Chang-Ming Charlie Ma, PhD, FASTRO

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- About
- Education and Training
- Research Profile
- Lab Staff
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Clinical Locations
Primary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Professor
Vice Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology
Director, Radiation Physics
Research Program
Lab Overview
The radiation physics and cancer biology laboratory uses cancer animal models, in particular prostate, head and neck, breast, lung, pancreatic, ovarian and other diseases for understanding pathogenesis and developing novel therapeutic approaches. The staff perform cancer treatment studies combining radiation therapy, radio-dynamic therapy, gene therapy, chemotherapy, nanotherapy, and MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound therapy.
Educational Background
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Medical Physics, Royal Marsden Hospital, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, U.K., 1993
- PhD, Royal Marsden Hospital/Institute of Cancer Research/London University, Sutton, U.K., 1991
- MS, University of Shanghai for Science & Technology, Shanghai, China, 1986
- BS, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, 1982
Certifications
- Therapeutic Radiologic Physics, American Board of Radiology, 2004
Memberships
- Institute of Physics
- American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)
- American College of Medical Physics (ACMP)
- American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO)
- European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO)
- Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP)
- Cyberknife Society (CS)
- Society of Directors of Academic Medical Physicists Programs (SDAMPP)
- AAPM San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (SFBAC)
- AAPM Delaware Valley Chapter (DVC)
- North American Chinese Medical Physicists Association (NACMPA)
Honors & Awards
- Hall of Fame, NACMPA, 2015
- Fellow, ASTRO, 2014
- Fellow, ACMP, 2010
- Fellow, AAPM, 2005
- Fellow, Institute of Physics (IOP), 2004
- "Who’s Who in American Medicine and Healthcare," 2005 -
- "Who’s Who in American Education," 2005 -
- "Who’s Who in the World," 2005 -
- "Who’s Who in America," 2004 -
Research Program
Lab Description
The Radiation Physics section consists of radiation physicists, research scientists and fellows, dosimetrists, simulation and therapy technologists and other technical and supporting staff, who are responsible for accurate planning and delivery of radiation dose for radiation therapy. The mission is to provide the best possible technical support for radiation therapy and to advance the efficacy of cancer treatment through the integration of new technical innovations with clinical and basic research. The radiation cancer biology laboratory uses cancer animal models, in particular prostate, head and neck, breast, lung, pancreatic, ovarian and other diseases for understanding pathogenesis and developing novel therapeutic approaches. The staff perform cancer treatment studies combining radiation therapy, radio-dynamic therapy, gene therapy, chemotherapy, nanotherapy, and MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound therapy.
Our current research projects include image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), advanced treatment delivery techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated radiotherapy (VMAT), stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SRS/SBRT), pulsed low-dose-rate radiotherapy (PLDR), radiodynamic therapy (RDT), MRI guided HIFU therapy, laser accelerated proton and light ion beams, target localization, organ motion compensation, MRI/PET based functional imaging and treatment assessment, Monte Carlo dose calculation, and analyses of biological effects of radiation.

Robert Price, PhD, DABR, FASTRO
Professor, Clinical Chief Physicist



Lihui (Max) Jin, PhD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Physicist


Iavor Veltchev, PhD
Associate Professor, Clinical Physicist

Ahmed Eldib, PhD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Physicist

Xiaoming (Shawn) Chen, PhD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Physicist


Troy Dos Santos, PhD
Medical Physics Resident




Additional Staff
George Cherian - Dosimetrist
Kevin Crawford - Dosimetrist
Patrice Boyle - Dosimetrist
Robert Gleason - Dosimetrist
Zheng Dong - Dosimetrist
Gage Price -Dosimetrist
Mary Ann Konopka - Chief Therapist
Sue Gabriel - Radiation Therapy Scheduler
Thomas Sprankle - Systems Implementation Specialist
Matthew Young - Systems Analyst
Jon Christman - Radiation Oncology Engineer
Dave Liounis - Radiation Oncology Engineer
Chris Davis - Transport/Mold Room Technician
Jarrett Brown - Staff Therapist
Ronald Brown - Staff Therapist
Sandee Clibanoff - Staff Therapist
Kristen Cosgrove - Staff Therapist
Kristy Esterly - Staff Therapist
Barbara Farley-McDonnell - Staff Therapist
Alyssa Green - Staff Therapist
Michael Gutierrez - Staff Therapist
Donna Hazlett - Staff Therapist
Tracey Murphy - Staff Therapist
Michael Murray - Staff Therapist
Robert Novak - Staff Therapist
Amanda Przywitowski - Staff Therapist
Dominic Sabato - Staff Therapist
Noelle Schillinger - Staff Therapist
Barbara Sims - Staff Therapist
Linda Smith - Staff Therapist
Stephanie Taccard - Staff Therapist
Donna Videtto - Staff Therapist
Deborah Weitzner - Manager, Rad Onc Coding/Compliance (Therapist)
Donna Dodaro - Pool Therapist
Megan Gleason - Pool Therapist
Sarah Hill - Pool Therapist
Kimberly Kelly- Pool Therapist
Megan Lutey - Pool Therapist
Ruth Slotwinski - Pool Therapist
Karen Cummins - Simulation Therapist
Maureen Ferri - Simulation Therapist
Susan Gallelli, RTT - Simulation Therapist
Kelly Hopkins - Simulation Therapist
Theresa Richardson - Simulation Therapist
Selected Publications
Eldib A, Fareed M, Weiss S, Hayes S, Nguyen B, Mora G, Li JS, Chibani O, Addelgawad M and Ma CM. Dosimetric evaluation of a rotating gamma-ray system for stereotactic body radiation therapy, Journal of Radiation Oncology (2020) https://doi.org/10.1007/s13566-020-00437-9
Panetta J, Cvetkovic D, Chen X, Chen L, Ma CM. Radiodynamic therapy using 15-MV radiation combined with 5-aminolevulinic acid and carbamide peroxide for prostate cancer in vivo. Phys Med Biol, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/ab9776
Price RA, Jin LH, Meyer J, Chen L, Lin T, Eldib A, Chen X, Liu J, Veltchev I, Wang L and Ma CM. Practical Clinical Implementation of the Special Physics Consultation Process in the Re-irradiation Environment, Advances in Radiation Oncology (2020) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adro.2020.09.027
Xu Q, Tong X, Lin M, Chen X, Eldib A, Lin T, Chen L and Ma CM, Feasibility of Real-Time Target Localization Using EPID for Prostate IMRT/VMAT, Phys Med. (2020) 76:142-9
Ma CM, Chetty IJ, Deng J, Faddegon B, Jiang SB, Li JS, Seuntjens J, Siebers JV, Traneus E, Beam modeling and beam model commissioning for Monte Carlo dose calculation-based radiation therapy treatment planning: Report of AAPM Task Group 157. Med Phys. 2020. 47:e1-e18; first published PMID: 2019. 31679157. doi: 10.1002/mp.13898
Paly J, Deng M, Lee CT, Hayes SB, Galloway TJ, Hallman MA, Weiss SE, Horwitz EM, Price RA, Ma CM, Meyer JE. Pelvic Reirradiation Utilizing Pulsed Low-dose Rate Radiation Therapy, American Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2020, doi: 10.1097/COC.0000000000000741
Lin T and Ma CM. Positioning Errors of Metal Localization Devices with Motion Artifacts on kV and MV Cone Beam CT, British Journal of Radiology/open, 2019 https://doi.org/10.1259/bjro.20190013
Veltchev I, Price R, Chen X, Howell K, Meyer J and Ma CM. Application of a directional palladium-103 brachytherapy device on a curved surface, Med Phys (2019) 46: 1905-15
Ma CM. Physics and Dosimetric Principles of SRS and SBRT, Mathews J Cancer Sci. (2019) 4(2): 22; DOI: DOI: https://doi.org/10.30654/MJCS.10022
Kry SF, Feygelman V, Balter P, Knöös T, Ma CM, Snyder M, Tonner B, Vassiliev ON, AAPM Task Group 329: Reference dose specification for dose calculations: dose-to-water or dose-to-muscle? Med Phys 2019 PMID: 31883390. doi: 10.1002/mp.13995
Additional Publications
Contact Information
Charlie.Ma@fccc.edu
Office Phone: 215-728-2996
Pager:215-306-0189
Fax:215-214-1745
Office: CRP-LL - P0069

Clinical Locations
Primary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Contact Information
Charlie.Ma@fccc.edu
Office Phone: 215-728-2996
Pager:215-306-0189
Fax:215-214-1745
Office: CRP-LL - P0069
Professor
Vice Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology
Director, Radiation Physics
Research Program
Lab Overview
The radiation physics and cancer biology laboratory uses cancer animal models, in particular prostate, head and neck, breast, lung, pancreatic, ovarian and other diseases for understanding pathogenesis and developing novel therapeutic approaches. The staff perform cancer treatment studies combining radiation therapy, radio-dynamic therapy, gene therapy, chemotherapy, nanotherapy, and MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound therapy.
Education
Educational Background
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Medical Physics, Royal Marsden Hospital, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, U.K., 1993
- PhD, Royal Marsden Hospital/Institute of Cancer Research/London University, Sutton, U.K., 1991
- MS, University of Shanghai for Science & Technology, Shanghai, China, 1986
- BS, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, 1982
Certifications
- Therapeutic Radiologic Physics, American Board of Radiology, 2004
Memberships
- Institute of Physics
- American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)
- American College of Medical Physics (ACMP)
- American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO)
- European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO)
- Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP)
- Cyberknife Society (CS)
- Society of Directors of Academic Medical Physicists Programs (SDAMPP)
- AAPM San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (SFBAC)
- AAPM Delaware Valley Chapter (DVC)
- North American Chinese Medical Physicists Association (NACMPA)
Honors & Awards
- Hall of Fame, NACMPA, 2015
- Fellow, ASTRO, 2014
- Fellow, ACMP, 2010
- Fellow, AAPM, 2005
- Fellow, Institute of Physics (IOP), 2004
- "Who’s Who in American Medicine and Healthcare," 2005 -
- "Who’s Who in American Education," 2005 -
- "Who’s Who in the World," 2005 -
- "Who’s Who in America," 2004 -
Research Profile
Lab Description
The Radiation Physics section consists of radiation physicists, research scientists and fellows, dosimetrists, simulation and therapy technologists and other technical and supporting staff, who are responsible for accurate planning and delivery of radiation dose for radiation therapy. The mission is to provide the best possible technical support for radiation therapy and to advance the efficacy of cancer treatment through the integration of new technical innovations with clinical and basic research. The radiation cancer biology laboratory uses cancer animal models, in particular prostate, head and neck, breast, lung, pancreatic, ovarian and other diseases for understanding pathogenesis and developing novel therapeutic approaches. The staff perform cancer treatment studies combining radiation therapy, radio-dynamic therapy, gene therapy, chemotherapy, nanotherapy, and MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound therapy.
Our current research projects include image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), advanced treatment delivery techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated radiotherapy (VMAT), stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SRS/SBRT), pulsed low-dose-rate radiotherapy (PLDR), radiodynamic therapy (RDT), MRI guided HIFU therapy, laser accelerated proton and light ion beams, target localization, organ motion compensation, MRI/PET based functional imaging and treatment assessment, Monte Carlo dose calculation, and analyses of biological effects of radiation.
Lab Staff

Robert Price, PhD, DABR, FASTRO
Professor, Clinical Chief Physicist



Lihui (Max) Jin, PhD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Physicist


Iavor Veltchev, PhD
Associate Professor, Clinical Physicist

Ahmed Eldib, PhD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Physicist

Xiaoming (Shawn) Chen, PhD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Physicist


Troy Dos Santos, PhD
Medical Physics Resident




Additional Staff
George Cherian - Dosimetrist
Kevin Crawford - Dosimetrist
Patrice Boyle - Dosimetrist
Robert Gleason - Dosimetrist
Zheng Dong - Dosimetrist
Gage Price -Dosimetrist
Mary Ann Konopka - Chief Therapist
Sue Gabriel - Radiation Therapy Scheduler
Thomas Sprankle - Systems Implementation Specialist
Matthew Young - Systems Analyst
Jon Christman - Radiation Oncology Engineer
Dave Liounis - Radiation Oncology Engineer
Chris Davis - Transport/Mold Room Technician
Jarrett Brown - Staff Therapist
Ronald Brown - Staff Therapist
Sandee Clibanoff - Staff Therapist
Kristen Cosgrove - Staff Therapist
Kristy Esterly - Staff Therapist
Barbara Farley-McDonnell - Staff Therapist
Alyssa Green - Staff Therapist
Michael Gutierrez - Staff Therapist
Donna Hazlett - Staff Therapist
Tracey Murphy - Staff Therapist
Michael Murray - Staff Therapist
Robert Novak - Staff Therapist
Amanda Przywitowski - Staff Therapist
Dominic Sabato - Staff Therapist
Noelle Schillinger - Staff Therapist
Barbara Sims - Staff Therapist
Linda Smith - Staff Therapist
Stephanie Taccard - Staff Therapist
Donna Videtto - Staff Therapist
Deborah Weitzner - Manager, Rad Onc Coding/Compliance (Therapist)
Donna Dodaro - Pool Therapist
Megan Gleason - Pool Therapist
Sarah Hill - Pool Therapist
Kimberly Kelly- Pool Therapist
Megan Lutey - Pool Therapist
Ruth Slotwinski - Pool Therapist
Karen Cummins - Simulation Therapist
Maureen Ferri - Simulation Therapist
Susan Gallelli, RTT - Simulation Therapist
Kelly Hopkins - Simulation Therapist
Theresa Richardson - Simulation Therapist
Publications
Selected Publications
Eldib A, Fareed M, Weiss S, Hayes S, Nguyen B, Mora G, Li JS, Chibani O, Addelgawad M and Ma CM. Dosimetric evaluation of a rotating gamma-ray system for stereotactic body radiation therapy, Journal of Radiation Oncology (2020) https://doi.org/10.1007/s13566-020-00437-9
Panetta J, Cvetkovic D, Chen X, Chen L, Ma CM. Radiodynamic therapy using 15-MV radiation combined with 5-aminolevulinic acid and carbamide peroxide for prostate cancer in vivo. Phys Med Biol, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/ab9776
Price RA, Jin LH, Meyer J, Chen L, Lin T, Eldib A, Chen X, Liu J, Veltchev I, Wang L and Ma CM. Practical Clinical Implementation of the Special Physics Consultation Process in the Re-irradiation Environment, Advances in Radiation Oncology (2020) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adro.2020.09.027
Xu Q, Tong X, Lin M, Chen X, Eldib A, Lin T, Chen L and Ma CM, Feasibility of Real-Time Target Localization Using EPID for Prostate IMRT/VMAT, Phys Med. (2020) 76:142-9
Ma CM, Chetty IJ, Deng J, Faddegon B, Jiang SB, Li JS, Seuntjens J, Siebers JV, Traneus E, Beam modeling and beam model commissioning for Monte Carlo dose calculation-based radiation therapy treatment planning: Report of AAPM Task Group 157. Med Phys. 2020. 47:e1-e18; first published PMID: 2019. 31679157. doi: 10.1002/mp.13898
Paly J, Deng M, Lee CT, Hayes SB, Galloway TJ, Hallman MA, Weiss SE, Horwitz EM, Price RA, Ma CM, Meyer JE. Pelvic Reirradiation Utilizing Pulsed Low-dose Rate Radiation Therapy, American Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2020, doi: 10.1097/COC.0000000000000741
Lin T and Ma CM. Positioning Errors of Metal Localization Devices with Motion Artifacts on kV and MV Cone Beam CT, British Journal of Radiology/open, 2019 https://doi.org/10.1259/bjro.20190013
Veltchev I, Price R, Chen X, Howell K, Meyer J and Ma CM. Application of a directional palladium-103 brachytherapy device on a curved surface, Med Phys (2019) 46: 1905-15
Ma CM. Physics and Dosimetric Principles of SRS and SBRT, Mathews J Cancer Sci. (2019) 4(2): 22; DOI: DOI: https://doi.org/10.30654/MJCS.10022
Kry SF, Feygelman V, Balter P, Knöös T, Ma CM, Snyder M, Tonner B, Vassiliev ON, AAPM Task Group 329: Reference dose specification for dose calculations: dose-to-water or dose-to-muscle? Med Phys 2019 PMID: 31883390. doi: 10.1002/mp.13995