Application Process
The admissions process follows a formalized procedure under the direction of the resident selection committee, which consists of an application review committee and an interview committee. The top candidates are identified based on their application and are brought in for an interview which may be in-person, on-site, or virtual via video conferencing. Typically, ten to twenty applicants per open position are interviewed.
The JTCC program participates in the MedPhys Match Program of the National Matching Services Inc. to recruit its residents. Applicants must participate in the MedPhys Match Program specifying the JTCC program code 25311. The MedPhys Match is endorsed and sponsored by The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and the Society of Directors of Academic Medical Physics Programs (SDAMPP). It provides an orderly process to help applicants obtain positions in medical physics residency programs of their choice, and tohelp programs obtain applicants of their choice. As such there are key deadlines related to the application process outlined on the match website and communicated to the participating applicants and Institutions. It is important to underscore that the application and interview process essentially remains unchanged in that applicants must apply to the programs of their choice and both applicants and Institutions interview and evaluate each other independently of the MedPhys Match.
The application and interview process begins with the listing of the position (see below). Approximately one week following the deadline for submissions, the applications are reviewed by the application review committee consisting of the program director and at least all the Therapy Physicists faculty from the steering committee. Applications are divided into groups, and each group is scored by at least three faculties. A rank list is created, and the top ranked applicants are discussed in a meeting of the review committee. A final decision is reached on which applicants will be invited to an interview. This process requires two meetings of about one and a half hours each.
In line with our pre-requisites and program goals and objectives, we select applicants who have graduated from a CAMPEP accredited program and in addition, based on the strength of their academic records, desire to pursue a career in clinical medical physics and the potential to become leaders in the field. Prior clinical experience factors into the decision but is not a requirement. Admission policies are non-discriminatory. Generally, ten to twenty candidates are interviewed per open position, which is approximately the same rate as in the physician residency program.
Candidates are notified of our decision approximately four weeks before the interview day. If needed, an information package is mailed to each candidate that includes flight and hotel information as well as other logistics. Consistent with other physics and physician residency programs, for on-site interviews, candidates are expected to pay for their own travel and accommodation expenses. Prior to the day of the interview, several members of the physics section host an informal evening and get together with the interviewees available.
No more than 20 interviewees are invited for one open residency slot each year. The format of the interview, the entire process and what is expected of the candidates will be communicated way before the interview day.
Immediately following the interviews, the committee meets to review candidates. The program director reiterates the emphasis of candidate selection. The candidates are then ranked. If there is significant variability in the ranking with no clear consensus as to the top picks, the review committee will re-adjourn and deliberate further. The candidates submitted references may be contacted at this point if deemed necessary.
All admission records will be kept. These include:
- Graduate degrees (graduate name, university, year, and degree),
- Transcripts containing grade point averages,
- Letters of recommendation.
- Statement of Purpose