Al-Hallaq named new vice chair and division chief of medical physics

Emory University School of Medicine’s Department of Radiation Oncology appointed Hania A. Al-Hallaq, PhD, as the new vice chair and division chief of medical physics, effective January 1. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this pivotal role. Prior to joining Emory, Al-Hallaq was a professor at the University of Chicago in the Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology.

"We could not be more excited to welcome Dr. Hallaq, a leader of exceptional caliber to take our shared mission to the next level," says Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology. "She has earned respect and admiration both at her current institution and on the national stage."

Al-Hallaq's research focuses on the use of medical imaging to guide treatment positioning and assess treatment response following radiotherapy. Notably, she has developed expertise in both X-ray and 3D surface imaging modalities for breast cancer treatments and has chaired the American Association of Physicists in Medicine task group TG-302: Surface image-guided radiotherapy.

Al-Hallaq, who received her PhD in medical physics from the University of Chicago, is widely recognized for her work on CT radiomics and has served as principal investigator for national protocols studying the safety and efficacy of SBRT for metastatic disease. She currently holds key positions with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, including chair of the Medical Physics Residency Training and Promotion Subcommittee and vice-chair of the Education and Training Committee.

“I am thrilled to join Emory's Department of Radiation Oncology as chief for the Division of Medical Physics, says Al-Hallaq. “Given the first-rate clinical and academic environment that currently exists, I see a future where our team seamlessly blends their expertise, generating innovative solutions that help to propel to new heights our department’s clinical mission of impacting cancer care."

Katja Langen, PhD, who has provided outstanding contributions as interim chief, has returned to her positions as chief of proton physics and associate director of medical physics.