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Kelly H. Austin, MS, CHP

Senior Health Physicist, Radiation Safety Academy

M.S., Radiation Science, with Distinction (1993), Georgetown University
B.S., Physics, Cum Laude (1987), Dickinson College
American Board of Health Physics Certification, 2006

Professional Experience

2005-Pres.	Senior Health Physicist, Radiation Safety Academy. Provides consulting and training services to clients in the nuclear industry. Develops and presents new training courses in medical health physics and operational radiation safety. Specializes in medical radiation safety related to both patients and medical professionals. Performs radiation safety program evaluations for several types of licensees, including biopharmaceutical and biomedical. Prepares license applications and amendments for submittal to NRC and Agreement State agencies.
1999-2005	Training Program Specialist, National Institutes of Health, Division of Radiation Safety. Managed a diverse radiation safety training program that provides education to over 4,000 individuals per year, presenting over 130 specialized courses. Designing training materials and courses such as web-based training packages, PowerPoint presentations, self-study modules, annual refresher training courses, and basic introductory courses. Coordinate emergency response drills for firefighters, police, and HP staff to reinforce contamination monitoring/decontamination techniques. Direct an advanced, intensive, 3 day radiation safety training course for senior research staff.
1996-1999	Health Physicist, National Institutes of Health, Radiation Safety Branch. Responsibilities included identifying, coordinating, and assisting the other staff in special projects associated with radiation safety matters. Assisted the RSO in drafting license amendments, purchasing new irradiators, relocation of old irradiators, and revising the NIH irradiator license conditions to remove unnecessary regulatory burden to the NIH researchers. Wrote special reports to the Radiation Safety Committee on security issues, revised security proposals, and the required annual report. Responsible for drafting and implementing a new program for “Release of Patients Containing Radioactive Material” which provided technical guidance and procedures for the Nuclear Medicine Department to ensure compliance with the new regulations. Authored the “Radiation Safety Emergency Response Notebook” for HP staff to reference in the event of emergency response. Authored a “Radiation Safety Reference Notebook for Clinical Center Patient Care” staff to use in the patient units and clinics on proper handling of radioactive materials in accordance with NRC regulations. Topics discussed included handling of radioactive specimens, basic monitoring techniques, dosimetry, handling of radioactive waste, response to major/minor incidents and accidents in patient areas involving radioactive materials. Wrote radiation safety training script for computer-based nurses training to further support reference book and reinforce radiation safety concepts explained in training modules. Coordinated the siting and opening of a new satellite facility for lab research ensuring compliance with radiation safety regulatory issues.
1994–1996	Supervisory Health Physicist, National Institutes of Health, Radiation Safety Branch. Served as Chief, Clinical Center Unit (5/1994 – 6/1995) and responsible for direct supervision of 4 Clinical Center Health Physicists (HP). Assistant Chief for the Radiation Safety Operations Section of the RSB (5/1994 -2/1996) and assisted in supervising 12 HP’s. Responsibilities included reviewing, verifying calculations, and critiquing documents prepared by HP’s such as radioactive material protocols for use in bench and animal research, shielding calculations for new x-ray suites, skin contamination reports, and procedures manuals for satellite facilities handling radioactive materials. Supervising the work of other HP staff required in-depth knowledge of NRC, Dept. of Labor, and State of Maryland regulations pertaining to radiation and radioactive materials. Developed and coordinated orientation for new HP staff to ensure that they are knowledgeable to provide consultation and technical assistance on all matters of radiation safety in accordance with applicable regulations. Responsible for oversight of all sealed sources/irradiators in use at the NIH. Authored sealed source operating procedures, developed and maintained sealed source database for Health Physics staff to ensure timely completion of regulatory deadlines in accordance with NRC regulations for leak tests and inventory accountability. Voting member of Clinical Center Animal Care and Use Committee for animal protocols and pre-clinical applications of radionuclide research. Performed site inspections of animal facilities and familiar with AAALAC and JCAHO accreditation requirements.
1988–1994	Health Physicist, National Institutes of Health, Radiation Safety Branch. Provided Health Physics coverage for Nuclear Medicine Department (2 radiopharmacies), PET Dept., Radiation Oncology, Diagnostic Radiology, and 100 research labs in the NIH Clinical Center. Applied HP responsibilities included responding to radiation emergencies during and after hours such as irradiator interlock failure, malfunctioning irradiator, personnel contamination, and widespread spills with multiple nuclides involved. Wrote NRC license amendments and renewals, reviewed architectural documents for shielding purposes in PET scanning suites and x-ray facilities, and verified shielding for implant therapy rooms using Microshield computer program. Performed comprehensive surveys/inspections of radiation labs, investigated internal/external exposures to staff, performed inventory/leak test for sealed sources and irradiators. Reviewed protocols involving large quantities of radioactive materials for use in research labs and animals. Implemented radiation safety policies for nuclides new to research such as Lu-177, Sr-89, and Y-90. Provided extensive radiation safety coverage for therapeutic use of radioactive material for patient care procedures such as I-131 Monoclonal Antibody Therapies, and inpatient/outpatient I-131 Thyroid Therapy Program. Managed a unique I-131 Oral Therapy administration for paralyzed individual devising innovative methods to successfully complete therapy while maintaining personnel exposures ALARA.
1987	Radon Consultant, Radiation Physics Incorporated. Organized a radon detection and measurement service utilizing charcoal canister and radon grab sampling techniques to screen homes and schools for radon gas. Designed laboratory and quality control procedures to comply with EPA Radon Measurement Proficiency Program. Gave presentations describing the nature of radon gas and recommended steps for mitigation.
1987	Health Physics Internship, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Gain practical experience in performing lab surveys, survey meter calibrations, emergency response, shielding evaluations in x-ray suites, nuclear medicine procedures, iodine oral therapy procedures, and radioactive waste management.

Associations / Activities

Plenary Member National Health Physics Society

Member Baltimore-Washington Chapter of the Health Physics Society

Member Sigma Pi Sigma National Physics Honor Society

Publications

“Did You Know?” Informational poster and pamphlet for nuclear medicine patients who may trigger radiation monitors as a result of heightened security measures. August 2004

“Radiation in Medicine”, Austin, K., presentation at the BWCHPS Science Teachers Workshop, March, 2004

“Radiation Safety Programs for Laboratory Animal Surgery”, Austin, K., presentation to Uniformed Services University Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency Program, USUHS, 2002 and 2003.

“NIH Radiation Safety Branch Emergency Response”, Austin, K., Reed, B., Zoon, R., presentation to the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, January 2002.

“NIH Emergency Response Capabilities for Radiological Incidents”, Reed, S.E., Guelig, W., Baryoun, A., Austin, K., Redmond, G. poster presented at Mid-Year Health Physics Society Meeting January 2003

“An Introduction to Radiation for NIH Research Subject”, Information Pamphlet to the NIH patients involved in human use protocols involving radiation/radioactive materials. October 2001

“NIH Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) Clinical Protocol Initiatives”, Coronado, L., Googins, S., Zoon, R, Liotta, L., Hughitt, K., Austin, K. Poster Presentation to NIH Research Festival, 2001

“Informing Research Subjects About Radiation”, Austin K.H., Coronado, L.L. and Googins, S.W. Poster Presentation to NIH Research Festival, October 2001

“Who You Gonna Call? Radiation Safety Incident Response”, Austin, K.H., Reed, S.E., Ribaudo, C.R. Poster Presentation to NIH Research Festival, October 1999, October 2001

Austin, K.H., Johnson, Jr., R.H., “Radiation Safety Training: The Basis for Maintaining ALARA”, Proceedings of the 34th Midyear Topical Health Physics Society Meeting “Radiation Safety and ALARA Considerations for the 21st Century”, February 4-7, 2001. Anaheim, CA

“Radiation Safety and You”, Poster Presenter NIH Office of Research Services Orientation Fair, September 2000

Invited Speaker, Dickinson College, Sigma Pi Sigma Annual Awards Banquet, “Radiation Safety Issues in P-32 Contamination Incident”, October 1998.

Delaware Valley Chapter of the Health Physics Society, Invited Speaker, AP-32 Contamination Incident@, June 1997.

“Radiation Safety Considerations for Sequentially Placing Patients Containing Radioactive Material In Isolation Rooms For I-131 Therapies Without Complete Decontamination” Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of M.S. in Radiation Science, Georgetown University, December 1993.

National Capital Area Branch of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 20th Annual Seminar, Presentation “Radiation Safety in Animal Research”, 1992.

Luetzelschwab, J.W., Helweick, K., Hurst, K., “Radon Concentrations in Five Pennsylvania Soils”, Health Physics (56:2),1989.

Radiation Safety Academy
A Division of Dade Moeller & Associates
481 N. Frederick Ave, Ste. 302, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Phone: 301-990-6006 Fax: 301-990-9878
http://www.RadiationSafetyAcademy.com