K. Sunshine Osterman

K. Sunshine Osterman, PhD

Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology

Summary

My research focuses on the development, implementation, and standardization of radiation-based cancer treatments. This helps ensure consistent, efficient and safe delivery of treatments for our patients. Some of the more complex procedures that I’ve worked on recently including total body irradiation using volumetric modulated arc therapy VMAT (VMAT TBI) and cranial spinal Irradiation using VMAT (VMAT CSI). My clinical areas of expertise include CT simulation, brachytherapy, treatment planning, and gamma knife radiosurgery in therapy physics.

As a preceptor in the Medical Physics Residency program at NYU Langone Health, I train medical therapy physicists in CT simulation for radiation therapy (quality assurance, maintenance and effective use). I also supervise the ethics and professionalism rotations for our medical physics residents.

In collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Radiation Oncology at NYU Langone Health and nationally with my colleagues at AAPM, my equity-focused research and volunteer work looks to identify and address the needs of underrepresented patients, providers, and students (including those who identify as LGBTQ2SIA+) to improve cancer care.

My diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work has contributed to the creation of

  • needs-assessment surveys,
  • updated patient intake forms,
  • community engagement and outreach activities,
  • educational trainings and webinars,
  • new merit-based professional scholarships, and
  • expanded collection of gender and demographic data on sexual and gender identity for patients and healthcare professionals

I am passionate about my work in ethics and healthcare equity in cancer care. I co-authored the current Code of Ethics for my professional society, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), and currently serve AAPM as vice chairs of the Ethics Committee and the Sexual and Gender Minority Subcommittee.

Phone

646-501-8945

Academic office

560 First Avenue

Second Floor

New York, NY 10016

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PhD from Dartmouth College

Rudek, Benedikt; Bernstein, Kenneth; Osterman, Sunshine; Qu, Tanxia

Journal of applied clinical medical physics. 2022 Jan 09; e13522

Teruel, Jose R; Taneja, Sameer; Galavis, Paulina E; Osterman, K Sunshine; McCarthy, Allison; Malin, Martha; Gerber, Naamit K; Hitchen, Christine; Barbee, David L

Journal of applied clinical medical physics. 2021 Mar; 22(3):119-130

Skourou, Christina; Sherouse, George W; Bahar, Nina; Bauer, Linda A; Fairobent, Lynne; Freedman, D Jay; Genovese, Lisa M; Halvorsen, Per H; Kirby, Neil A; Mahmood, Usman; Ozturk, Naim; Osterman, K Sunshine; Serago, Christopher F; Svatos, Michelle M; Wilson, Melissa L

Medical physics. 2019 Apr; 46(4):e79-e93

Hipp, E; Becker, S; Osterman, K

Medical physics. 2013; 40:263

Zhou, Jun; Zhang, Pengpeng; Osterman, K Sunshine; Woodhouse, Shermian A; Schiff, Peter B; Yoshida, Emi J; Lu, Zheng Feng; Pile-Spellman, Eliza R; Kutcher, Gerald J; Liu, Tian

Medical physics. 2009 May; 36(5):1643-50

Liu T; Zhou J; Osterman KS; Zhang P; Woodhouse SA; Schiff PB; Kutcher GJ

Conference Proceedings (IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society). 2008 May 27; 2:718-722

Zhang, Pengpeng; Osterman, K Sunshine; Liu, Tian; Li, Xiang; Kessel, Jack; Wu, Leester; Schiff, Peter; Kutcher, Gerald J

International journal of radiation oncology biology physics. 2007 Feb 01; 67(2):362-8

Osterman, K Sunshine; Hoopes, P Jack; DeLorenzo, Christine; Gladstone, David J; Paulsen, Keith D

Physics in medicine & biology. 2004 Mar 07; 49(5):665-83