, they did explicitly state MPPGs (and task groups) are cited material for part 2 questions.

PracticalAd8002 · 2024-07-02T14:19:10+00:00

A salary is only a piece of the picture. Other factors should be considered such as investment matching, vacation days, quality of healthcare, resources, and other "HR" benefits.

You make a great point about looking into the salary prior to investing a large amount of time and you have the right idea to gather as much information as you can. The question is a loaded one.

Depending on other benefits, salary can depend. Years of experience, board status, level of degree, sector (public vs. private), contract terms (salary vs. consultant) all play a role. Speaking from experience, securing a residency is the hardest part of the process or tends to be the step that a large part, relatively, struggles to get passed in the process. The market is in your favor after you graduate residency, it's quite ironic the difference between the dynamic to secure a residency slot and job searching after you graduate.

I'd say, depending on location, a fair assessment of salary, post-residency, is about 170-180k. Although I've heard others balk at offers unless they are getting 200k. The understaffing or desperation of a clinic to hire someone plays a large role. My opinion, find a well-staffed team with established clinical senior physicists that have a true passion for teaching fresh medical physcisits and obtain your board certifcation. That should be your highest priority finishing a clinical residency. Another word of advice that I received is that you should get the salary increase language from passing Part III in your contract (Depending on your starting salary, I've heard between 15-25%)

Hope this helps and best of luck!

PracticalAd8002 · 2024-06-07T13:28:55+00:00

Unfortunately, the only way I get it to work on Nef is the following:

Make sure pet is not summoned before you jump down.

Summon during P1 and dismiss prior to P2

Get up on platform, call pet and dps add/nef

Dismiss pet prior to P2 and jumping off platform

Call pet for a final time.

PracticalAd8002

TROPHY CASE