For Louisiana native Chris Schneider, physics always held a kind of magic. Its methodical observations and precise calculations helped explain the forces of nature and how they could be harnessed for the common good.
“I was always just fascinated with how it revealed how the world works,” said Chris. “I realized that, long-term, I wanted to do something where I could apply my knowledge of physics and work on problems that had a tangible benefit for people.”
There’s no question that Schneider’s goal has been fulfilled. After earning a degree in physics from Southeastern Louisiana University, he discovered the field of medical physics at LSU, where he earned a PhD and completed a residency program at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. Today, he serves as Mary Bird Perkins’ adaptive radiotherapy technical director. His job is to deploy and update the cancer center’s adaptive radiotherapy program, the most sophisticated radiation therapy delivery system available anywhere and the only one of its kind in Louisiana.
“Our goal is to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer. And with technology like this, we can.”
—Chris Schneider, PhD, medical physicist
Much of the leading-edge technology utilized by Mary Bird Perkins comes from Elekta, a company that provides advanced radiotherapy technology across the globe. In March, the Cancer Center hosted a conference with Elekta’s North American arm, bringing medical physicists, physicians and radiation therapists from around North America to its Essen Lane campus. Per a recently signed agreement, Mary Bird Perkins will also help develop new Elekta technology.
The centerpiece of Mary Bird Perkins’ radiotherapy program is the groundbreaking Elekta Unity. The Unity combines an MRI scanner with a radiation treatment machine, enabling treatment to be adapted in real time to more accurately target tumors and preserve healthy tissue in the process.
“MRI is the gold standard in medical imaging,” Chris said. “Combining it with a treatment machine gives us the best possible images so that we can see tumors better and target them more precisely.”
Moreover, the treatment can be adapted on the spot to account for even minor changes in a patient’s anatomy. This could include weight loss or weight gain or the changing size of the tumor itself.
The Elekta Unity also now features a tracking upgrade that automatically tracks tumors during treatment, Chris said. The radiation beam pauses if anything near the tumor moves, or if the patient moves, during treatment. Mary Bird was the fifth site in the country to receive the upgrade, Chris adds.
The chance to work with such advanced technology is just one of many reasons Chris has decided to pursue his career close to home.
“This state has given me a lot and invested a lot in me,” Chris said. “I wanted to do something that would help people in the community, which is why I chose to stay in Louisiana. I’ve been thrilled that I’ve continued to have good opportunities, including working as a medical physicist here at Mary Bird.”
And he’s sharing his expertise. As the Dr. Charles M. Smith faculty research scholar, Chris works with graduate students in Mary Bird Perkins’ medical physics residency program, preparing a new fleet of highly trained specialists.
For him, it’s all about carrying out Mary Bird Perkins’ crystal-clear mission.
“Our goal is to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer,” he says. “And with technology like this, we can.”
To learn more, visit marybird.org
