Matthew B. Podgorsak PhD, FAAPM, DABMP, DABR

Matthew Podgorsak

Matthew B. Podgorsak
PhD, FAAPM, DABMP, DABR

Chief Medical Physicist, Research Associate Professor

Department of Radiation Oncology

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences


Specialty/Research Focus

Radiological Physics

Contact Information
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Department of Radiation Medicine
Elm & Carlton Streets
Buffalo, New York 14263
Phone: 845-8054
Fax: 845-8254
podgorsa@buffalo.edu



Professional Summary:

Research within the physics section of the department of Radiation Medicine at Roswell Park Cancer Institute deals with clinical applications of physics in the treatment of both malignant and benign disease. The Department of Radiation Medicine is undergoing expansion in both its Clinical programs and in its research activities. Currently, we have ongoing projects involving the most recently acquired piece of equipment, known as the gamma knife, used for the treatment of intracranial lesions. We are attempting to characterize the scatter radiation dose distribution within the environs of the gamma knife. Other projects include studies of the properties of electron beams used at extended treatment distances and evaluations of different types of in vivo dosimeters.

Students who perform research under the auspices of the department of Radiation Medicine can expect to gain both theoretical knowledge of medical physics and the practical experience necessary to practice within the field.

Education and Training:

  • PhD, Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin (1993)
  • MS, Physics, McGill University (1990)
  • BS, Hon. Physics, McGill University (1987)
  • Health Sciences, Marianopolis College (1984)

Employment:

  • Associate Professor, Physiology and Biophysics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2008-present)
  • Associate Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2002-present)
  • Chief Physicist, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (1998-present)
  • Research Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1993–2010)
  • Acting Radiation Safety Officer, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (2000–2003)
  • Adjunct Professor, Physics, Erie Community College Erie Community College (1997–2003)
  • Assistant Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1996–2002)
  • Clinical Physicist, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (1993–1998)
  • Clinical Physicist and Radiation Safety Officer, Department of Radiation Oncology, Hotel-Diu Hospital (1990)

Awards and Honors:

  • Walter T. Murphy Excellence-in-Teaching Award (2013)
  • Volunteer Service Award (2012)
  • Nominee, Candidate for Treasurer (2012)
  • Fellow (2009)
  • Certificate of Recognition (2002)
  • Listed in Marquis Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare (1997)
  • Listed in Marquis Who's Who in Science and Engineering (1996)
  • Third Prize, Young Investigators Symposium (1990)
  • Garvin Cremer Fellowship (1990)

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • September 2010–August 2012
    Image-Guided Tracking of Tumor Motion and its Relation to PTV Size
    National Science Foundation (NSF)
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • July 2008–June 2009
    Enhancement of Breast Cancer Radiotherapy by Image-Guided Tracking of Tumor Motion
    University at Buffalo 2020 Interdidsciplinary Research Development Fund
    Role: Co-Investigator
  • December 2007–November 2008
    Application of the Genetic Algorithm to Beam Angle Optimization in IMRT
    Roswell Park Alliance Foundation
    Role: Co-Investigator
  • January 2006–November 2008
    Estrogen Receptor-Tumor Suppressor p53 Interaction: How Does it Affect Mammary Tumorigenesis?
    The Elsa U. Pardee Foundation
    Role: Contributor
  • October 2005–September 2006
    Disruption of Estrogen Receptor-p53 Interaction as a Basis for Combining Adjuvant Radiation and Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer
    Roswell Park Alliance Foundation
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Patents:

  • Principal Inventor - "Method and System for Transferring Radiation Therapy Principal Inventor - "Method and System for Transferring Radiation Therapy Treatment Plans from a High Definition MLC to a Lower Definition MLC" (2017)

Journal Articles:

See all (55 more)

Professional Memberships:

  • American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO); Associate Member (2015–present)
  • American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO); Associate Member (2008–present)
  • American College of Medical Physics (ACMP) (2001–2011)
  • American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) (1998–present)
  • Upstate New York Chapter of the AAPM (1997–present)
  • Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP) (1990–2009)

Presentations:

  • "Professional Symposium: Question Writer Workshop" 59th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) (2017)
  • "Poster Presentation Reducing the hot spot in the whole brain radiation therapy" 42nd Annual Meeting; ; American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD) (2017)
  • "ABR MOC Update for Medical Physicists Including the New OLA Program" Spring Meeting of the Upstate New York Association of Physicists in Medicine (UNYAPM); Buffalo General Hospital (2017)
  • "Independent evaluation of the stability of CBCT-defined stereotactic space in Gamme Knife Icon" Young Investigator Clinical Symposium; ; Spring Clinical Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) (2017)
  • "Poster Presentation Adapting high-definition MLC VMAT plans to the Millennium MLC for single-fraction treatment without re-optimization" Spring Clinical Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM); Best Poster Competition (2017)
  • "Physical, Biological, and Technological Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy" Oncology for Scientists Seminar Series; Roswell Park Cancer Institute (2017)
  • "Dosimetric evaluation of VMAT plans from Varian HD120-equipped linac adapted to a Milennium MLC-equipped linac" Semi-Annual Meeting of the Upstate NY Chapter of the AAPM (2017)
  • "Leksell Gamma Knife Icon CBCT stereotactic space localization: Consistency and stability results" Semi-Annual Meeting of the Upstate NY Chapter of the AAPM (2017)
  • "Poster Presentation Preservation of normal brain tissue in patients with multiple metastatic lesions using stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)" 58th Annual Meeting; ASTRO; American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) (2016)
  • "Poster Presentation Accuracy of skull scaling approximation in Gamme Knife stereotactic radiosurgery" Research Symposium; Roswell Park Cancer Institute; 64th Annual Summer Research Internship Program in Cancer Sciences (2016)
  • "Poster Presentation Benchmarking dose constraints to normal strructures in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) using Radialogica" Research Symposium; Roswell Park Cancer Institute; 64th Annual Summer Research Internship Program in Cancer Sciences (2016)
  • "Poster Presentation Dosimetric evaluation of a shield used for hemi-body skin electron irradiation" 58th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) (2016)
  • "Poster Presentation Planar dose pass rate inflation due to the MapCheck measurement uncertainty function" 58th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) (2016)
  • "Poster Presentation The evolution of RPCI's stereotactic body radiation therapy program" Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Biomedical Research Conference (2016)
  • "Poster Presentation The evolution of RPCI's stereotactic body radiation therapy program: Clinical and operational parameters" Research Symposium; Roswell Park Cancer Institute; 64th Annual Summer Research Internship Program in Cancer Sciences (2016)
  • "Poster Presentation The impact of water temperature on absolute dose calibration" 58th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) (2016)
  • "The evolution of RPCI's stereotactic body radiation therapy program: clinical and operational parameters" Annual Symposium of the RPCI Summer Research Experience Program in Cancer Sciences (2016)
  • "Theory and clinical implications of the constant dosimetric leaf gap (DLG) approximation" 58th Annual Meeting of the AAPM (2016)
  • "Optimization for partial-arc dynamic conformal arc therapy with motion tracking" Semi-Annual Meeting of the Upstate NY Chapter of the AAPM (2016)
  • "Poster Presentation Preservation of normal brain tissue in patients with multiple metastatic lesions using gamma knife radiosurgery" 41st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD) (2016)
  • "Physical and Biological Concepts of Radiation Therapy and Associated Technology" Oncology for Scientists Seminar Series; Roswell Park Cancer Institute (2016)
See all (11 more)

Service Activities:

  • Alternate Pathways Committee; Member (2017–present)
  • Ad Hoc Committee on Unifying Publication Platforms (AHUPP); Member (2015–2016)
  • Ad Hoc Committee on AAPM, ADCL Oversight (AHADCL); Chair (2015)
  • Journals Business Management Committee (JsBMC); Member (2015)
  • Committee of Society Treasurers (2013–2015)
  • Finance Committee (FINCOM); Chair (2013–2015)
  • Budget Subcommittee (BSC); Chair (2013–2015)
  • Ad Hoc Committee on Headquarters Space Needs (AHHSN); Member (2013–2015)
  • Strategic Planning Committee of the Board (SPC); Member (2013–2015)
  • Journal Business Management Committee (JBMC); Member (2013–2015)
  • Ad Hoc Committee for JACMP Editor Selection; Member (2012)
  • Task Group No. 228 - Review Annual Meeting Region Rotation; Chair (2012)
  • Physics Committee, Practice Accreditation Program; Member (2011–present)
  • Meeting Coordination Committee; Chair (2010–2012)
  • Nominating Committee; Member (2010–2012)
  • Science Council; Member (2010–2012)
  • Administrative Council; Member (2010–2012)
  • Finance Committee; Member (2010–2012)
  • Education Program Subcommittee; Chair (2009–2012)
  • Scientific Program Subcommittee; Member (2009–2011)
  • Continuing Professional Development Committee; Member (2009–2011)
  • Education Program Subcommittee; Member (2009–2011)
  • Development Committee; Member (2009–2011)
  • Publications Committee; Member (2009–2011)
  • Evaluation Subcommittee, Emerging Technology Steering Committee, Health Policy Council; Member (2007–present)
  • Meeting Coordination Committee; Vice Chair (2006–2009)
  • Treatment Delivery Subcommittee, Science Council; Member (2005–2007)
  • Meeting Coordination Committee, Professional Council; Member (2005)
  • Public Relations Committee; Member (2004–2007)
  • Continuing Education Committee; Member (2004–2007)
  • Quality Improvement Committee; Member (2001–present)
  • Quality Assurance Committee; Member (2001–present)
  • Radiation Safety Committee; Member (1997–present)

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Contact Information

Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Department of Radiation Medicine
Elm & Carlton Streets
Buffalo, New York 14263
Phone: 845-8054
Fax: 845-8254
podgorsa@buffalo.edu