BME Seminar: “Radiation Oncology for the Engineer”

Details

Kate Hitchcock, MD PhD
Associate Professor and Interim Chair of Radiation Oncology
University of Florida

Abstract: Radiation Oncology is a medical field perfect for exploration by engineers. Daily use of cutting-edge technology, with major advances rolled out every year, puts to work exactly the skill set that biomedical engineers have mastered. Unfortunately the specialty is little understood even among other doctors (there are about 5,500 practicing rad oncs in the U.S. versus 280,000 primary care physicians), so it is worth our time to discuss the way that modern radiotherapy is given with the goal of generating ideas for new research that will continue to push the rate of cancer deaths closer and closer to zero. We’ll talk in general about our current worldwide approach to cancer treatment and then delve into the technical aspects of radiotherapy that my provide fruitful ground for future multidisciplinary efforts here at UF.

Bio: Dr. Hitchcock is a radiation oncologist who specializes in gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancers, treating about 300 patients per year. Prior to her medical career she grew up as a Wyoming cowgirl and paid for graduate school by driving aircraft carriers and operating portable nuclear reactors for the United States Navy. She earned her MS in mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland, then both her PhD in biomedical engineering and her MD from the University of Cincinnati before completing a medical residency at UF. Currently Dr. Hitchcock is running multiple multi-center research trials as well as participating in many clinical research studies written by other scientists. She loves teaching and researching at the boundary between engineering and medicine. She serves on multiple committees of the National Institutes of Health and writes editorials for MedScape.