Yana Zlateva, PhD, DABR
Department of Radiation Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Physics - Patient Care, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2019 | McGill University, Montreal, QC, CA, Biomedical Engineering, Ph.D |
| 2014 | McGill University, Montreal, QC, CA, Medical Physics (CAMPEP), M.Sc |
| 2011 | Concordia University, Montreal, QC, CA, Physics (Specialization: Biophysics), B.Sc |
Postgraduate Training
| 2019-2021 | Clinical Residency, Medical Physics (CAMPEP), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2023 | Texas Medical Board License in Therapeutic Radiological Physics |
| 2022 | American Board of Radiology Diplomat (DABR) in Therapeutic Medical Physics |
Experience & Service
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
CNS/Pediatric Physics Representative, Stereotactic Body Proton Therapy Working Group, Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
CNS/Pediatric Physics Representative, Prescription Nomenclature Committee, Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Member, Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM) Working Group, Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Creator/Coordinator, CNS/Pediatric Physics Journal Club, Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Editorial Activities
Associate Editor, Medical Physics, 2021 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2019 | Second Place Rising Stars Competition, McGill University (CRC Press) |
| 2019 | Editor’s Choice Paper, Medical Physics Journal |
| 2018 | First Place Poster at Annual Meeting, Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP) |
| 2018 | Science Highlights at Annual Meeting, American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) |
| 2016 - 2017 | Young Investigator Symposium Finalist, Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP) |
| 2015 | Best in Physics (Therapy) Award at Annual Meeting, American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) |
| 2015 | Young Investigator Symposium Finalist, International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP) |
| 2014 - 2019 | CREATE - Medical Physics Research Training Network Scholarship, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), McGill University |
| 2014 - 2016 | Doctoral Research Scholarship, Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQNT) |
| 2014 | Junior Investigator Award - Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards (CIRMS), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |
| 2014 | Basic Science Abstract Award at Annual Meeting, American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) |
| 2013 - 2015 | CREATE - Integrated Sensor Systems Scholarship, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), McGill University |
| 2013 | Student Grant Award - Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards (CIRMS), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |
| 2011 | Graduate Excellence Fellowship, McGill University |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2025. Dosimetric impact of fine dose grid calculations in Leksell Gamma Knife SRS. Conference. Radiation Physics Research and Clinical Development Meeting. Houston, Texas, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. Joint Forces between Radiation Oncology and Physics: Role of Physics in Stereotactic Spine Radiotherapy. Invited. Multidisciplinary Spine Tumor Course. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Geometry Optimization and Optical Sectioning for In-Water Cherenkov Dosimetry of Large and Small Photon Beams. Conference. Geometry Optimization and Optical Sectioning for In-Water Cherenkov Dosimetry of Large and Small Photon Beams. Virtual, US.
- 2020. Step-size dependence of Monte Carlo simulations for Cherenkov emission (CE)-based dosimetry calculations. Conference. Step-size dependence of Monte Carlo simulations for Cherenkov emission (CE)-based dosimetry calculations. Virtual, US.
- 2020. Robust Treatment Planning with Conformal Arc Informed VMAT (CAVMAT). Conference. Robust Treatment Planning with Conformal Arc Informed VMAT (CAVMAT). Virtual, US.
- 2020. A study of using modulation complexity score as a clinical decision aid for VMAT-based pancreas SBRT treatment planning. Conference. A study of using modulation complexity score as a clinical decision aid for VMAT-based pancreas SBRT treatment planning. Virtual, US.
- 2018. Cherenkov emission-based photon and electron beam dosimetry. Conference. Cherenkov emission-based photon and electron beam dosimetry. Nashville, Tennessee, US.
- 2017. Cherenkov dosimetry via stopping-to-Cherenkov power ratios: Protocol and experimental feasibility. Conference. Cherenkov dosimetry via stopping-to-Cherenkov power ratios: Protocol and experimental feasibility. Denver, Colorado, US.
- 2016. Towards clinical Cherenkov emission dosimetry: Stopping power‐to‐Cherenkov power ratios and beam quality specification of clinical electron beams. Conference. Towards clinical Cherenkov emission dosimetry: Stopping power‐to‐Cherenkov power ratios and beam quality specification of clinical electron beams. Washington, DC, US.
- 2015. BEST IN PHYSICS (THERAPY): Cherenkov emission dosimetry: Feasibility for electron radiotherapy. Conference. BEST IN PHYSICS (THERAPY): Cherenkov emission dosimetry: Feasibility for electron radiotherapy. Anaheim, California, US.
- 2014. Shining light on the implementation of Cherenkov emission for image guidance and intensity modulation in radiation therapy. Conference. Shining light on the implementation of Cherenkov emission for image guidance and intensity modulation in radiation therapy. San Francisco, California, US.
- 2014. Shining light on the implementation of Cherenkov emission in radiation therapy. Conference. Shining light on the implementation of Cherenkov emission in radiation therapy. Austin, Texas, US.
- 2014. Investigation of Cherenkov emission with applications in dosimetry, image guidance and intensity modulation in radiation therapy. Conference. Investigation of Cherenkov emission with applications in dosimetry, image guidance and intensity modulation in radiation therapy. Washington, DC, US.
- 2013. Red spectral shift of Cherenkov emission with applications in image‐guided and intensity‐modulated radiation therapy. Conference. Red spectral shift of Cherenkov emission with applications in image‐guided and intensity‐modulated radiation therapy. Indianapolis, Indiana, US.
International Presentations
- 2025. Stereotactic radiosurgery of brain and spine at MD Anderson. Invited, IT.
- 2019. Recommendations on the step-size artifact of Monte Carlo-calculated photon and electron beam Cherenkov-to-dose conversion factors. Conference. Recommendations on the step-size artifact of Monte Carlo-calculated photon and electron beam Cherenkov-to-dose conversion factors. Kelowna, CA.
- 2019. Cherenkov emission-based dosimetry: Detection angle and aperture study. Conference. Cherenkov emission-based dosimetry: Detection angle and aperture study. Montreal, CA.
- 2019. Cerenkov emission-based dosimetry is a promising perturbation-free technique. Conference. Cerenkov emission-based dosimetry is a promising perturbation-free technique. Milan, IT.
- 2018. Laying the groundwork for accurate Cherenkov emission-based electron beam dosimetry. Conference. Laying the groundwork for accurate Cherenkov emission-based electron beam dosimetry. Montreal, CA.
- 2017. Cherenkov dosimetry via directional Cherenkov-to-dose conversion factors: Monte Carlo protocol and experimental feasibility. Conference. Cherenkov dosimetry via directional Cherenkov-to-dose conversion factors: Monte Carlo protocol and experimental feasibility. Ottawa, CA.
- 2016. Stopping power‐to‐Cherenkov power ratios and beam quality specification for clinical Cherenkov emission dosimetry of electrons: Beam‐specific effects and experimental validation. Conference. Stopping power‐to‐Cherenkov power ratios and beam quality specification for clinical Cherenkov emission dosimetry of electrons: Beam‐specific effects and experimental validation. St. John's, CA.
- 2015. Cherenkov emission dosimetry for electron beam radiotherapy: A Monte Carlo feasibility study of absolute dose prediction. Conference. Cherenkov emission dosimetry for electron beam radiotherapy: A Monte Carlo feasibility study of absolute dose prediction. Toronto, CA.
- 2014. Cherenkov emission by high-energy radiation therapy beams: A characterization study. Conference. Cherenkov emission by high-energy radiation therapy beams: A characterization study. Banff, CA.
- 2014. Monte Carlo simulation of Cherenkov emission by high-energy radiotherapy beams: Investigating a novel optical approach to dosimetry and online imaging in radiotherapy. Conference. Monte Carlo simulation of Cherenkov emission by high-energy radiotherapy beams: Investigating a novel optical approach to dosimetry and online imaging in radiotherapy. Quebec City, CA.
- 2013. Preliminary study of Cherenkov emission by radiotherapy treatment beams for potential application as optical dosimeter. Conference. Preliminary study of Cherenkov emission by radiotherapy treatment beams for potential application as optical dosimeter. Montreal, CA.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2025 - 2026 |
| Title: | FLASH proton therapy: an innovative ultra-fast and ultra-sharp scalpel for radiosurgery |
| Funding Source: | UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 2025-00064784-Y1 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Haisraely O, Tom MC, Perni S, Kudchadker RJ, Prajapati S, Zlateva Y, Weinberg JS, Yeboa DN, Li J, Ferguson SD, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Patel CB, Ene CI, Prabhu S, Beckham,TH. Cs-131 Collagen Tile Brachytherapy for Recurrent Glioblastoma: Treatment Outcomes and Toxicity. Prac Radiat Oncol 16(2):e101-e107, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41360286.
- Mackin DS, Cifter G, Zlateva Y, Wang J, Ding Y, ul Hassan MS, Wang Z, Diagaradjane P, Guan F, Salzillo TC, Krafft SP, Li J, Tom MC, Ghia AJ, Briere TM. Clinical Workflow of Spine Stereotactic Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery: Insights from a Single-Institution Physics Perspective. Cancers 18(3), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41681825.
- Beckham TH, Cha E, Rooney MK, Tom MC, Perni S, McAleer MF, Li J, Kudchadker RJ, Prajapati S, Zlateva Y, Kaya D, Ene CI, Ferguson SD, Huse J, Prabhu SS, Weinberg J. Cesium-131 collagen tile brachytherapy for salvage of recurrent intracranial metastases. J Neuro Oncol 175(1):165-174, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40549120.
- Cullom ET, Xia Y, Chuang KC, Gude ZW, Zlateva Y, Adamson JD, Giles WM. Single isocenter SRS using CAVMAT offers improved robustness to commissioning and treatment delivery uncertainty compared to VMAT. J Appl Clin Med Phys 22(7):36-43, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34165217.
- Zlateva Y, Muir BR, El Naqa I, Seuntjens J. Step-size effect on calculated photon and electron beam Cherenkov-to-dose conversion factors. Phys Med 78:32-37, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32916557.
- Xia Y, Adamson J, Zlateva Y, Giles W. Application of TG-218 action limits to SRS and SBRT pre-treatment patient specific QA. J Radiosurg SBRT 7(2):135-147, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33282467.
- Zlateva Y, Muir BR, Seuntjens JP, El Naqa I. Cherenkov emission-based external radiotherapy dosimetry: II. Electron beam quality specification and uncertainties. Med Phys 46(5):2383-2393, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30706493.
- Zlateva Y, Muir BR, El Naqa I, Seuntjens JP. Cherenkov emission-based external radiotherapy dosimetry: I. Formalism and feasibility. Med Phys 46(5):2370-2382, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31034637.
- Li R, Lassen J, Teigelhöfer A, Lavoie JP, Bricault P, Chackakova O, Meissner J, Zlateva Y. Resonant Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) off-line developments on Ga, Al and Ca. Nucl Instr Meth B 308:74-79, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Zlateva, Y, El Naqa, I, Quitoriano, N. WE‐G‐500‐05: Red Spectral Shift of Cherenkov Emission with Applications in Image-Guided and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy. Med Phys 40(6):504, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
Review Articles
- Yan Y, Alexander DA, Bednarz B, Bronk LF, Chen H, Gladstone DJ, Han B, Iannuzzi C, Li Y, Nguyen N, Mulenga N, Viscariello N, Wang Y, Weygand J, Zlateva Y, Guan F. Innovative approaches in precision radiation oncology: advanced imaging technologies and challenges which shape the future of radiation therapy. Front Med (Lausanne) 12:1686593, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41244760.
Other Articles
- Yan Y, Alexander DA, Bednarz B, Bronk LF, Chen H, Gladstone DJ, Han B, Iannuzzi C, Li Y, Nguyen N, Mulenga N, Viscariello N, Wang Y, Weygand J, Zlateva Y, Guan F Correction: Innovative approaches in precision radiation oncology: advanced imaging technologies and challenges which shape the future of radiation therapy. Front Med 12:1738811, 2025. PMID: 41377801.
Abstracts
- Diagaradjane P, Zlateva Y, Mackin DS, Ul Hassan MS, Briere TM. Dosimetric Impact of Fine Dose Grid Calculations in Leksell Gamma Knife SRS. 68th American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Annual Meeting & Exhibition. e-Pub 2026.
- Liu D, Tang J, Mathew J, Ellison D, Campelo S, Wang X, Zlateva Y, Briere T, Pollard-Larkin J, Bronk L, Taylor P, Li Y, Guan F. Dose Rate and Microdosimetric Effects on Radiochromic Film Response to Synchrotron-Based Proton Irradiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. e-Pub 2026.
- Diagaradjane P, Zlateva Y, Mackin D, Ul Hassan S, Briere T. Dosimetric impact of fine-dose grid calculations in Leksell Gamma Knife SRS. Med Phys. e-Pub 2026.
- Wang Z, Zlateva Y, Young C, Mackin D, McGovern S L, Swanson T A, Li J, Briere T M. End-to-End Test of Using Three-Dimensional Rotational Angiogram for Arteriovenous Malformations GammaKnife Radiosurgery with a Grid Phantom. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. e-Pub 2026.
- Diagaradjane P, Zlateva Y, Mackin DS, Ford TL, Shafiq M, Briere TM. Dosimetric impact of fine dose grid calculations in Leksell Gamma Knife SRS. Radiation Physics Research and Clinical Development Meeting, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Salzillo T, Wang Z, Diagaradjane P, Han EY, Ding Y, Yang J, Subashi E, Mackin D, Zlateva Y, Guan F, Shafiq M, Briere T, Yeboa D. Monaco vs. RayStation plan quality comparison for stereotactic spinal radiosurgery. Radiation Physics Research and Clinical Development Meeting, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Wang Z, Yang Y, Salzillo T, Ding Y, Subashi E, Briere T, Mackin D, Diagaradjane P, Zlateva Y, Guan F, Han EY, Shafiq M, Yeboa D. Real-Time motion management by simultaneously tracking both target and OAR in MR-LINAC treatment. Radiation Physics Research and Clinical Development Meeting, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Guan F, Campelo S, Li Y, Taylor P, Bronk L, Zlateva Y, Grosshans D, Koong A, Li J, Mohan R, Kry S, Sahoo N, Briere T. Novel Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Approach for Brain Tumor Treatment Leveraging Existing Proton Therapy Infrastructure. Radiation Physics Research and Clinical Development Meeting, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Liu D, Tang J, Mathew J, Wang X, Zlateva Y, Briere T, Bronk L, Taylor P, Li Y, Guan F. Dose Rate and Microdosimetric Effects on Gafchromic Film Response to Synchrotron-Based Proton Irradiation. Division of Radiation Oncology Summer Student Symposium, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Liu D, Tang J, Mathew J, Wang X, Zlateva Y, Briere T, Bronk L, Taylor P, Li Y, Guan F. Characterizing Gafchromic EBT4 Film Performance for Synchrotron Proton Dosimetry: Dose Rate and Radiation Quality Effects. MD Anderson CATALYST Summer Training Programs Symposium, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Hou P, Wang C, Zlateva Y, Liu H, Krafft S, Gule-Monroe M, Chasen N, Stafford R, Li J, Wintermark M, Briere T, Mackin D. Investigation of MR Cube/Space Imaging for Defining Brain Lesion Contours for Gamma Knife Treatment Planning. Med Phys (AAPM Annual Meeting), 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Cifter G, Mackin D, Krafft S, Han EY, Zlateva Y, Wang J, Ding Y, Li J, Ghia A, Briere T. Stereotactic Spine Irradiation Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center: A Comprehensive Overview. Radiat Oncol 104:S765-S767, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Zlateva Y, Muir B, El Naqa I, Seuntjens J. Geometry optimization and optical sectioning for in- water Cherenkov dosimetry of large and small photon beams. Med Phys 48(6):e231, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Cullom E, Gude Z, Xia Y, Chuang K, Zlateva Y, Kirkpatrick J, Yin F, Adamson J, Giles W. Robust Treatment Planning with Conformal Arc Informed VMAT (CAVMAT). Med Phys 47(6):e373, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Zlateva Y, Muir B, El Naqa I, Seuntjens J. Cerenkov emission-based dosimetry is a promising perturbation-free technique. Radiother Oncol 133(146):7, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Zlateva Y, Muir B, El Naqa I, Seuntjens J. Laying the groundwork for accurate Cherenkov emission-based electron beam dosimetry. Radioth Oncol 129(Suppl 1):S21, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Zlateva Y, El Naqa I, Seuntjens J. Cherenkov emission-based photon and electron beam dosimetry. Med Phys 45(6):e630, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Zlateva Y, Seuntjens J, El Naqa I. Cherenkov Dosimetry Via Stopping-To-Cherenkov Power Ratios: Protocol and Experimental Feasibility. Med Phys 44(6):2996, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Zlateva Y, Seuntjens J, El Naqa I. Cherenkov dosimetry via directional Cherenkov-to-dose conversion factors: Monte Carlo protocol and experimental feasibility. Med Phys 44(8):4369-4370, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Zlateva Y, Seuntjens J, Naqa E. SU-C-201-07: Towards Clinical Cherenkov Emission Dosimetry: Stopping Power-To-Cherenkov Power Ratios and Beam Quality Specification of Clinical Electron Beams. Med Phys 43(6):3317, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Zlateva Y, El Naga I. MO-FG-303-02: BEST IN PHYSICS (THERAPY): Cherenkov Emission Dosimetry: Feasibility for Electron Radiotherapy. Med Phys 42(6), 2015. e-Pub 2015.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 14, 2026