Principal Investigator
Dr. David H. Thomas, PhD, DABR
Associate Professor and Enterprise Director of Quality & Safety, Medical Physics
Dr. David Thomas is an academic medical physicist with over 15 years of experience in radiation oncology and computational imaging. His research program focuses on AI-enabled treatment planning, computer vision for treatment guidance, and real-time monitoring tools that improve treatment accuracy and patient safety.
Across his career, he has secured substantial competitive and industry research support, led interdisciplinary translational projects, and authored an extensive body of publications and conference presentations spanning medical physics, image guidance, and radiation oncology informatics.
Back to TeamCurriculum Vitae Overview
Professional profile, academic appointments, and selected contributions.
Education
- 2014-2016: Certificate in Medical Physics, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
- 2005-2010: PhD in Medical Physics, University of Edinburgh
- 2004-2005: MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
- 2000-2004: MPhys in Physics, University of St Andrews
Appointments
- 2024-present: Associate Professor in Medical Physics, Thomas Jefferson University
- 2022-2024: Associate Professor in Medical Physics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
- 2016-2022: Assistant Professor in Medical Physics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
- 2024-present: Enterprise Director of Quality & Safety, Medical Physics, Department of Radiation Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University
- 2018-2024: Deputy Residency Director, Medical Physics Residency Program, CU Anschutz
Awards and Recognition
- 2024: Science Council Session 'Innovations in Medical Physics' award, 66th AAPM Annual Meeting (Senior Author)
- 2023: Best-in-Physics Award, 65th AAPM Annual Meeting (Senior Author)
- 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013: Norm Baily Research Award, 1st Place (AAPM Southern California Chapter)
- 2013: Best-in-Physics Award, AAPM 55th Annual Meeting (First Author)
- 2011: Young Investigators Technical Research Award, 16th European Contrast Ultrasound Symposium
Research and Funding
- Current PI (2026-2028): 'Depth from Vision: Computer Vision for Anatomy-Aware SGRT' (Siemens Healthineers/Varian), total costs awarded: $260,000
- Current PI (2024-2027): 'Computer Vision applications in Radiation Therapy' (SKCCC startup funds), total costs awarded: $150,000
- PI (2022-2024): NIH R21 'Endoskeletal nanodrops for x-ray acoustic dosimetry', total costs awarded: $375,000
- PI (2023-2024): Computer vision enhanced breast DIBH-RT, total costs awarded: $100,000
- PI (2023-2024): Computer vision assisted alignment for pancreatic SBRT, total costs awarded: $50,000
Clinical and Teaching Leadership
- PI for investigator-initiated clinical trial: Computer Vision enhanced breast DIBH-RT protocol (2024)
- Co-PI: Dynamic contrast-enhanced CT liver trial for RT outcome assessment (2019)
- Lead physicist for SRS treatment machine and department lead for ARIA R&V (2019-2024)
- Developed and led ABR board preparation curriculum for residents and postdoctoral fellows (2020-2024)
- Primary and secondary mentor across multiple residency rotations and graduate/postdoctoral trainees
Selected Invited Lectures
- February 2, 2026: 'AI in Action: Practical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Research' (SKCCC CRTEC Seminar Series)
- October 28, 2025: Foundations of AI for Cancer Training, 21st Annual Cancer Biology Retreat
- July 2024: AAPM Science Council Session: Innovations in Medical Physics
- July 2023: AAPM Best in Physics Session, 'Computer Vision Assisted Alignment for SBRT'
- May 2023: American Radium Society, 'Computer Vision assisted Collision Avoidance for Radiation Therapy'
Certification, Editorial, and Committee Service
- 2017: Diplomate, American Board of Radiology (Therapeutic Medical Physics)
- 2018: Qualified Expert Registered Medical Physicist (#305), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- 2020-2024: Senior Medical Physics Editor, British Journal of Radiology | Open
- AAPM Radiation Therapy Patient Safety Subcommittee (committee member, 2023-2024)