Dr Claire Dempsey
Conjoint Lecturer
School of Health Sciences (Medical Radiation Science)
- Email:claire.dempsey@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 40143634
Career Summary
Biography
Claire is a practising Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington (USA). She is also a Senior Medical Physics Specialist at the Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital, NSW, Australia. She graduated with a BSc (Hons) in 1998 (UNSW, Aust), and a PhD in 2014 (UON, Aust).
Claire has spent a large portion of her career working on improving and expanding the role of brachytherapy (a form of radiation therapy in which a radioactive source is inserted directly into the tumour) in Australia and overseas. She has led quality improvement in treatment practices at the Calvary Mater Newcastle so that this centre is now recognized as a leader in this type of treatment both in Australia and world-wide.
In addition to her clinical roles Claire is a Conjoint Lecturer at the University of Newcastle (UON) Australia. Claire has been teaching both undergraduate and post-graduate students in all aspects of Medical Physics since 2002, as well as developing and coordinating academic courses. She supervises research higher degree students at both UON and University of Sydney. She also works within her medical physics profession in a number of other roles.
Research ExpertiseClaire has been conducting research in radiation therapy in Newcastle since 1999, with efforts focused primarily on improving treatment outcomes for patients with gynaecological cancer who are treated using brachytherapy. Brachytherapy was one of the first types of radiation therapy delivered to patients over 100 years ago and has been a highly successful treatment method for certain cancers ever since. Improvements in imaging technology and increasing accuracy in treatment calculations and verification have seen both the rate of recurrence of these cancers and treatment-related complications, dramatically reduce.
Claire is a recognized world-leader in the implementation of new techniques in brachytherapy, working with centres both in Australia and internationally to study both the efficiency of new procedures and the clinical impact of such changes. She is also a highly respected research supervisor and mentor in medical physics, understanding the importance of maintaining quality education for those who are the leaders of the future
Teaching ExpertiseClaire teaches medical physics courses at both and undergraduate and post-graduate level, including supervision of Masters and PhD students and training of registrars and residents. In addition she actively contributes to both national TEAP (Training, Education and Assessment Program) and international CAMPEP (Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs) committees. She currently teaches and supervises medical physics and radiation oncology residents in Washington, USA as well as Newcastle
Professional EngagementClaire has been an invited member of many national and international committees, including her role as the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM) TEAP coordinator, with responsibility for over 100 medical physics registrars across Australia and New Zealand as well as performing as Chair of both University and Clinical Department Accreditation panels for TEAP. Claire is also working on improvements to the CAMPEP accredited resident training program at the University of Washington, including involvement in creation of a ‘virtual’ brachytherapy suite in which to train both medical physics and radiation oncology residents.
Claire is Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine (APESM) journal, personally reviewing over 100 manuscripts for this journal per annum as well as an invited reviewer for other scientific publications.
CollaborationsCurrent collaborations include: - the University of Washington (USA); Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (USA); Varian Medical Systems (International); the University of Sydney (NSW, Aust); the Alfred Health Radiation Oncology department (Victoria, Aust), and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre (Victoria, Aust)
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
Keywords
- Brachytherapy
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Oncology
- Radiation Therapy
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 111299 | Oncology and Carcinogenesis not elsewhere classified | 25 |
| 029903 | Medical Physics | 50 |
| 111208 | Radiation Therapy | 25 |
Professional Experience
Academic appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 19/10/2015 - | Assistant Professor (Medical Physicist) | University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology United States |
Professional appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 1/01/2002 - | Senior Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist Specialist | Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital School of Health Sciences Australia |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Chapter (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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| 1999 |
Dempsey CL, Kron T, Hamilton C, Denham J, 'Computer assisted decision making after portal imaging', The Use of Computers in Radiation Therapy, Springer, Germany (1999)
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Journal article (29 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
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| 2017 |
Flower E, Do V, Sykes J, Dempsey C, Holloway L, Summerhayes K, Thwaites DI, 'Deformable image registration for cervical cancer brachytherapy dose accumulation: Organ at risk dose¿volume histogram parameter reproducibility and anatomic position stability', Brachytherapy, 16 387-392 (2017) © 2017 Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of deformable image registration (DIR) on cumulative organ at risk dose¿volume histogram (DVH) parameter sum... [more] © 2017 Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of deformable image registration (DIR) on cumulative organ at risk dose¿volume histogram (DVH) parameter summation for more than three brachytherapy fractions. The reproducibility of different methods of DIR was tested. DIR was then used to assess the stability of the anatomic position of the DVH parameters within the bladder and rectum. Methods and Materials DIR was completed for 39 consecutive cervical cancer brachytherapy patients' planning CTs. Accumulated DVH parameters (D 2cc and D 0.1cc ) for bladder and rectum were compared with dose summation without DIR. Reproducibility of DIR results was assessed for different methods of implementation based on adding contour biases added to the DIR algorithm. Vol D2cc and Vol D0.1cc structures were created from the overlap of the D 2cc and D 0.1cc isodose and the bladder or rectum, respectively. The overlap of Vol D2cc and Vol D0.1cc structures was calculated using the Dice similarity coefficient. Results DIR accumulated D 2cc and D 0.1cc decreased by an average of 2.9% and 4.2% for bladder and 5.08% and 2.8% for rectum compared with no DIR. DIR was most reproducible when the bladder or rectum contour was masked. The average Dice similarity coefficient was 0.78 and 0.61 for the bladder D 2cc and D 0.1cc as well as 0.83 and 0.62 for rectal D 2cc and D 0.1cc , respectively. Conclusions Dose decreases were observed for accumulated DVH parameters using DIR. Adding contour-based biases to the algorithm increases the reproducibility of D 2cc and D 0.1cc accumulation. The anatomic position of Vol D2cc was more stable than Vol D0.1cc .
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| 2016 |
Meyer J, Nyflot M, Smith WP, Wottoon L, Young L, Yang F, et al., 'Electron beam energy QA ¿ a note on measurement tolerances', Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics, 17 249-257 (2016) [C1]
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| 2016 | Dempsey CL, 'A filmless approach to locating source dwell positions inside HDR brachytherapy gynaecological applicators', Radiotherapy and Oncology, (2016) | ||||||||||
| 2015 |
Pogson EM, Begg J, Jameson MG, Dempsey C, Latty D, Batumalai V, et al., 'A phantom assessment of achievable contouring concordance across multiple treatment planning systems', Radiotherapy and Oncology, 117 438-441 (2015) [C1]
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| 2015 |
Caon M, Dempsey C, 'Letter from the editors', Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, (2015) [C3]
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| 2014 | Dempsey CL, 'Radiation therapy - science and medicine fighting the war on cancer', Science Education News, 63 11-15 (2014) [C2] | ||||||||||
| 2014 |
Dempsey C, Govindarajulu G, Sridharan S, Capp A, O'Brien P, 'Implications for dosimetric changes when introducing MR-guided brachytherapy for small volume cervix cancer: a comparison of CT and MR-based treatments in a single centre', AUSTRALASIAN PHYSICAL & ENGINEERING SCIENCES IN MEDICINE, 37 705-712 (2014) [C1]
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| 2014 |
Dempsey C, Arm J, Best L, Govindarajulu G, Capp A, O'Brien P, 'Optimal single 3T MR imaging sequence for HDR brachytherapy of cervical cancer', Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy, 6 3-9 (2014) [C1] Purpose: The superior image quality of 3 tesla (3T) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in cervical cancer offers the potential to use a single image set for brachytherapy. This study... [more] Purpose: The superior image quality of 3 tesla (3T) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in cervical cancer offers the potential to use a single image set for brachytherapy. This study aimed to determine a suitable single sequence for contouring tumour and organs at risk, applicator reconstruction, and treatment planning. Material and methods: A 3T (Skyra, Siemens Healthcare AG, Germany) MR imaging system with an 18 channel body matrix coil generated HDR cervical cancer brachytherapy planning images on 20 cases using plastic-based treatment applicators. Seven different T2-weighted Turbo Spin Echo (TSE) sequences including both 3D and contiguous 2D scans based on sagittal, axial (transverse), and oblique planes were analysed. Each image set was assessed for total scanning time and usefulness in tumour localization via inter- and intra-observer analysis of high-risk clinical target volume (HR CTV) contouring. Applicator reconstruction in the treatment planning system was also considered. Results: The intra-observer difference in HR CTV volumes between 2D and 3D axial-based image sets was low with an average difference of 3.1% for each observer. 2D and 3D sagittal image sets had the highest intra- and inter observer differences (over 15%). A 2D axial 'double oblique' sequence was found to produce the best intra- (average difference of 0.6%) and inter-observer (mean SD of 9.2%) consistency and greatest conformity (average 0.80). Conclusions: There was little difference between 2D and 3D-based scanning sequences; however the increased scanning time of 3D sequences have potential to introduce greater patient motion artifacts. A contiguous 2D sequence based on an axial T2-weighted turbo-spin-echo (TSE) sequence orientated in all planes of the treatment applicator provided consistent tumour delineation whilst allowing applicator reconstruction and treatment planning.
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| 2013 |
Pogson E, Mcnamara J, Jameson M, Mcdowall R, Lim A, Dempsey C, et al., 'SU-E-J-213: An Evaluation of the Reproducibility of Radiotherapy Contouring Utilizing Multiple Institutions and Treatment Planning Systems', Medical Physics, 40 200 (2013) Purpose: Consistency of radiotherapy contours is required to ensure consistency of treatment and for this reason many studies have been undertaken and are expected in the future c... [more] Purpose: Consistency of radiotherapy contours is required to ensure consistency of treatment and for this reason many studies have been undertaken and are expected in the future comparing contours of multiple observers or systems. This study was undertaken to determine the minimum uncertainty achievable when undertaking this type of investigation including multiple centres and treatment planning systems. Methods: A Computed Tomography (CT) scan was taken of a commercially available uniformity Phantom. This dataset was then imported into various contouring software programs including Pinnacle, Xio and Focal at the same institution and variations at different institutions. Contours of the perimeter of the phantom and a detailed cylinder inside the phantom were contoured using the same observer at provided window levels. The perimeter of the phantom was auto-contoured using auto-threshold. The inside circle was contoured manually. Contours were then exported from the treatment planning systems and into CERR for analysis. Results: A comparison of the phantom perimeter from Focal and Pinnacle at a single institution demonstrated a Concordance Index (CI) of 0.98, while the manually contoured cylinder has a CI of 0.77. When comparing between institutions the CI ranged from 0.75¿0.85 for the cylinder. Variation in the phantom perimeter contours was mainly in the Z direction with 2 slices (0.4cm) not being contoured in Focal compared to Pinnacle. Maximum variation in the X and Y direction for the phantom perimeter was 0.098cm. The centre of mass of all phantom perimeter contours were within 0.10cm, with the largest variance between institutions occurring in the anterior-posterior direction. Conclusion: The variation between auto-contouring and manually contouring a high contrast object for different treatment planning systems has been established. As expected manually contouring produces greater variation than auto-threshold contours between different treatment planning system. Funding from Cancer Australia and The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Project grant 1033237. © 2013, American Association of Physicists in Medicine. All rights reserved.
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| 2013 |
Dempsey C, Smith R, Nyathi T, Ceylan A, Howard L, Patel V, et al., 'ACPSEM brachytherapy working group recommendations for quality assurance in brachytherapy', Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 36 387-396 (2013)
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| 2013 |
Lapuz C, Dempsey C, Capp A, O'Brien PC, 'Dosimetric comparison of optimization methods for multichannel intracavitary brachytherapy for superficial vaginal tumors', BRACHYTHERAPY, 12 637-644 (2013) [C1]
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| 2011 |
Dempsey CL, 'Lessons learned from a HDR brachytherapy well ionisation chamber calibration error', Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 34 529-533 (2011) [C1]
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| 2010 |
Dempsey CL, 'Methodology for commissioning a brachytherapy treatment planning system in the era of 3D planning', Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 33 341-349 (2010) [C1]
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| 2006 |
Dempsey CL, Duggan LJ, Bazley SG, Denham J, Kron T, 'Miniature LiF:Mg,Cu,P TLDs to study the effect of applicator material in 192-Ir brachytherapy', Australasian Physical & Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 29 300-302 (2006) [C1]
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| 2005 |
Dempsey CL, Kron T, Hamilton C, Callan SA, Howlett SJ, Alvaro F, Back M, 'Correlation of 3D-planned and measured dosimetry of photon and electron craniospinal radiation in a pediatric anthropomorphic phantom', Radiotherapy and Oncology, 77 111-116 (2005) [C1]
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| 2004 |
Duggan LJ, Dempsey CL, Warren-Forward H, Haque M, Kron T, 'Variations in dose response with x-ray energy of LiF: Mg,Cu,P thermoluminescence dosimeters: implications for clinical dosimetry', Physics in Medicine and Biology, 49 3831-3845 (2004) [C1]
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| Show 26 more journal articles | |||||||||||
Conference (46 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 |
Stanton C, Artschan R, Dempsey C, Lehmann J, 'Characterisation and prevention of data loss due to undersampling in retrospective low-pitch helical CT (4DCT)', Australasian Physical & Engineering Sciences in Medicine (2016)
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| 2016 | Dempsey CL, Young L, Meyer J, Cao N, Kalet A, Lavilla M, et al., 'Dosimetric analysis of an additional rectal point in cervical cancer HDR brachytherapy', Brachytherapy (2016) | |||||||
| 2016 | Cao N, Kalet A, Meyer J, Dempsey CL, Fang L-M, Mayr N, et al., 'Predictors of cardiac and lung dose sparing in DIBH for left breast cancer', Medical Physics (2016) | |||||||
| 2015 | Sridharan S, Lapuz C, Dempsey CL, Patterson J, Ponman L, Evans M, et al., 'Four field radiotherapy, IMRT or VMAT in cervix cancer: when do the benefits of advanced planning become redundant?', 3rd ESTRO Forum (2015) [E3] | |||||||
| 2015 |
Dempsey C, Oultram S, Dempsey SE, Govindarajulu G, Sridharan S, O'Brien P, Capp A, 'Using 3T MRI to Assess Interfractional Variation of the HR-CTV for HDR Brachytherapy of Cervix Cancer: Is Optimizing Based on the First HR-CTV Appropriate for All Patients?', International journal of radiation oncology, biology, and physics (2015) [E3]
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| 2015 | Dempsey CL, Sridharan S, Govindarajulu G, Capp A, O'Brien P, 'The interstitial ring applicator for cervix cancer: when is it useful and how much difference does it make?', Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy (2015) [E3] | |||||||
| 2014 | Lapuz C, Govindarajulu G, Dempsey CL, Capp A, O'Brien P, 'Outcomes following CT guided multichannel cylinder brachytherapy for vaginal recurrence of endometrial cancer', Journal of Medical Radiation Science (2014) [E3] | |||||||
| 2014 | Grand M, Cronje S, Dempsey CL, Dry A, Hill R, McGhee L, et al., 'The ¿A Career in Radiation Oncology¿ project: Process, resources and outcomes', Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences (2014) [E3] | |||||||
| 2014 |
Dempsey CL, Arm J, Capp A, Govindarajulu G, O'Brien P, 'Quantitative analysis of various single sequence MR imaging
planes for HDR brachytherapy treatment planning of cervix
cancer', Australasian Physical & Engineering Sciences in Medicine (2014) [E3]
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| 2014 |
Dempsey CL, Dempsey S, Kirisits C, 'The current state of Australasian MRI-based treatment planning
for HDR brachytherapy of cervix cancer and comparison
with international clinical data', Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine (2014) [E3]
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| 2014 | Dempsey CL, Simpson P, Lapuz C, 'Dosimetric comparison of multi-channel gynaecological cylinders using IPSA and HIPO optimisation methods', Radiotherapy and Oncology (2014) [E3] | |||||||
| 2014 |
Dempsey C, Govindarajulu G, Sridharan S, Dempsey S, Capp A, O'Brien P, 'The Changing Nature of HDR Brachytherapy for Cervix-Cancer: How the Clinical Target Volume Affects the Historical Prescription Dose', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY BIOLOGY PHYSICS (2014) [E3]
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| 2014 | Lapuz C, Simpson P, Dempsey C, 'Determination of Standardized Objective and Constraint Settings for Inverse Planning Using IPSA and HIPO for HDR Brachytherapy Multichannel Vaginal Cylinders', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY BIOLOGY PHYSICS (2014) [E3] | |||||||
| 2014 | Govindarajulu G, Dempsey C, Trada Y, Oultram S, O'Brien P, Sridharan S, Capp A, 'IMPROVED DOSIMETRY OF RECTUM AND BLADDER WITH THE ADOPTION OF GEC-ESTRO GUIDELINES TO USE MRI FOR CERVICAL CANCER BRACHYTHERAPY', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER (2014) [E3] | |||||||
| 2014 |
Govindarajulu G, Dempsey CL, Trada Y, Oultram S, O'Brien P, Sridharan S, Capp A, 'IMPROVED DOSIMETRY OF RECTUM AND BLADDER WITH THE ADOPTION OF
GEC-ESTRO GUIDELINES TO USE MRI FOR CERVICAL CANCER
BRACHYTHERAPY', International Journal of Gynecological Cancer (2014) [E3]
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| 2005 |
Dempsey CL, Greer PB, 'Verification of step-and-shoot breast compensator IMRT fields with an amorphous silicon EPID', Radiotherapy & Oncology (2005) [E3]
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| 2005 | Dempsey CL, 'Patient-specific dose escalation with consideration of radiobiological factors', Radiotherapy & Oncology (2005) [E3] | |||||||
| Show 43 more conferences | ||||||||
Dr Claire Dempsey
Position
Conjoint Lecturer
School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health and Medicine
Focus area
Medical Radiation Science
Contact Details
| claire.dempsey@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Phone | (02) 40143634 |
| Mobile | 0401415248 |
| Fax | (02) 40143169 |
Office
| Room | NM2 |
|---|---|
| Building | Mater Hospital Level 2 - New Med 2 |
| Location | Other , |
