Name: AZAM NIROOMAND-RAD
Occupation: Medical Physicist, specializing in Radiation Oncology
Born : December 2, 1947, Tehran, Iran
Education: 1978, PhD in Physics, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI
1981, Postdoc in Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Certifications: 1988, ABR, Therapeutic Radiological Physics
1990, ABMP, Radiation Oncology Physics
Career:
Azam Niroomand-Rad PhD is Director of Clinical Physics in the Department of Radiation Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center, a Full Professor of Radiation Medicine at Georgetown University Medical School, Associate Editor of the Medical Physics Journal, and the current President of the International Organization of Medical Physics (IOMP). She obtained her PhD in Atomic and Molecular physics from Michigan State University in 1978 and completed her post-doctoral research in medical physics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. She is board certified by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) and the American Board of Medical Physics, and is recognized as a Diplomat of the ABR and a Fellow of the American Association of Physicist in Medicine (AAPM).
Dr. Niroomand-Rad has published numerous articles and book chapters, and is Co-Inventor of a US Patent for designing a novel stereotactic method for treatment of spine lesions. She recently received the Teacher of the Year Award from the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology. In addition to her teaching, research, and patient care activities in her department, she has been very involved in the scientific, educational, and professional activities of the AAPM (serving as Chair of the International Affairs committee and the International Scientific Exchange program) and the IOMP. She has organized many international scientific programs in the physics of radiation oncology and has been an invited speaker to many conferences. Most notably and passionately, in order to promote the status of Medical Physics worldwide, she has organized workshops and training courses in medical physics in developing countries and has helped establish several foreign national medical physics associations.
Publications [Up to 15]:
- Planarity Relations for Sextic Centrifugal Distortion Constants of Triangular Triatomic Molecules. Azam Niroomand-Rad, Miu Yung Chan and Paul M. Parker, J. Mol. Spectroscopy 69, 445-457 (1978).
- Recalculation of Sextic Centrifugal Distortion Constants of Ozone. Azam Niroomand-Rad and Paul M. Parker. J. Mol. Spectroscopy 75. 177-180 (1979).
- A Modified Vibration-Rotation Contact Transformation Technique. Azam Niroomand-Rad and Paul M. Parker. J. Mol. Spectroscopy 75, 454-461 (1979).
- Sequential Contact Transformation Formulation of Asymmetric-Rotator Vibration Rotation Hamiltonian. Azam Niroomand-Rad and Paul M. Parker. J. Mol. Spectroscopy 85, 40-54 (1981)
- Preliminary Study of a Gamma-Ray "Telescope" Relevant to Neutron Personnel Dosimetry. F.H. Attix, A. Niroomand-Rad, R.P. DeLuca, Jr., F. Lopez, D.W. Pearson and B.R. Paliwal. Wisconsin Medical Physics Report WMP=153k, Fast Neutron Dosimetry Progress Report to the U.S. Department of Energy, Contract No. DE-AC02-76EV01105 Containing Segments DOE/EV/01105-287 through -297, Oct. 1, 1981 - June 30, 1982.
- The Application of CaSO 4: Dy (TLD-900) to Diagnostic X-Ray Exposures. Azam Niroomand-Rad and Larry A. DeWerd, Med. Phys. 10(5), 691-694 (1983).
- The Effect of Irregularly Shaped Cerrobend Blocks on the Uniformity of 4 and 10 MV Photon Dose Distributions, Azam Niroomand-Rad and Bhudatt R. Paliwal. Treatment Planning 6(1), 13-18 (1984).
- The Effect of Thickness of the Waterproofing Sheath on the Calibration of Photon and Electron Beams. M.T. Gillin, R.W. Kline, Azam Niroomand-Rad, and D.F. Grimm, Med. Phys. 12(2), 234-236 (1985).
- Computer Dosimetry of Ir-192 Wire. R.W. Kline, M.T. Gillin, D.F. Grimm and Azam Niroomand-Rad. Med. Phys. 12(5), 634-638 (1985).
- Dose Distribution in Total Skin Irradiation Using a Six-Field Technique with 5, 7, and 10 MeV Electron Beams. Azam Niroomand-Rad, M.T. Gillin, R. Komaki, R.W. Kline and D.F. Grimm, Int. J. Radiation Oncology, Biol., Phys., Vol. 12, 415-419, (1986).
- Film Dosimetry of Small Electron Beams for Routine Radiotherapy Planning. Azam Niroomand-Rad, M.T. Gillin, R.W. Kline and D.F. Grimm, Med. Phys. 13(3), 416-421, (1986).
- Effect of field irregularities on the Dose Distribution of 4 MV Photon Beams. Azam Niroomand-Rad and Bhudatt R. Paliwal. Radiotherapy and Oncology 8, 43 - 48 (1987).
- Evaluation of the Reconstruction of Brachytherapy Implants in Three-Dimensions from Stereo Radiographs. Azam Niroomand-Rad, Bruce R. Thomadson and Paul Vainio. Radiotherapy and Oncology 8, 337-342 (1987).
- Performance Characteristics of an Orthovoltage X-Ray Therapy Machine. Azam Niroomand-Rad, Michael T. Gillin, Francisco Lopes and Dan F. Grimm. Med. Phys., 14(5), 874-878 (1987).
- Comparison of Measured and Calculated Dose Distributions Around an Iridium-192 Wire. M.T. Gillin, F. Lopez, R.W. Kline, D.F. Grimm and Azam Niroomand-Rad, Med. Phys. 15(6), 915-918 (1988).
- Film Dosimetry of Small Elongated Electron Beams for Treatment Planning. Azam Niroomand-Rad. Med. Phys. 16(4), 655 - 662 (1989).
- Evaluation of the Reconstruction of Seed Position from Stereo and Orthogonal Radiographs for Routine Radiotherapy Planning. Azam Niroomand-Rad and Bruce Thomadson Radiation Medicine, 8(4), 145-151, (1990).
- Routine Calibration of Brachytherapy Sources with a Well-Type Dose Calibrator Using Standard Calibrated Sources. Azam Niroomand-Rad. Radiation Medicine, Vol. 8(6), 238- 245, (1990).
- Physical Aspects of Total Body Irradiation of Bone Marrow Transplant Patients Using 18 MV X-Rays. Azam Niroomand-Rad. Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys., Vol. 20, 605-611, (1991).
- Wedge Factor Dependence on Depth and Field Size for Various Beam Energies Using Symmetric and Half-Blocked Asymmetric Jaw Settings. Azam Niroomand-Rad, Mahmoud Haleem, James E. Rodgers, and Ceferino Obcemea. Med. Phys., 19(6), 1445-1450 (1992).
- A Stereotactic Brain Implant Technique with High-Activity I-125 Seeds Using a Conventional Brachytherapy Treatment Planning System. Azam Niroomand-Rad, Richard Cumberlin, Louis Rosa, and James E. Rodgers. Radiation Medicine, vol. 11(1), 36-41, (1993).Measured Dose to Ovaries and Testes from Hodgkin's Fields and Determination of Genetically Significant Dose. Azam Niroomand-Rad and Richard Cumberlin. Int. J. Radiat.Oncol. Biol. Phys. 25, 745-751, 1993.
- Ultralow dose (100 nGy-100 mGy) response of a-Al 2O 3:C," Marko Moscovitch, Michelle Kaufman, James E. Rodgers, Azam Niroomand-Rad, Radiat. Prot. Dosim., vol. 47, no. 1/4, 173-176, 1993.
- Air Cavity Effects on the Radiation Dose to the Larnyx Using Co-60, 6 MV, and 10 MV Photon Beams. Azam Niroomand-Rad, K.W. Harter, S. Thobejane, K.A. Bertrand. Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys., 29(5), 1139-1146, 1994.
- Dosimetric Parameters of a Modified Set of Wedges for Use with Asymmetric Fields of a 6 MV Linear Accelerator. Azam Niroomand-Rad, James E. Rodgers, Paula Taylor, and Brian Hames. Med. Phys., 21(9), 1405-1408, 1994.
- Use of Dental Implants for Rehabilitation of Madibulectomy Patients Prior to Radiation Therapy. Ramin Razavi, Azam Niroomand-Rad, Roy Sessions and K. William Harter. J. of Oral Implantology, vol. XXI/No. two, 138-141, 1995.
- Radiation Dose Pertubation at Tissue-Titanium in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Azam Niroomand-Rad, Ramin Razavi, Senti Thobejane, K. William Harter. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys., 34(2), 475-482, 1996.
- Effects of Beam Spoiler on Radiation Dose for Head and Neck Irradiation with 10 MV Photon Beam. Azam Niroomand-Rad, Khosrow Javedan, James E. Rodgers, and K. William Harter. Int. J. Radiat Oncol.Biol. Phys., 37(4), 935-940, 1997.
- Modified Afterloading Heyman Technique Using Iradium-192 Seeds and Disposable Capsules. Azam Niroomand-Rad, James E. Rodgers, Gregory Gagnon, and Michael Kuettel. lication in J. Brachytherapy International, 13, 253-259, 1997.
- Radiochromic Film Dosimetry. AAPM TG-55 Report. Azam Niroomand-Rad, Robert Blackwell, Bert Coursey, Kenneth Gall, James Galvin, William McLaughlin, Ali Meigooni, Ravinder Nath, James Rodgers, and Christopher Soares. Med. Phys., 25(11), 2093-2115, 1998.
- An Overview of Some European and International activities in the field of Medical Physics Education, Training CPD, supported by IOMP and EFOM. Azam Niroomand-Rad, Inger-Lena Lamm, Slavik Tabakov. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing Journal, Vol. 37, 155-156, 1999.
- The World Wide Web is a net disservice to medical physicists in developing countries, Kwan-Hoong Ng, Azam Niroomand-Rad, William R. Hendee, Med. Phys., 28 (12), 2391-2393, 2001
- Very High Background Radiation Areas of Ramsar, Iran: Preliminary Biological Studies and Possible Implications, M. Ghiassi-Nejad, J. Mortazavi, J. Cameron, A. Niroomand-Rad, P. Karam, Health Physics J, 28(1), 87-93, 2002.
- How Should governments address high levels of natural radiation and radon ? Lessons from the Chernobyl nuclear Accident, J. Mortazavi, M. Ghiassi-Nejad, Azam Niroomand-Rad, Andrew Karam, and John Cameron, Risk: Health, Safety and Environment, 13/1.2, 31-45, 2002.
- ICRP evolutionary recommendations and the reluctance of the members of the public to carry out remedial work against radon in some high-level natural radiation areas, Karam, P. A., Mortazavi, S. M. J., Ghiassi-nejad, M., Ikushima, T., Cameron J.R. and Niroomand-Rad A., Radiation and Homeostasis. Sugahara T, Nikaido O, and Niwa O. Eds, pp. 35-37, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2002.
- Adaptive Response Studies May Help Choose Astronauts for Long-Term Space Travel, S.M. Mortazavi, T. Ikushima, John Cameron, Azam Niroomand-Rad, and Andrew P. Karam, Advances in Space Research, Vol. 31(5), 2003.
- Adaptive response studies may help choose astronauts for long-term space travel. Mortazavi SMJ, Cameron JR, and Niroomand-Rad A. Advances in Space Research, 31 (6): 1543-1552, 2003.
- Cancer Incidence in Areas with Elevated Levels of Natural Radiation, S.M.J. Mortazavi, M. Ghiassi-Nejad, P.A. Karam, T. Ikushima, A. Niroomand-Rad, and John Cameron, International Journal of Low Radiation (IJLR) , Volume 1, No. 4, 2004.
- Comparison of Uniformity of Dose Response of Double Layer Radiochromic Films (MD-55-2)Measured at 5 Institutions. Azam Niroomand-Rad, Sou-Tung Chiu-Tsao, Christopher Soares, Ali Meigooni, and Assen Kirov. Accepted for Publication, Physica Medica, 2005.
Books, Chapters, and Patents
- Mechanics by K.S. Symon (Second Edition) Translated into Persian. Azam Niroomand-Rad and G.G. Hamedani, Arya Mehr University of Technology Publishing Company, 639 pages (1978).
- Co-Inventor: Sanford Katz, MD and Azam Niroomand-Rad, PhD of AKatz Brachytherapy Recording Template@ for 3D Conformal Ultrasound Guided Prostate treatments with Pd-103 Seeds. Patent application in progress (1998).
- Chapter 1, Volume 2 : Production and Interaction of High Energy Photons and Electrons, Biomedical Uses of Radiation - therapeutic Applications, Edited by W. R. Hendee, VCH Publisher Inc. 1999.
- Chapter 9 , Kilovoltage X-rays, Modern Technology of Radiation Oncology: A Compendium for Medical Physicists and Radiation Oncologists, Edited by Jake Van Dyke. Medical Physics Publishing, Madison, WI, 1999.
- Chapter 1, Ultrasound Guided Prostate Implant: An Evaluation of Dose Volume Relations, Advances in Medical Physics, Edited by M.M. Rehani, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishing LTD, New Delhi, India, 1999.
- Chapter 7, Ultrasound-Guided Prostate Implant with Pd-103 seeds: A clinical Evaluation of Dose Volume Relations, Medical Physics, Edited by C. Kappas et.al., Monduzzi Editore Publication, International Proceedings Division, Bologna, Italy, 1999.
- Role and Responsibilities of Medical Physicists in Radiological Protection of Patients, Azam Niroomand-Rad, IOMP Position Paper, Radiological Protection of Patients in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Therapy. Published by International Atomic Energy Agency, Proceeding of an international conference held in Malaga, Spain, March 26-30, 2001. Pages 79 – 89, 2001.
- Co-Inventor for US Patent No.: 6,665,555 B2, entitled: Radiosurgery Methods that Utilize Stereotactic Methods to Precisely Deliver High Dosages of Radiation Especially to the Spine, Frazer Henderson, MD, James Rodgers, PhD, Azam Niroomand-Rad, PhD, Kevin Cleary, PhD, and Anatoly Dritschilo, MD, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington D.C., Dec. 16, 2003
Awards and Honors:
- Recipient of full academic scholarship, Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, NY.
- Member of Phi Theta Kappa, National Honor Society for Junior Colleges.
- Recipient of Science Cup at Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, NY.
- Recipient of academic scholarship from State Univ. of N.Y. at Albany, Albany, NY.
- Member of Phi Beta Kappa, National Honor Society.
- Member of Pi Mu Epsilon, National Mathematics Honor Society.
- Member of Sigma Pi Sigma, National Physics Honor Society.
- Graduated Summa Cum Laude, State University of N.Y. at Albany, Albany, NY.
- Recipient of full academic scholarship from Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Iran to complete Ph.D. degree in Physics.
- Recipient of Affirmative Action Fellowship Award from Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI.
- Recipient of National Research Service Award in Medical Physics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.
- Recipient of Distinguished Alumni Award, Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, NY.
- Recipient of AAPM Travel Award.
- Recipient of AAPM International Affairs Travel Award.
- Fellow of American Association of Physicists in Medicine, AAPM
- Recipient of Honorary Doctor of Science Degree, Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, N.Y.
- Recipient of “Teacher of the Year Award”, Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology
- Merit Member of the Sociedad Cubana de Fisica,
American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Activities:
- Member, AAPM Board of Directors of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, AAPM, representing North Central Chapter of AAPM (8/1985-8/1988).
- Organizer of Scientific Meeting for North Central and Midwest Chapters of AAPM in Fall of 1986 at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
- Member of the AAPM Finance Committee, AAPM, 1988-1991.
- Member of the AAPM International Affairs Committee, AAPM, 1988- 2000.
- Member of the AAPM Ethics Committee, AAPM, 1988-1991.
- Member of the AAPM Radiation Protection Committee, AAPM, 1989- 1996.
- Member of AAPM Task Group #46, Accelerator Beam Data, of the Radiation Therapy Committee, AAPM, 1989- 2000.
- LiaisonMember of the AAPM International Affairs Committee for Iran and Turkey, AAPM, 1990-1997.
- LiaisonMember of the AAPM Int’l Affairs Committee for Afghanistan, 1990-Present.
- Member of AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee, AAPM, 1992-1994.
- Member of AAPM Local Arrangements Committee for AAPM Annual Meeting in Washington D.C., in 1993.
- Chair , IAAPM nternational Scientific Exchange Programs Subcommittee (ISEP) of the International Affairs Committee, AAPM, 1989-Present.
- Organizer and Co-Director of the following AAPM International Scientific Exchange Course/Workshop (ISEP) course/workshops in radiation therapy physics and International Conferences in Medical Physics:
- Pakistan , April 1992.
- Poland , August - September 3, 1993.
- Iran , May 1994.
- Turkey , September 1995.
- Morocco , September-October 1996.
- Russia , June 1997.
- Egypt , May 1998.
- Romania , June 1999.
- Brazil , June 1999.
- Thailand , June 2000.
- Bangladesh , January 2001
- Saudi Arabia , March 2002
- Cuba , April 2002
- Brazil , Oct./Nov. 2004
- Chair of AAPM /RTC Task Group No. 55, "Radiochromic Film Dosimetry," Radiation Therapy Committee, 1993-1997.
- Chair of AAPM Education Committee, AAPM Mid-Atlantic Chapter, 1994-2000.
- Member of AAPM Publication Committee, 1995-2000.
- President-Elect and President , AAPM Mid-Atlantic Chapter, 1996-1997.
- Member of AAPM Mid-Atlantic Chapter Awards and Honors Committee, 1996-2000.
- Member of AAPM Awards and Honors Committee, 1996-2000.
- Appointed AAPM Delegate to International Organization for Medical Physics, IOMP, 1996-2000.
- Member of AAPM Local Arrangements Committee for AAPM Annual Summer School in Washington D.C., in 1997, 1995-1997.
- Member of World Congress Planning Committee for AAPM /IOMP World Congress in Chicago, in 2000, 1996-2000.
- Chair, AAPM Presidential Ad-Hoc Committee on Women's Issues, 1996- 1997.
- Organizer of Scientific Meeting for Mid-Atlantic Chapter of AAPM at AAPM Headquarters, College Park, MD, in June 1996.
- Chair, AAPM Middle East Affairs, 1996-2000.
- Co-Chair, International Advisory Committee for AAPM/IOMP World Congress in Chicago, in 2000, 1997-2000.
- Organizer of Scientific Meeting for Mid-Atlantic Chapter of AAPM at AAPM Headquarters, College Park, MD, in May 1997.
- Co-Director for AAPM Mid-Atlantic Chapter Clinical Electron Beam Dosimetry Workshop, Univ. of VA, October 3, 1997.
- Organizer for the AAPM Symposium on Women in AAPM, San Antonio, August 10, 1998.
- Member, Board of Directors of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, AAPM, representing Mid-Atlantic Chapter of AAPM (12/1997-2000).
- Course Director , AAPM CME Courses ( 7:30 AM Series), Nashville, TN, July 1999.
- Member , Science Council of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, AAPM, (9/99 - Present).
- Member , Education Council of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, AAPM, (1/00 - Present).
- Member , AAPM Long Term Planning Committee, April 2000.
- Chair,AAPM International Affairs Committee, 2001-Present.
- Organizer, First USA-Cuba Int’l Conference in Medical Physics, Havana, Cuba, April 2002
Additional Professional Organization Activities:
- Member of IOMP Education and Training Committee, 1991- 1997.
- Editor, for Medical Physics World, Bulletin of the International Organization for Medical Physics, IOMP, 1994 - 2000.
- Coordinating Editor , for Electronic Medical Physics World, EMPW, 1996 - 2000.
- Board of Directors , Medical Physics Publishing, 2001 – 2003.
- Associate Editor , Medical PhysicsJournal, 2001 - Present.
- Associate Editor , Iranian Journal of Radiation Research , 2001– Present.
- Associate Editor, J ournal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute , 2003 – Present.
- Associate Editor, International Journal of Low Radiation , 2004 – Present
- Associate Editor, Kasr El Aini Journal of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine , 2004 – Present.
- Chair, IOMP Education and Training Committee, 1997-2000.
- Oral Examiner , Therapeutic Radiological Physics, Oral Examination for The American Board of Radiology, 1996, 2000, 2002.
- Oral Examiner, Radiation Oncology Physics, Oral Examination for The American Board of Medical Physics, 1997.
- Appointed member of Awards and Honors Ad Hoc Committee for International Organization for Medical Physics, IOMP, 1998-1999.
- Member, International Organization for Medical Physics, Awards and Honors Committee 1999-2000.
- Member , International Advisory Committee for International Conference on Medical Physics, All India Institute of Medical Physics, New Delhi, India, November 1998.
- Vice-President , International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP), 2000-2003
- President , International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP), 2003-2006
- Member , IOMP International Advisory Council, 2001- Present.
- Member , IUPESM Congress Coordinating Committee, 2001-Present.
- Member , IUPESM Education and Training Committee, 2001 – Present.
- Member, IUPESMInternational Council for Science (ICSU) Liaison Committee, 2001 - Present.
- Member, IUPESM Administrative Council, 2001 - Present.
- Member , IUPESM Public and International Relations Committee, 2001 – Present.
- Member, Int’l Advisory Committee, South East Medical Physics Workshop, Malaysia, 2001
- Member , Advisory Committee, Int’l Conference on Medical Physics & Radiation Safety, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai, India, November 26-29, 2001.
- Member, Ad-Hoc Comm., IOMP By-Laws Revision Comm., 2001 – Present
- Chair, Ad-Hoc Comm., IUPESM Policy and Procedure, 2002 – Present.
- IAEA (Int’l Atomic Energy Agency) Expert, radiation therapy physics, Jordan, July 2003.
- Member, International Advisory Committee, Third South-East Asian Congress of Medical Physics (SEACOMP), Fourth Asia-Oceania Congress of Medical Physics (AOCMP), Sept. 2004, Kuala Lumpur
- Member, Program Committee XIIth Congress of Poland Society of Medical Physics, Sept. 2005, Warsaw, Poland
Civic Activities :
- Women and Human Rights Activist in Iran, Liaison for United Nations (1979-1980)
- Mentor , High School students in Washington D.C., American Heart Association - High School Summer Heart Research Fellowship, Award Winner students:
- Ms. Eileen Zorc, 1994 .
- Ms. Rebecca Love, 1995 .
- Mr. Alan Morse, 1996.
- Ms. Lindsay Moroney, 1997 .
- Ms. Monique Richburg, 1998 .
- Ms. Jennifer Wilson, 1999
- Ms. Kendra McDow, 2000
- Ms. Lauren Mansfield, 2001
- Mr. Kenny Lai Cheong, 2002
- Ms. Daniela Gattini, 2003
- Ms. Maryam Nabavi, 2003
- Ms. Elyssa Finkel, 2004
- Ms. Shiela Bagheri, 2004
- Mr. David Espana, 2004
- Mr. Ezdean Fassassi, 2004
- Teacher Volunteer , Saturdays reading and math enrichment program, For the Love of Children Volunteer Organization for the elementary and middle school children in Shaw neighborhood, Washington D.C. (1995-2002)
Avocations and Special Interests:
Mountain Climbing, Hiking, Painting, Art Crafts, Swimming, Reading
Family:
Married: 1971, Hossein Hamedani (Professor of Mathematics at Marquette Univ.)
Children: 1973, Daughter, Azita Hamedani
1978, Son, Hooman Hamedani
Grandchildren: 2004, Grandson, Zadan Hamedani Mason


