New Head of Physics joins the Trust

Posted 17th December 2014

The health trust that provides Merseyside & Cheshire’s specialist cancer care has appointed a leading medical physicist to manage a department that provides expert scientific support for radiotherapy.

Carl RowbottomDr Carl Rowbottom (pictured right) has joined The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust as its new Head of Physics, overseeing a team of around 30. He has come from The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, where he had held a similar role since 2009 after joining 12 years ago.

The team of medical physicists that Carl will be leading are experts in the use of radiation to treat cancer. They provide specialist scientific input into radiotherapy treatment, research and equipment – for example, helping to develop even more precise techniques. Their role includes calculating the exact dose and angle of the radiation beam that each patient needs to treat their tumour safely and effectively.

Carl said he was delighted to be joining The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre after a career that has spanned the Royal Marsden in London, The Christie in Manchester and the William Beaumont Hospital in Detroit in the USA. He completed his PhD in radiotherapy physics at the Royal Marsden / Institute of Cancer Research, University of London in 1998.

“I was keen to join The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre because it has always had a very good reputation and it places great importance on radiotherapy and physics, so I am really pleased to be here,” Carl said. “It is always good to experience different organisations in your career because you learn other ways of doing things. We have really good physicists here in Clatterbridge. My role as Head of Physics is to look at the systems and processes and I am looking forward to working with the team.”

Carl succeeds Professor Philip Mayles who has retired as Head of Physics, but will continue to work part-time and advise on radiation safety through 2015.

More about Carl:

  • Carl first became interested in radiotherapy physics when he saw a PhD advertised at the Royal Marsden and Institute of Cancer Research in London. “I loved the idea of using my knowledge of radiation for good to help people with cancer,” he said. “You have a direct impact on the care that patients receive and I really enjoy it.”
  • He has a keen interest in research and has played an active part in helping develop more precisely targeted forms of radiotherapy that help reduce the risk of side-effects to patients. After completing his PhD in London, he spent several years as a research fellow both at the Royal Marsden / Institute of Cancer Research and at William Beaumont Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. He continues to carry out research today.
  • Carl studied Maths and Physics at the University of Manchester and then completed a MSc in Radiation & Environmental Physics at the University of Surrey before going to do his PhD at the Royal Marsden / Institute of Cancer Research.
  • He is Fellow of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) and is active in a number of groups, including chairing its Radiotherapy Professional & Standards Group. He is also a senate member of NHS England’s Radiotherapy Clinical Reference Group for specialised services.
  • Carl is an avid ‘Baggie’ and has supported West Bromwich Albion since childhood. He now lives in Stockport.