Radiation Oncology Physics Residency - Resident Stories

Hope Genco  (July 2022 – present)

Hope completed her undergraduate degree in physics at SUNY Buffalo State University. She was accepted into a summer internship program at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Medical Physics Department during her undergraduate studies. After this internship experience, her interest in clinical medical physics grew. She enrolled at SUNY University at Buffalo and graduated with a CAMPEP Accredited Master of Science in Medical Physics. Hope enjoys walking her dog, hiking, and watching Buffalo Football and Hockey during her free time. Hope and her husband love taking road trips to the national parks and were married in Yosemite National Park in 2021.

“The best part of Piedmont is the people. As residents, we gain extensive clinical experience and knowledge during our rotations by working with different physicists and also with therapists, dosimetrists and radiation oncologists. This approach ensures a comprehensive learning environment that is invaluable. Piedmont’s program will help me become not only a competent clinical medical physicist but also a “team player” in any future department I work in.” – Hope Genco

Devin Newell (July 2021 – July 2023) 

Devin is a first-generation college graduate. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biophysics at the University of Washington, Seattle. He received his CAMPEP Accredited Master of Science in Medical Physics at the University of Toledo, where he performed a year of clinical training and wrote his master’s thesis on SRS VMAT brain lesion plan quality indices. In his free time, he enjoys reading, solving puzzles (escape rooms), watching informative documentaries, and talking with his close friends about recent events. He enjoys traveling and has planned multiple trips to visit his close friends, now spread out across the globe.

“The heavy focus on clinical training mixed with the wide range of techniques, treatment systems, and friendly staff was exactly what I was looking for in a residency. The numerous opportunities to learn and the eagerly staffed physicist wanting to teach me bestows on me a level of confidence that never wavers as I progress toward my goal of being ABR certified.” – Devin Newell

Kevin Sukumar (July 2020 - July 2022) 

Kevin completed his undergraduate degree in physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Then, he enrolled at Purdue University in Indiana and graduated with a CAMPEP Accredited Master of Science in Medical Physics. Kevin joined the radiation oncology physics residency program at Piedmont Healthcare, where his ambition to become a clinical medical physicist was solidified. After residency, Kevin transitioned into a staff physicist role at Piedmont and enjoys mentoring residents. He is interested in topics such as linac-based SRS/SBRT, dose evaluation from multiple treatments, and quality improvement projects. During his free time, Kevin engages in hobbies such as complex jigsaw puzzles, DIY crafts and reading.

“The dedicated residency program across a range of treatment techniques and different systems compared to a single vendor-based system enriched my training experience. Also, the team approach towards constant quality improvement opportunities with the ultimate goal of providing exceptional patient care made me stay at Piedmont.” – Kevin Sukumar

Sharareh Koufigar (Graduated January 2022) 

Sherry received her Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of California, Los Angeles and her CAMPEP Accredited Master of Science in Medical Physics from Columbia University in New York. In the summer of 2016, Sherry completed an internship at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. Upon graduation from Columbia, Sherry worked as an Operational Physics Intern with Elekta before accepting a full-time position with Sun Nuclear Corporation. After two years on the vendor side of operations, Sherry elected to pursue a clinical position. Sherry accepted a position with the University of Washington in Seattle upon graduation.

“Besides the fact that I received great exposure by participating in a wide range of radiation treatments using various technologies, I worked with different physicists with diverse personalities and teaching techniques. The opportunity enhanced my abilities to be a team player. Also, it prepared me to handle any clinical situation with a multi-pronged approach.” – Sherry Koufigar