Medical Physics Residency Faculty

Dr. Janos Juhasz is a highly accomplished physicist specializing in medical physics and radiation oncology. Dr. Juhasz's academic career includes positions such as Sessional Lecturer at Ryerson University, Adjunct Professor in Physics, and Assistant Professor in Physics and Astronomy at McMaster University. Since 2023, he has been serving as an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Florida International University. He has also held numerous hospital appointments, most notably as a Medical Physicist at Juravinski Cancer Centre and a Senior Medical Physicist at Baptist Health South Florida.

Certified by the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine and the Florida Health Department in Radiation Oncology Physics, Dr. Juhasz is also an authorized medical physicist for Y-90 procedures. His teaching roles have encompassed various physics and medical physics courses, and he has contributed to numerous committees and mentorship programs, including the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists and the CAMPEP Operations Committee.

Dr. Juhasz's clinical responsibilities have been extensive, involving leadership in breast, hematology, and total body irradiation, as well as expertise in advanced radiotherapy techniques and systems. His research interests focus on biomedical physics in cancer therapy, model membranes and ionizing radiation, and the development of new radiation treatment planning techniques. He has been involved in pioneering studies on optical surface monitoring and respiratory motion management in radiation therapy.

Dr. Juhasz has authored nine peer-reviewed papers, 15 published abstracts, and presented at national and international conferences. His recent publications include studies on SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, amyloid-beta aggregation, and erythrocyte liposomes, reflecting his ongoing commitment to advancing the field of medical physics through both clinical practice and research.

Education & Training

• BSc in Physics and Teaching
• Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, Romania
• MSc in Biophysics and Medical Physics
• Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, Romania
• PhD in Biophysics
• University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Postgraduate Training

• International Training Course in Research (Fellow)
• Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
• Medical Physics Residency in Radiation Oncology
• Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Certificates and Licenses

• Radiation Oncology Physics
• Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine
• Radiation Oncology Physics
• Florida Health Department
• Authorized Medical Physicist for Y-90 procedure
• SirTex

Dr. Kristen A. McConnell is a distinguished professional in the fields of mechanical engineering, nuclear and radiation engineering, and radiological sciences, with a robust background in both academia and clinical practice. Dr. McConnell's academic career includes positions such as Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (Aug 2020 - Jun 2022) and Florida International University (Jun 2022 - present). She also served as Course Director and Adjunct Faculty at Texas State University (Aug 2016 - May 2018).

In clinical settings, Dr. McConnell has held prominent roles such as Senior Proton Medical Physicist at Miami Cancer Institute (Jun 2022 - present), Medical Physicist at UAB Hazelrig-Salter Radiation Oncology (Aug 2020 - Jun 2022), and Medical Physics Assistant at California Protons Cancer Therapy Center (Oct 2019 - Jun 2020).

Education & Training

• BS in Mechanical Engineering
• The University of Texas at Austin
• MS in Nuclear and Radiation Engineering
• The University of Texas at Austin
• PhD in Radiological Sciences – Therapy Physics
• The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
• MBA in Business Administration
• University of Alabama at Birmingham

Postgraduate Training

• Medical Therapy Physics Residency
• University of California, San Diego

Certificates and Licenses

• Therapy Medical Physics
• American Board of Radiology
• Therapeutic Radiological Physicist
• State of Florida Department of Health

Clinical Responsibilities

At the Miami Cancer Institute, Dr. McConnell is responsible for proton physics, including pre-plan checks, plan checks, final chart checks, machine and CT coverage, quality assurance, and workflow optimization with RadMachine software. At UAB, she handled brachytherapy treatment planning, proton physics checks, contour reviews, and quality assurance for both proton therapy and linear accelerators.

Scholarly Activities

Dr. McConnell has made significant contributions to scientific literature and conferences. She has 17 peer-reviewed papers, 31 published abstracts, and 16 presentations at national and international conferences. Her recent presentations include topics such as proton plan check process analysis, integration of RadMachine for proton clinics, and DNA damage measurements.

Selected Publications

• Volumetric de-escalation and improved acute toxicity with proton craniospinal irradiation using a vertebral body-sparing technique (2021)
• Variability of Breast Surface Positioning Using an Active Breathing Coordinator for a Deep Inspiration Breath Hold Technique (2021)
• Double-strand breaks measured along a 160 MeV proton Bragg curve using a novel FIESTA-DNA probe in a cell-free environment (2021)
• DNA dosimeter measurements of beam profile using a novel simultaneous processing technique (2020)
• DNA Dosimeter Measurement of Relative Biological Effectiveness for 160 kVp and 6 MV X-rays (2020)

Research Interests

Dr. McConnell's research focuses on radiobiological interrogation, modeling, Monte Carlo simulations for radiation biology, and proton efficiency analysis. Her work has been supported by various grants, including funding from the UCSD Academic Senate and the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas. Dr. Kristen McConnell's distinguished career showcases her dedication to advancing the field of radiological sciences through her extensive clinical expertise, academic contributions, and innovative research.

Juliet Pol is an accomplished professional in health services administration, with a strong focus on program coordination and project management in the field of radiation oncology. As the Radiation Oncology Academic Program Coordinator at the Miami Cancer Institute, Juliet Pol plays a pivotal role in the program's success by overseeing and managing the administrative and operational aspects of the academic initiatives. Her responsibilities include coordinating educational activities, facilitating the residency and fellowship programs, and ensuring compliance with accreditation requirements. She serves as a liaison between faculty, residents, and fellows, providing support in scheduling, curriculum development, and program evaluations. Additionally, Juliet assists with the organization of academic events such as seminars and workshops and contributes to the development of research projects and publications. Her role is integral in maintaining the program's high standards and fostering an environment conducive to learning and professional growth.

Education & Training

• Associate of Arts (AA) in General Studies
• Columbia College
• Bachelor of Health Services Administration (BHSA)
• Florida International University

Postgraduate Training

• Project Management Certificate Program
• Florida International University
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
• Florida International University
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
• Florida International University