Meet our Residents
Tomas Montenegro, MS
Junior 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. Outside of work Tomas enjoys swimming in Lake Michigan, backpacking, and reading.
Yussuf Abdelal, MS
Senior Resident.
Graduate School: Brown University
About: Yussuf Abdelal was born on Cape Cod and has spent most of his life living near Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts – Boston with a major in Biology and a minor in Physics. After working for a year in a biomedical lab for Siemens Healthineers, he entered into Brown University’s new Medical Physics Master’s degree program. There, his research focused on single-iso multi-met plan optimization using Python-based scripting in RayStation. Yussuf is an international gourmand who loves to replicate authentic flavors in his kitchen. He is also a fan of sci-fi, video editing, and spending time outdoors.
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.
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.
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.
