Gareth Williams Ph.D.

Senior Radiological Physicist

Akron General Medical Center

United States

Professional Summary

Born just before WW2 in Wales,UK. Lived in and around London, UK, during the War and in Wales,UK. Became interested in atomic physics in 1945 at the age of 6. Attended Neath Grammar School, Neath, Glamorgan,UK, for 7 years and was admitted to Physics, University of Glamorgan in 1958. First employment was in 1962 with Philips/M.E.L Ltd in Redhill, Surrey, UK, in research into Linear and Microtron accelerators for cancer treatment. Joined UK Civil Service, Health and Safety Executive, UK, in 1965 as physicist for radiation physics and reactor physics. Involved in special science committees arranged by the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Energy, UK, from 1967 to 1970. Obtained Diploma of Membership of the Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London, in 1967. Attended University of Surrey, UK, to study for Ph.D. in Medical Physics in 1976. Obtained Ph.D in 1980. In 1980 went to work in GSF Laboratories (Theoretical Radiation Physics) in Munich, Germany. Joined staff of LM University of Munich, Department of Radiology, in 1981. Became Certified Medical Physicist in Germany (DGMP)in 1981. Consultant to ICRP Committee on Protection of the Patient in RadioTherapy from 1979 to 1984. ICRP published report in 1984. Consultant in theoretical Monte Carlo studies for ICRP and ICRU from 1981 to 1987. ICRP and ICRU published reports on mathematical assessments of organ doses and dose equivalents in male and female bodies, human organs and tissues, and the Effective Dose Equivalent was determined for a large spectrum of photon energies from 10 keV to 25 MeV. Monte carlo 3D studies and results were included in all these ICRP and ICRU reports. Another study on the increased risk of cancer from radiation therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis male and female patients was calculated using Monte Carlo and the results were published, which confirmed the risk assumptions of the ICRP that had been determined for survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In 1986 calculated using Monte Carlo the doses to organs in children and young adults, using whole body CT files, in Southern Germany following the fall-out from Chernobyl accident. Paper presented to the IAEA specialists in Munich in 1986. In 1987, three years after the death of my wife Maria from Cancer and four years after the death of my 7 year old daughter Eva from cardiac failure, I went to live in the USA and accepted an Associate Professor of Radiology position at the Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio. I married Daun in August 1987. I continued my research in mathematical 3D dose calculations, using Monte Carlo methods, in adults, children and babies at MCO for 5 years until 1992. I also taught Medical Physics at MCO for 5 years and in that time was responsible for the education of 5 Ph.D. and 7 MSc students. I also educated Medical Residents (M.D.) in Radiology and Radiation Oncology. From 1987 to 1990 I studied Radiological Physics in Radiology and Radiation Oncology, and in 1990 I was successful with the ABR (American Board of Radiology, USA) oral exams in Therapeutic Radiological, Diagnostic Radiological and Medical Nuclear Physics. The 3D calculations done at MCO were for cancer and leukemia patients. While in Munich in 1985 I had successfully calculated the bone marrow dose in each bone of an 11 year old leukemia patient who was treated for her cancer using whole body radiation. The child was CT scanned whole-body in Munich in 1984 and the CT files linked to the 3D Monte Carlo code for dose calculation. The results were published in 1985. Also I collaborated in 1990 with the MDAnderson Medical Physics Group on 3D calculations of dose distributions in GYN cancer treatments, and I collaborated with the CDRH, USA, in 3D dose calculations in fluoroscopic procedures. Documents were published as a result of this work. From 1992 to 1995 I was Chief of Physics at the Regional Cancer Center in Erie, PA; from 1995 to 1996 I was Lead Sole Physicist at St. Mary's Cancer Research and Treatment Center in Lubbock, Texas; from 1996 to 2005 I was Chief Physicist at Elkhart General Hospital Cancer Center, Elkhart, Indiana; from 2005 to 2007 I was Lead Sole Physicist at Genesis Health Care Cancer Center in Zanesville, Ohio; from 2007 to 2008 I was Director of Medical Physics at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana and from 2008 to the present I am Senior Radiological Physicist at Akron General Medical Center and Hospital, Akron, Ohio, which is near my home. I have published in many peer reviewed journals and in the ICRP and ICRU reports from 1984 to 1991. During the last 22 years in the USA I have been very fortunate to have studied 3D dose distributions, for diagnostic and therapeutic beams, in organs, tissues and in humans of all ages. The knowledge obtained from this research enables me to provide considerable information and advice on the physics of Radiation Oncology, Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine as well as on the Radiation Safety of patients and staff to clinics and hospitals throughout the World. I speak fluent German and some French, but English is my native language.

Skills

Specialization

Cancer Treatment, Leukemia treatment, Patient Treatment and Planning, Diagnostic X-ray and Nuclear medicine applications, including CT, MRI and Ultrasound., Medical Hospital, Adult and Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research, Residency for students at Kent State University and North Eastern University College of Medicine, Ohio, USA