News

January 2024

The OHSU Faculty Senate hosted the prestigious 2023 Distinguished Faculty Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. From a competitive group of candidates, the Outstanding Teaching Award was presented to Maria Thompson, M.S., R.T.(T), Assistant Professor & Assistant Program Director, Clinical Education for the Radiation Therapy Program. Congratulations, Maria, on this achievement and recognition for your commitment to outstanding teaching at OHSU. 

The Distinguished Faculty Award winners are listed on OHSU Now. "Finalists were nominated by faculty peers for exceptional work promoting OHSU's academic mission, their dedication to teaching, research and service to the community."

2023 award recipients
Maria Thompson, Assistant Professor, pictured fourth from left. Image courtesy of OHSU Now.

May 2023

The OHSU Radiation Therapy Program would like to invite you and your RT colleagues to a FREE community event on May 24th, 2023 6-8PM at the RLSB, Portland, OR.

Agenda:

  • Program Updates: Kristi Tonning Ph.D., R.T.(T)
  • ASRT approved Community Education (CE) presentation
    • Speaker: Dr. Catherine McDonald, DVM, DACVIM, DACVR, of VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists
    • Topic: Veterinary Radiation Oncology
    • Credits: 1 CE credit
  • Dinner will be provided

All are welcome so feel free to share this information with colleagues!

Radiation Therapy Program Community Education Event 2023

August 2022

The Class of 2022 radiation therapy students graduated on August 5, 2022. An in-person ceremony was held at the Chart House honoring the graduating students. The celebration included dinner, program speeches, annual awards, and the awarding of diplomas.

Class of 2022 students at RT graduation dinner.

June 2022

OHSU Convocation was held on June 5, 2022 at the Oregon Convention Center, marking the first in-person commencement ceremony since 2019. Students, faculty, and staff were joined by family and friends to honor the graduates during this special occasion.

RT Student at OHSU Convocation
Photo by Jordan Sleeth, OHSU EdCOMM

August 2021

The Class of 2021 students graduated on August 7, 2021. A small in-person ceremony was held at the Chart House honoring the graduating students. The celebration included dinner, program speeches and awards, and the awarding of diplomas. 

Class of 2021 students at RT graduation dinner.

March 2021

Maria Thompson, Radiation Therapy Program Clinical Coordinator, completed her Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Policy from Portland State University in March 2021. Congratulations, Maria!

Winter 2021

The Radiation Therapy Program Class of 2020 (August 2020) tied for the highest national board mean scaled score, with a 100% pass rate, for the 10 graduating students. Despite the impact of COVID-19 on their didactic and clinical education during 2020 Spring and Summer terms, the cohort adapted, graduated and passed the ARRT board certification exam top in the nation. We look forward to the contribution of this group to quality patient treatment and care in radiation oncology.

January 2021

Radiation Therapy Program Director, Kristi Tonning, earned her doctoral degree from Pacific University in January 2021. Congratulations, Dr. Tonning, on this achievement!

June 2020

In June 2020, the Radiation Therapy Program was awarded the Provost Award for Excellence in Program Assessment. Out of approximately 140 programs at OHSU, this is the highest academic assessment honor awarded. “This award is for programs that have a top score on both their plan and report and whose reviewer comments highlight this impressive work. This program does it all: communicates learning outcomes, aligns well with the university outcomes, reflects on outcomes not met, engages stakeholders at a high level, and makes data-based changes to classes and the program as a whole.” https://www.ohsu.edu/education/assessment-awards

The Radiation Therapy Program also received the 2020 Stakeholder and Data Engagement assessment award. 

Spring 2020

Spring term brought a unique challenge for clinical programs as they adapted to remote didactic learning. To replace clinical learning with didactic learning, the program developed clinically relevant content and collaborated with students remotely using our virtual linac. Without having to gather physically in class, students were able to take the controls of our Virtual Linac Simulator (VERT) to practice important clinical concepts such as; patient set-up, shifting, isocenter verification, cross sectional anatomy, etc. This learning and hands-on practice kept clinical concepts at the forefront and added an innovative way to connect with students.

November 5, 2019

Program Director Kristi Tonning, M.S., RT(T) spoke at the JRCERT 50th Anniversary Conference on November 5th, 2019. Director Tonning's presentation was focused on the topic of interprofessional education and collaborative practice.

August 2, 2019

The Radiation Therapy Program Class of 2019 graduated on Friday, August 2nd, 2019. Eight students received degrees from the program this year. Our graduation celebration was held at The Elephants Delicatessen Corbett Room with 100 family members, friends, and faculty members attending. Our keynote speaker was Dr. Elena Andresen, Executive Vice President and Provost of OHSU. Congratulations to Oregon's newest radiation therapists!

July 12, 2019

The Radiation Therapy Program received an OHSU Education Mini-Grant for the program's research project focused on patient education in radiation oncology. Director Kristi Tonning and Clinical Coordinator Maria Thompson's funding proposal was selected from among a competitive group of applicants. This $1500 grant was awarded by OHSU's Office of Educational Improvement and Innovation.

August 3, 2018

The Radiation Therapy Program Class of 2018 graduated on Friday, August 3rd, 2018. Four students received degrees from the program this year. Our graduation celebration was held at the Chart House with 50 family members, friends, and faculty members attending. Congratulations to Oregon's newest radiation therapists!

July 27, 2018

Arthur Hung, MD was named the new Medical Director of the Radiation Therapy Program after the departure of Charlotte Kubicky, MD, Ph.D.  Dr. Hung attended medical school at the Ohio State University, trained at MD Anderson Cancer Center and specializes in treating genitourinary cancers and soft tissue sarcomas. 

We thank Dr. Kubicky for her years of dedication to the Radiation Therapy Program and look forward to working with Dr. Hung!

June 3, 2018

On Sunday, June 3rd, 2018 members of the senior class of the Radiation Therapy Program attended the Oregon Health & Science University convocation ceremony at the Oregon Convention Center. Program Director Kristi Tonning gave some welcome remarks to honor outgoing university president Joe Robertson, MD, MBA at the faculty brunch before the institution-wide convocation ceremony. Our students then joined the School of Medicine – Graduate Studies Hooding & Completion Ceremony after the main ceremony.

Our students will officially graduate in early August at the end of Summer Term A.

Congratulations to the new graduates!

March 8, 2018

Over 40 local radiation therapists attended a free radiation therapy community event hosted by the OHSU Radiation Therapy Program. The event included program updates, professional networking, and an American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) approved continuing education presentation given by Krystina Tack, Ph.D, DABR®, Director of the Oregon Medical Physics Program. Attendees earned 1 A+ credit from the ASRT for attending the presentation.

February 26, 2018

Local news station KGW broadcasted a story about the VERT project - see the video on the GW website.

January 18, 2018

Refinery29 identified radiation therapy as among the "10 Dream Jobs For Millennials Seeking Lower Stress & Good Pay." Check out the October 2017 article.

December 29, 2017

The cure today magazine website picked up the VERT project story first written about by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Read the cure today story online.

December 21, 2017

Local news outlet KATU published and broadcasted a story about the VERT project. Check out the VERT story and video on their website.

November 15, 2017

The Radiation Therapy Program and the OHSU Department of Radiation Medicine collaborated to bring the VERT to Tuality/OHSU Cancer Center. The project, spearheaded by Program Director Kristi Tonning, MS, RT(T) and Department Chair Charles R. Thomas Jr., MD, uses this 3D technology as a patient education tool. Check out the full OHSU press release as well as the story on Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB).

August 4, 2017

The Radiation Therapy Program Class of 2017 graduated on Friday, August 4th, 2017. Seven students received degrees from the program this year. Our graduation celebration was held at the Elephants Delicatessen Corbett room with 90 family members, friends, and faculty members attending. Congratulations to our graduates!

June 4, 2017

On Sunday, June 4th, 2017 the senior class of radiation therapy students participated in the Oregon Health & Science University convocation ceremony at the Oregon Convention Center. Over 1,200 students are graduating from OHSU programs in the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Public Health. A School of Medicine – Graduate Studies Hooding & Completion Ceremony followed the institution-wide convocation ceremony. This was the first year the School of Medicine hosted separate ceremonies for Graduate Studies and Doctor of Medicine graduates.

Our students will officially graduate in early August at the Radiation Therapy Program graduation celebration.

Congratulations to the new graduates!

February 6, 2017

On Monday, February 6th, 2017 over 40 friends, colleagues, and former students gathered to celebrate the life and career of the late Anne Maddeford, Director Emeritus of the Radiation Therapy Program. The Radiation Therapy Program honored Anne's legacy by dedicating a classroom in her name, the Anne Maddeford Radiation Therapy Virtual Classroom.

The Anne Maddeford Radiation Therapy Virtual Classroom, located in the Collaborative Life Sciences Building (CLSB), houses the program's VERT™ equipment. Anne was a pioneer of the OHSU Radiation Therapy Program; she transformed the program from a certificate into a bachelor's degree program in the 1990s, and her early efforts to bring this technology to OHSU led to the program acquiring the VERT™ in 2016.

Speakers included Program Director Kristi Tonning, Dr.Kenneth Stevens, Barb Agrimson '85, Rebecca Botaitis '06, and Aaron Martin '10. A reception followed the memorial and room dedication ceremony.

January 20, 2017

Room dedication in memory of Anne Maddeford, Director Emeritus of the Radiation Therapy Program.

September 7, 2016

U.S. News ranked Radiation Therapist as #22 on its Best Health Care Jobs ranking, citing below average stress levels and above average flexibility. Included in the position overview is an interview with OHSU's Dorothy Hargrove, Chief Radiation Therapist in the Department of Radiation Medicine! Check out the U.S. News article.

August 22, 2016

Anne Maddeford, Director Emeritus of the OHSU Radiation Therapy Program passed away on August 20th, 2016 after being ill for quite some time.

Anne was the director of the OHSU Radiation Therapy Program for over 20 years, and transformed it from an associate program to a bachelor's degree in 1994. She dedicated much of her life to Radiation Therapy and her students, for which we are deeply grateful.  Anne was instrumental in educating and mentoring most of the Radiation Therapists still practicing in Oregon today. Countless lives have been touched by her passion and dedication.

We have lost a friend and valued colleague.

August 5, 2016

The Radiation Therapy Program Class of 2016 graduated on Friday, August 5th, 2016. One hundred family members and friends attended the commencement ceremony and reception at the Elephants Delicatessen Corbett Room. Congratulations to our new graduates!

July 5, 2016

Maria Thompson started as the new Clinical Coordinator for the Radiation Therapy Program. Maria graduated from the program in 2007 and previously worked for Legacy Good Samaritan before joining the Radiation Therapy Program. Welcome to the team, Maria!

July 1, 2016

Linda Yates officially retired after 15 years as Clinical Coordinator. She will continue to work for the program part-time for two months as Maria Thompson adjusts to her role as the new Clinical Coordinator. Congratulations, Linda, and thank you for your continued dedication to the Radiation Therapy Program!

June 1, 2016

You can find our director, Kristi Tonning, listed among the "15 Professors of Radiation Therapy to Know!" Check out the professors of radiation therapy list. Congratulations, Kristi!

May 25, 2016

Doernbecher and Radiation Therapy Program Collaboration

We are excited to announce that on May 25th the Radiation Therapy students gave the children's area in the Radiation Medicine waiting room a make-over.

We thank Doernbecher Child Life Specialists, OHSU Volunteers and others for their time and donations towards providing a cozy area for our young patients.  

May 10, 2016

We are excited to announce the installation of Virtual Environment for Radiation Therapy Training (VERT) software in one of our classrooms. Installation will take place June 14th through June 17th. See the VERT software promotional video.

November 5, 2015

We thank Dr. Carol Marquez for her successes over many years as a Radiation Oncologist and the Medical Director for the Radiation Therapy Program.

Dr. Charlotte Kubicky named Medical Director of the Radiation Therapy Program.

July 27, 2015

Kristi Linnea Tonning started as the new Director for the Radiation Therapy Program.

Anne Maddeford retired after over 20 years as the Radiation Therapy Program Director. We are grateful to Anne for her many years of work and the wonderful contributions she made to the program.