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Rebecca M. Howell

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

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

Office Address

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, TX 77030
Room Number: Y2.5321, Unit 94
Phone: (713) 563-2493

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2005 University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, PHD, Medical Physics
2001 University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, MS, Medical Physics
1997 University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, BS, Chemistry

Board Certifications

2005 American Board of Radiology - Therapeutic Radiologic Physics

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Faculty, The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, 2007-present

Honors and Awards

2008 Best Paper Award, “Measurement of High-Energy Neutron Spectra with a Bonner Sphere Extension (BSE) System”, Medical Applications Session at American Nuclear Society, 11th International Conference on Radiation Shielding and the 15th Topical Meeting of the Radiation Protection and Shielding Division
2007 Mentor, American Association of Physicists in Medicine, Summer Undergraduate Fellowship
2007 Oakridge Associated University Junior Faculty Enhancement Award
2006-2007 Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology Teaching Award, Emory University
2005-2006 Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology Teaching Award, Emory University
2004-2005 Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology Teaching Award, Emory University
2004 Travel Scholarship, 10th International Conference on Radiation Shielding, Madeira, Portugal
2003 Travel Scholarship, American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Summer School

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Kry SF, Johnson JL, White RA, Howell RM, Kudchadker RJ, Gillin MT. Neutron-induced electronic failures around a high-energy linear accelerator. Med Phys 38(1):34-9, 1/2011. PMID: 21361172.
2. Scarboro SB, Followill DS, Howell RM, and Kry SF. Variations in photon energy spectra of a 6 MV beam and their impact on TLD response. Med Phys 38(5):2619-2628, 2011.
3. Howell RM, Scarboro SB, Kry SF, Yaldo DZ. Accuracy of out-of-field dose calculations by a commercial treatment planning system. Phys Med Biol 55(23):6999-7008, 12/7/2010. e-Pub 11/12/2010. PMID: 21076191.
4. Scarboro SB, Stovall M, White A, Smith SA, Yaldo D, Kry SF, Howell RM. Effect of organ size and position on out-of-field dose distributions during radiation therapy. Phys Med Biol 55(23):7025-36, 12/7/2010. e-Pub 11/12/2010. PMID: 21076195.
5. Howell RM, Scarboro SB, Taddei PJ, Krishnan S, Kry SF, Newhauser WD. Methodology for determining doses to in-field, out-of-field and partially in-field organs for late effects studies in photon radiotherapy. Phys Med Biol 55(23):7009-23, 12/7/2010. e-Pub 11/12/2010. PMCID: PMC3001332.
6. Taddei PJ, Howell RM, Krishnan S, Scarboro SB, Mirkovic D, Newhauser WD. Risk of second malignant neoplasm following proton versus intensity-modulated photon radiotherapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. Phys Med Biol 55(23):7055-65, 12/7/2010. e-Pub 11/12/2010. PMCID: PMC3001302.
7. Howell RM, Burgett EA, Wiegel B, Hertel NE. Calibration of a Bonner sphere extension (BSE) for high-energy neutron spectrometry. Rad Meas 45:1233-1237, 2010.
8. Wang Z, Howell RM, Burgett EA, Kry SF, Hertel NE, Salehpour M. Calibration of indium response functions in an Au-In-BSE system up to 800MeV. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 139(4):doi:10.1093/rpd/ncp282, 2010. e-Pub 12/15/2009. PMCID: PMC2909792.
9. Howell RM, Kry SF, Burgett E, Followill D, Hertel NE. Effects of tertiary mlc configuration on secondary neutron spectra from 18-mv x-ray beams for the Varian 21EX linear accelerator. Med Phys 36(9):4039-4046, 9/2009. PMCID: PMC2738743.
10. Howell RM, Kry SF, Burgett E, Hertel NE, Followill DS. Secondary neutron spectra from modern Varian, Siemens, and Elekta linacs with multileaf collimators. Med Phys 36(9):4027-38, 9/2009. PMCID: PMC2738742.
11. Kry SF, Howell RM, Salehpour M, Followill DS. Neutron spectra and dose equivalents calculated in tissue for high-energy radiation therapy. Med Phys 36(4):1244-50, 4/2009. PMCID: PMC2736753.
12. Kry SF, Howell RM, Polf J, Mohan R, Vassiliev ON. Treatment vault shielding for a flattening filter-free medical linear accelerator. Phys Med Biol 54(5):1265-73, 3/7/2009. e-Pub 2/3/2009. PMID: 19190359.
13. Wang Z, Howell RM, Kry SF, Burgett EA, Hertel NE, Salehpour M. Characterization of a gold-and-indium dual-activation-foil-based bonner sphere system. Nucl Technol 168(3):603-609, 2009.
14. Wang Z, Kry SF, Howell RM, Salehpour M. Comparison of unfolding methods for the determination of neutron spectrum and ambient dose equivalent. Nucl Technol 168(3):610-614, 2009.
15. Burgett EA, Hertel NE, Howell RM. Energy response and angular dependence of a bonner sphere. IEEE TNS, 2009.
16. Howell RM, Burgett EA, Hertell NE, Kry SF, Wang Z and Salehpour M. Measurement of high-energy neutor spectra with a bonner sphere extenstion. Nucl Technol 168(2):333-339, 2009.
17. Scarboro SA, Hertel NE, Burgett EA, Howell RM. Use of a thyroid probe for assaying internal contamination following a radioactive dispersal device (RDD). Nucl Technol 168(1):169-172, 2009.
18. Kry SF, Howell RM, Titt U, Salehpour M, Mohan R, Vassiliev ON. Energy spectra, sources, and shielding considerations for neutrons generated by a flattening filter-free clinac. Med Phys 35(5):1906-11, 2008. PMID: 18561666.
19. Howell RM, Smith IP, Jarrio C. Establishing action levels for epid-based qa for IMRT. J Appl Clin Med Phys 9(3):16-25, 2008. PMID: 18716584.
20. Wang Z, Hutchinson JD, Hertel NE, Burgett E, Howell RM. Study of a gold-foil based multi-sphere neutron spectrometer. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 128:289-293, 2008.
21. Howell RM, Hertel NE, Wang Z, Hutchinson J, Fullerton GD. Calculation of effective dose from measurements of secondary neutron spectra and scattered photon dose from dynamic MLC IMRT for 6 MV, 15 MV, and 18 MV beam energies. Med Phys 33(2):360-8, 2/2006. PMID: 16532941.
22. Howell RM, Hertel NE, Wang Z, Hutchinson J. RBE or effective dose to evaluate the effect of different beam energies for intensity modulated radiation therapy. Nucl Instrum Meth 562:1024-28, 2006.
23. Howell RM, Ferenci MS, Hertel NE, Fullerton GD. Investigation of secondary neutron dose for 18 MV dynamic MLC IMRT delivery. Med Phys 32(3):786-93, 3/2005. PMID: 15839351.
24. Koshy M, Paulino AC, Howell RM, Schuster D, Davis LW. Comparison of CT and FDG-pet-defined gross tumor volume in intensity-modulated radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer. Int J Radiat Oncl Biol Phys 61(5):1385-92, 2005.
25. Howell RM, Ferenci MS, Hertel NE, Fullerton GD, Fox T, Davis LW. Measurements of secondary neutron dose from 15 MV and 18 MV IMRT. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 115(1-4):508-12, 2005. PMID: 16381776.
26. Koshy K, Landry JC, Lawson JD, Staley A. Esiashivili N, Howell RM, Ghavidel S, Davis LW. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for retroperitoneal sarcoma-a case for dose escalation and organ at risk (OAR) toxicity reduction. Sarcoma 7(3):137-48, 2003.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Dose calculation tools for epidemiology studies following modern radiotherapy
Funding Source: National Cancer Institute-DHHS-NIH
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Stephen Kry
Duration: 4/1/2011 - 3/31/2013
 
Title: Measurement with Bonner Sphere Extension for High Energy Neutron Spectroscopy
Funding Source: Los Alamos Neutron Science Center
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/8/2007 - 7/18/2007
 
Title: Career Development Grant
Funding Source: National Cancer Institute
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/1/2007 - 1/31/2011
 
Title: Bonner Sphere extension for high energy neutron spectroscopy
Funding Source: Oak Ridge Associated Universities Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Award
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 6/2007 - 8/2007
 
Title: Effect of Multileaf Collimators on Secondary Neutron Spectra from High Energy Medical Accelerators
Funding Source: Emory Fund for Innovative Cancer Technologies
Role: Co-Investigator
Duration: 4/1/2005 - 3/31/2006
 
Title: Simulation and Testing of Nuclear Medicine Hospital Thyroid Probes for Assessing
Funding Source: TKC Integration Services Prime Contract No. 300616601-07 issued under U.S. Government Contract No. 200-2006-15969 (Sub-contract No. R8148-S1)
Role: Subcontractor
Principal Investigator: Nolan E. Hertel
Duration: 4/1/2005 - 3/31/2006
 
Title: Investigation of Optimal X-ray energy for IMRT for Prostate Cancer
Funding Source: Georgia Cancer Coalition
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/1/2004 - 6/30/2005

Last updated: 6/29/2011