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Kent A. Gifford, Ph.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2004 University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, PHD, Medical Physics
2001 University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, MS, Biomedical Sciences
1997 Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, BS, Magne Cum-Laude, Physics

Board Certifications

6/2007 American Board of Radiology

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Price MJ, Gifford KA, Horton JL, Eifel PJ, Gillin MT, Lawyer AA, Mourtada F. Monte Carlo Model for a Prototype CT-compatible, Anatomically Adaptive, Shielded Intracavitary Brachytherapy Applicator for the Treatment of Cervical Cancer. Med Phys 36(9):4147-55, 9/2009. PMID: 19810488.
2. Gifford KA, Wareing T, Failla G, Horton J, Eifel P, Mourtada F. Comparison of a 3-D Multi-Group SN Particle Transport Code with Monte Carlo for Intracavitary Brachytherapy of the Cervix Uteri. J Appl Clin Med Phys 11(1):3103, 2009. PMID: 20160682.
3. Vassiliev ON, Wareing TA, Davis IM, McGhee J, Barnett D, Horton JL, Gifford K, Failla G, Titt U, Mourtada F. Feasibility of a multigroup deterministic solution method for three-dimensional radiotherapy dose calculations. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 72(1):220-7, 9/2008. PMCID: PMC2597668.
4. Gifford KA, Price MJ, Horton JL, Wareing TA, Mourtada F. Optimization of deterministic transport parameters for the calculation of the dose distribution around a high dose-rate 192Ir brachytherapy source. Med Phys 35(6):2279-85, 6/2008. PMID: 18649459.
5. Mourtada F, Gifford KA, Berner PA, Horton JL, Price MJ, Lawyer AA, Eifel PJ. Retrospective dosimetric comparison of low-dose-rate and pulsed-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy using a tandem and mini-ovoids. Med Dosim 32(3):181-7, 2007. PMID: 17707197.
6. Kendall RL, Gifford KA, Kirsner SM. The impact of peak-kilovoltage settings on heterogeneity-corrected photon-beam treatment plans. Radiother Oncol 81(2):206-8, 11/2006. PMID: 17069913.
7. Price MJ, Gifford KA, Horton J, Lawyer A, Eifel P, Mourtada F. Comparison of dose distributions around the pulsed-dose-rate Fletcher-Williamson and the low-dose-rate Fletcher-Suit-Delclos ovoids: a Monte Carlo study. Phys Med Biol 51(16):4083-94, 8/2006. PMID: 16885626.
8. Gifford KA, Horton JL, Wareing TA, Failla G, Mourtada F. Comparison of a finite-element multigroup discrete-ordinates code with Monte Carlo for radiotherapy calculations. Phys Med Biol 51(9):2253-65, 5/2006. PMID: 16625040.
9. Price MJ, Horton JL, Gifford KA, Eifel PJ, Jhingran A, Lawyer AA, Berner PA, Mourtada F. Dosimetric evaluation of the Fletcher-Williamson ovoid for pulsed-dose-rate brachytherapy: a Monte Carlo study. Phys Med Biol 50(21):5075-87, 11/2005. PMID: 16237242.
10. Gifford KA, Mourtada F, Cho SH, Lawyer A, Horton JL. Monte Carlo calculations of the dose distribution around a commercial gynecologic tandem applicator. Radiother Oncol 77(2):210-5, 11/2005. PMID: 16216363.
11. Gifford KA, Horton JL, Pelloski CE, Jhingran A, Court LE, Mourtada F, Eifel PJ. A three-dimensional computed tomography-assisted Monte Carlo evaluation of ovoid shielding on the dose to the bladder and rectum in intracavitary radiotherapy for cervical cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 63(2):615-21, 10/2005. PMID: 16168853.
12. Gifford KA, Horton JL, Jackson EF, Steger TR, Heard MP, Mourtada F, Lawyer AA, Ibbott GS. Comparison of Monte Carlo calculations around a Fletcher Suit Delclos ovoid with radiochromic film and normoxic polymer gel dosimetry. Med Phys 32(7):2288-94, 7/2005. PMID: 16121584.
13. Gifford KA, Horton JL, Steger TR, Heard MP, Jackson EF and Ibbott GS. Verification of Monte Carlo Calculations Around a Fletcher Suit Delclos Ovoid with Normoxic Polymer Gel Dosimetry. J Phys 3:217-220, 2004.
14. Gifford KA, Followill DS, Liu HH, Starkschall G. Verification of the accuracy of a photon dose-calculation algorithm. J Appl Clin Med Phys 3(1):26-45, 2002. PMID: 11818002.

Abstracts
1. Mourtada F, Pung N, Gifford KA, Lawyer AA, Wendt R, White A, Eifel PJ. A Conversion Method of Low Dose Rate to Pulsed Dose Rate Intracavitary Brachytherapy Prescription for the Treatment of Cervical Carcinoma. Med Phys 36:2424, 2009.
2. Nelson CL, Kirsner SM, Gifford KA. On the Dosimetric Differences Between Single Dwell and Multiple-Dwell Accelerated Partial Breast Brachytherapy Plans Delivered with a Single Catheter Spherical Balloon. Med Phys 36:2535, 2009.
3. Mourtada F, Price M, Gifford K, Horton J, Lawyer A, Jhingran A and Eifel P. A conversion method of low-dose-reate tandem and ovoid prescription to pulsed-dose-rate for the Plato treatment planning system, 9/2007.
4. Gifford KA. Attila: A Determininstic Transport Code Applied to Radiotherapy Calculations. European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology 84, Supplement 1, 9/2007.
5. Gifford KA, Kirsner S, Horton J, Wareing T and Mourtada F. Calculation of the dose distribution around commercially available 125I brachytherapy source via multi-group discrete ordinates methods. Med Phys 34(7):2550, 2007.
6. Gifford KA, Price MJ, Failla G, Wareing TA, Horton JL and Mourtada F. Calculation of the Dose Distribution Around a High Dose Rate Ir-192 Brachytherapy Source via a Multi-group Discrete Ordinates Method. Med Phys 33(7):2237, 2006.
7. Price MJ, Gifford KA, Horton JH, Eifel PJ and Mourtada. Capabilities of a CT-Suitable, Patient-Adaptive HDR/PDR Intracavitary Brachytherapy Applicator for the Treatment of Cervical Cancer. Med Phys 33:2205, 2006.
8. Price MJ, Mourtada F, Gifford KA, Horton JL and Eifel PJ. CT Protocol for Artifact-free Imaging of a Novel Intracavitary Brachytherapy Cervical Applicator, 2006.
9. Gifford KA, Horton JL, Failla G, Barnett D, McGhee J, Wareing TA, Eifel PJ, Mourtada F. Comparison of a 3D Multi-group Sn Particle Transport Code with Monte Carlo for Intracavitary Brachytherapy of the Cervix Uteri. Med. Phys. 32(6):1949, 2005.
10. Price MJ, Gifford KA, Horton JL, Eifel PJ, Lawyer AA, Jhingran A, Mourtada F. Comparison of LDR to PDR dose distributions: A Monte Carlo Study. Med. Phys. 32(6):2098, 2005.
11. Mourtada F, Wareing T, Horton J , McGhee J, Barnett A, Gifford KA, Failla G, Mohan R. A Deterministic Dose Calculation Method Applied to the Dosimetry of Shielded Intracavitary Brachytherapy Applicators. Med. Phys. 31(6):1807, 2004.
12. Gifford KA, Horton JL, Steger TR, Heard MP, Jackson EF, Ibbott GS. Verification of Monte Carlo calculations around a Fletcher Suite Delclos ovoid with Narmoxic Polymer Gel Dosimetry. J Phys Conf Ser 3:217 (#Third International Conference on Gel Dosimetry), 2004.
13. Gifford KA, Horton JL, Jackson EF, Steger TR, Heard MP, Mourtada F, Lawyer A, Ibbott GS. Verification of Monte Carlo Calculations around a Fletcher Suite Delclos Ovoid with Radiochromif Film and Narmoxic Polymer Gel Dosimetry. Med Phys 31(6):1808 (#AAPM Meeting 2004), 2004.
14. Gifford KA, Lawyer AA, Jhingran A, Eifel PJ, Horton JL. Monte Carlo calculations around a Commercial Gynecological Applicator. Med. Phys. 30(8):470, 2003.
15. Gifford KA, Starkschall G, Liu HH. Verification of a Commercial Photon-Dose-Calculation algorithm. Med. Phys. 28:1193, 2001.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Deterministic Radiotherapy Dose Calculation Method
Funding Source: SBIR with Transpire, Inc.
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Firas Mourtada, Ph.D.
Duration: 7/2007 - 6/2009
 
Title: Dosimetric Evaluation of Pulsed Dose-rate Brachytherapy for Gynecological Cancer Treatment: A Monte Carlo Study
Funding Source: SRA from Nucletron
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Firas Mourtada, Ph.D.
Duration: 4/1/2004 - 8/31/2005

Last updated: 3/8/2013