Meet our Residents
Tomas Montenegro, MS
Senior Physics Resident
Tomas Montenegro grew up in Annapolis, Maryland. He studied nuclear engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and served as a nuclear reactor operator during his time there. Following graduation, he worked for three years on target design for electron accelerator-based production of Mo99 and Cu67 at NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes. His interests shifted and he pursued a master’s in medical physics at the University of Minnesota. While there, his research was on Monte Carlo simulation of eye plaque and GammaTile low dose rate brachytherapy. Since starting his residency, Tomas has worked on clinical projects including commissioning an Ethos adaptive therapy unit, CBCT protocol dose optimization, and characterizing off-isocenter radiation delivery accuracy. In his second year, he is looking forward to utilizing the physics foundation developed in the first year of residency to improve clinical processes and procedures. Outside of work Tomas enjoys swimming in Lake Michigan, backpacking, and reading.
Meet our Resident Alumni
Rakesh Patel, PhD, DABR
Graduated from our residency program in 2017: Rakesh Patel is currently the Chief Medical Physicist and RSO at Maryland Oncology Hematology, Center for Advance Radiation Oncology in Silver Spring, MD.
"My medical physics residency at Loyola was a transformative experience, defined by the mentorship of a hardworking, multidisciplinary team of physicists, physicians, therapists, and administrative staff. The program offered an incredible breadth of hands-on opportunities, from commissioning linear accelerators to mastering complex procedures like HDR, SRS, SBRT, TBI, etc. This rigorous clinical and didactic preparation directly enabled me to pass my boards on the first attempt and gain the confidence to accept my current position where I started as the solo physicist opening a new radiation therapy center. I remain deeply grateful for the training I received and continue to value the ongoing guidance and friendships of my former mentors."
Hossein Lavaffi, PhD, DABR
Graduated from our residency program in 2019: Hossein Lavaffi is a Medical Physicist with Varian Medical Systems.
Sabrina Hoffman, PhD, DABR
Graduated from our residency program in 2021. She is currently employed at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale as a Medical Physicist in Radiation Oncology.
"My residency at Loyola provided a strong clinical foundation that prepared me well for both board certification and independent practice. The program offered extensive hands-on experience, supportive mentorship, and exposure to a wide range of treatment techniques and technologies. I’m grateful for the training I received and for how well it prepared me for clinical practice after residency."
Alexander R. Podgorsak, PhD, DABR
Graduated from our residency program in 2023. He is a clinical Medical Physicist and Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Wilmont Cancer Institute in Rochester, NY. He is a founding teaching faculty member in the Graduate Program of Medical Physics and is also the current Graduate Program Director.
My two years at Loyola were an incredibly rewarding and transformative experience. It played a pivotal role in shaping my professional identity and career trajectory. Through a rigorous rotation schedule, meaningful mentorship, and a little bit of fun on the side, I developed greater confidence in my clinical decision making and a clearer understanding of the medical physicist that I aspire to be.
Michael de la Fuente, MS, DABR
Staff Physicist
Graduated from our residency program in 2024. He is a clinical Instructor at Rutgers Cancer Institute.
Yussuf Abdelah, MS
Staff Physicist
Graduated from our residency program in 2026. Yussuf is clinical medical physicist at MaineGeneral’s Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta, Maine.
“Loyola was the perfect environment to translate what I learned at Brown University into the clinic. The didactic elements were well balanced with hands-on participation. There was always a way to get involved in the clinic, between QA, machine troubleshooting, and special procedures. Particularly, the brachytherapy program is very active and offers opportunities for residents to assist with interesting and complex cases. I could feel that physicists, dosimetrists, doctors, therapists and nurses were all genuinely invested in my growth as a physicist. The residency program at Loyola has helped me feel more confident in my ability to provide patient care independently in my staff physicist role at MaineGeneral.”
Luke Layman, MS
In Memory of Luke Layman
Luke Layman joined the Medical Physics team in July 2024 and quickly became a valued and deeply respected member of our residency program. His enthusiasm for learning, sharp intellect, and ability to translate knowledge into practice inspired all who worked with him.
It is with profound sadness that we share the news of Luke’s passing in a car accident in the spring of 2025. His time with us was far too short, but his impact was lasting. Luke will always be remembered for his contributions to our program and the positive energy he brought to every interaction.
