JAMES BURTON SMATHERS
Occupation: Professor of Radiation Oncology specializing in radiation oncology physics
Born: Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Education:
BNE, Nuclear Engineering, North Carolina State College, 1957
MS Nuclear Engineering, North Carolina State College, 1959
PhD Nuclear Engineering, University of Maryland, 1967
Certifications:
Registered Professional Engineer, Texas, #27520
Registered Professional Engineer, District of Columbia, #5240
Registered Professional Engineer, California, #2247
Certified Health Physicist, American Board of Health Physics, 1974
Certified Medical Physics, Radiation Oncology Physics, American
Board of Medical Physics, 1989
Certified Radiological Physics, Radiation Oncology Physics, American Board of Radiology, 1991
Licensed Medical Physicist, Texas, #MP0023,
Career:
After receipt of my MS degree I went to work for Atomics International doing core design physics calculations for advanced concept power reactors. The Army interrupted this career and I spent the next eight years at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research as the engineer in charge of the construction and subsequent operation of a 50kW water boiler research reactor; two years in military service and six years in the civil service.
On receipt of my PhD degree (went to school part time while at Walter Reed), I accepted a faculty position in the nuclear engineering department at Texas A&M Univ. Research continued to be in the biomedical areas with involvement in NASA projects on proton dosimetry and collaboration with the MD. Anderson Cancer Center in the development of a neutron therapy project. In 1976 I assumed the additional duties of being the director of the Bioengineering Program at TAMU.
In 1980 I accepted a tenured full professorship at UCLA and was also chief of the physics section in the Department of Radiation Oncology. For the next ten years my scientific focus was on the design, construction and clinical implementation of a 46 MeV cyclotron based neutron therapy facility for use in clinical radiation therapy. In subsequent years at UCLA my involvement broadened to encompass the development and enhancement of photon and electron radiotherapy techniques.
Publications [Up to 15]:
“A Guide To Tele-radiology Systems” Kelsey, C.A., More, M., Neblett, D., Rowberg, A., Sprawls, P., Smathers, J., Wang, D., ACR Report, 1993
"Characterization Of The Effective Sources For A Therapeutic Fast Neutron Beam", Submitted For Publication, Medical Physics, M. F. Moyers, J. L. Horton, A. L. Boyer, J. B. Smathers, 1994
"A Verification of the Monte Carlo Code MCMP For Thick Target Bremstrahlung Calculations", Medical Physics 22 (1) 11-16, DeMarco, J.J., Solberg, T.D., Wallace, R.E., Smathers, J.B., 1994
"Implications Of Tissue Hetrogenity For Radiosurgery In Head And Neck Tumors", Int. J. Radiation Oncology, Biol., Phys. 32 (1) 233-239, Solberg, T.D., Holly, F.E., DeSalles, A.A.F., Wallace, R.E., Smathers, J.B. 1995
"Biologically Effective Dose Distribution Based On The Linear Quadratic Model And Its Clinical Relevance", Int. J. Radiation Oncology, Biol., Phys.. 33, #2, 375-389, 1995 Lee, S.P., Leu, M.Y., Smathers, J.B.. McBride, W.H., Parker, R.P., Withers, H.R., 1995
"High-Speed Computing, Digital Signal Processing and Filtering Using FPGA's" Proceedings SPIE Photonics East 96 Symposium, 18-22 Nov 1996, Boston, Mass., DeMarco, J.J., Smathers, J.B., Solberg, T.D., Casselman, S. 1996
"Radiation Hazards To Crews Of Interplanetary Missions", Setlow, R., Dicello, J., Fry, R.J.M., Little, J.B., Preston, R.J., Smathers, J.B., Ullrich, R.L. Report National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. (1996)
"Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy: Rationale and Methods", Medical Dosimetry 23 #3 209-219, Solberg, T.D., Selch, M.T., Smathers, J.B., DeSalles, A.F., (1998)
" A CT-Based Monte Carlo Simulation Tool For Dosimetry Planning And Analysis" DeMarco, J.J., Solberg, T.D., Smathers, J.B., Medical Physics 25 #1 1-11 (1998)
"Efficient Sampling Algorithms For Monte Carlo Based Treatment Planning, DeMarco, J.J. Solberg, T.D., Chetty, I., Smathers, J.B., Radiation Physics & Chemistry 53, 229-234 (1998)
" Monte Carlo Treatment Planning For Stereotactic Radiosurgery" Solberg, T.D., DeMarco, J.D., Smathers, J.B., Holly F.E., DeSalles, A.A.F. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 49 73-84 (1997)
“Dose Distributions Using Kilo-voltage X-rays and Dose Enhancement From Iodine Contrast Agents”, Mesa, A.V., Norman, A., Solberg, T.D., DeMarco, J.J., Smathers, J.B. Physics In Medicine & Biology 44, 1955-68 (1999)
“A Review of Radiation Dosimetry Applications Using the MCNP Monte Carlo Code”, Solberg, T.D., DeMarco, J.J., Chetty, I.J., Mesa, A.V., Cagnon, C.H., Li, A.N., Mather, K.K., Medin, P.M., Arellano, A.R., Smathers, J.B., Radiochim. Acta 89, 337-355 (2001)
“ Summary and recommendations of a National Cancer Institute workshop on issues limiting the clinical use of Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithms for megavoltage external beam radiation therapy” Fraass, B.A., Smathers, J.B. and Deye, J., Med. Phys. 30, 3206 (2003)
“Biological Effectiveness Of Antiproton Annihilation” Maggiore, C., Agazaryan, N., Bassler, N., Blackmore, E., Beyer, G., DeMarco, J., Doser, M., Gruhn, C., Holzscheiter, M., Ichioka, T., Iwamoto, K., Knudsen, H., Landua, R., McBride, W., Moller, S., Petersen, J., Smathers, J., Skarsgard, L., Solberg, T., Uggerhoj, U., Withers, H., Wouters, B., Nuclear Instru. & Methods in Physics Resh. B 214 181-185 (2004)
Awards:
Teaching
General Dynamics Distinguished Achievement in Teaching
Award, Texas A&M University, (1971)
American Society Engineering Education, Nuclear Engineering
Division, Distinguished Teacher Award, (1972)
Research
Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award In Research,
Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University, (1976)
Professional
Brazos Chapter, Texas Society of Professional Engineers,
Engineer of the Year Award, (1976)
Elected Fellow of American College of Medical Physics (1992)
Elected Fellow of American Association of Physicists in Medicine (1996)
Elected Fellow of American College of Radiology (1999)
Marvin M.D. Williams Professional Achievement Award, American College Of Medical Physics, 2003
American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Activities:
Treasurer 1992-1997
Task Group 18 - Fast Neutron Beam Dosimetry Physics (1975-1990)
Board of Directors - S. Calif. Chapter Rep. (1981-1984)
Member of Editorial Board, Medical Physics Journal (1981-1984) & (1992-2004)
Book Review Editor, Medical Physics Journal (1981-1984)
Board of Directors – Representative at Large (1987-1989)
Program Committee (1987-1992)
Research Committee (1988-1991)
Assoc. Editor, Medical Physics Journal, (1992-2004)
Finance Committee, Chairman (1992-1997)
Annual Meeting Coordination Committee (1992-1997)
Development Committee (1992-1997)
Investment Advisory Committee (1992-1997) & (2000- present)
Publications Committee (1992-1997)
Executive Committee (1992-!997)
Medical Physics Journal Business Management Committee (1995-1997)
Medical Physics Journal Business Management Committee Consultant (1998)
Electronic Media Coordinating Committee (1996-1997)
Ad Hoc Committee on FDA Oversight of Medical Software (1997)
Awards Selection Subcommittee Member Graduate Fellowship, Development Committee (1999-Present)
Medical Physics Work Force Subcommittee-ACMP Liaison (2000 -present)
Nomination Committee (2001) (2003)
Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program Subcommittee (2002-present)
Ad Hoc Committee On Placement Services (2003)
Headquarters Site Visit Review Committee, Chair (2004)
Placement Services Subcommittee, Member (2004-present)
Recruitment of Young Physicists into Medical Physics Subcommittee, member (2004-present)
American College of Medical Physics Activities
Ethics Committee (1984-1988)
Member Board of Chancellors (1987-1989)
Licensure Committee (1990-1992)
Vice Chairman, Board of Chancellors (1998)
Chairman, Board of Chancellors (1999)
Immediate Past Chairman, Board of Chancellors (2000)
American College Of Radiology Intersociety Commission Representative (ACMP) (1998-1999)
Strategic Planning Committee (1998-2002)
Journal Applied Clinical Medical Physics, Book Review Editor, (2000-present)
Journal Applied Clinical Medical Physics Editor Search Committee, (2001 - 2002)
Awards and Honors Committee (2000 – present)
Chairman (2004 to present)
Ad Hoc Committee on Membership Recruitment and Retention (1993 – present)
Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs Activities (CAMPEP)
Board of Directors, (ACMP), (2000-2006)
Secretary/Treasurer (2002-present)
American Institute of Physics Activities
Committee of Society Treasurers/AAPM Treasurer (1992-1997)
Governing Board Representative ( 1995-2005)
Audit Committee ( 1996-1999 )
Chairman ( 1998-1999)
Sub-Committee on Books (1995-1997)
Executive Committee (2002–2005)
Committee on Committees (2003 – 2005)
Chairman (2004, 2005)
American College of Radiology Activities
Research and Technology Assessment Committee of the Physics and Radiation Protection Commission (1993-1999)
Radiological Society of North America Activities
Reviewer, RSNA Research and Educational Fund, (1997-present)
The American Society For Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Activities
Radiation Physics Committee, Member, (1999-2004)
Member, Corporate Task Force (1999-2004)
International Organization Medical Physics Activities
Member, Finance Committee (2002-present)
American Nuclear Society Activities
Action Steering Committee (1979-1980)
Isotopes and Radiation Division Secretary (1972-1975)
Director (1975-1978)
Education Division Director (1972-1975)
Vice Chairman/Chairman Elect (1975-1976)
Chairman (1976-1977)
Student Activities Committee (1972-1975)
Technical Group for Biology and Medicine Director (1982-1983)
Vice Chairman/Chairman Elect (1983-1984)
Chairman (1984-1985)
Engineering Evaluation & Accreditation/Registration and Professional Development Committee (1977-1983)
Professional Divisions Committee (1984-1985)
Advisory Editor For Journal Nuclear Science and Engineering (1984-1985)
Accreditation Board Engineering and Technology Activities(ABET)
Board of Directors (1977-1983)
Executive Committee (1980-1982)
Finance & Audit Committee (1982-1983)
Ad-Hoc Accreditation Visitor (ANS) (1983-1990)
Health Physics Society Activities (HPS)
Public Information Committee (1973-1976)
Civic Activities:
Income tax volunteer for AARP, assisting financially challenged senior citizens with their income tax preparation; 2002 to present.
Family:
Married Sylvia Lee Rath in 1957 and we were blessed with four children; Kristine, Kathryn, J. Scott, and E. Kent. As of this writing, we have three grandchildren.