Oana Craciunescu, PhD (Radiation Oncology) has been appointed as the new Director of the Radiation Therapy Track in the Duke Medical Physics Graduate Program. This is a 3-year term.
Dr. Craciunescu graduated with a 5-year Mechanical Engineering Degree from the Politehnica University of Bucharest in 1992, and with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University in 1998. After a post-doctoral position in Hyperthermia Physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology here at Duke, she completed her clinical residency in Radiation Therapy, followed by Assistant and Associate Professor appointments in the same department.
Dr. Craciunescu has contributed significantly to the Medical Physics Program in teaching, mentoring, and administration, with 4+ years of Admission Committee work, and 2+ years as an elected at-large MPAC member. For her role and contributions she was awarded the “Director’s Award for Exemplary Service” in 2017 and 2019, and the “Excellence in Mentorship” award in 2008 and 2018. She also received the “Excellence in Teaching” award in 2017 from the Radiation Oncology Residency program.
Dr. Craciunescu’s overall vision is to take an already successful RT track and further optimize its structure and curriculum to help our graduates become leaders in research and in the clinics of the future, while also supporting faculty to grow their careers within the MP program. As the first woman in a senior leadership position on MPAC (Medical Physics Academic Council) she looks forward to this opportunity to support female students and faculty in their careers and to continue working with local chapters of WAM (Woman and Math) and WiSE (Woman in Science and Engineering) to promote STEM fields to middle and high school female students.
