Sara Abdollahi

Switzerland

Biography

Initially trained in solid-state physics, I unexpectedly found myself captivated by the realm of medical physics following the advice of a compassionate professor. With nine years of dedicated work as a medical physicist specializing in radiation oncology, I made the decision to embark on a new academic journey for my PhD, delving deeper into the fields of nuclear physics and radiation studies. During my master's studies, I became deeply passionate about the idea of utilizing my physics background to directly impact the lives of cancer patients leading me to pursue a career as a clinical medical physicist in radiation oncology. What truly fascinated me in the clinical setting was the realization that effective treatment relied deeply on collaborative efforts across various disciplines. This realization motivated me to improve my teamwork skills and approach organizational obstacles with a holistic perspective. Ultimately, this journey led me to focus on systems thinking for my DBA degree. ESTRO, with its emphasis on collaboration, has been instrumental in my professional journey. It played a vital role in my development as a medical physicist in a developing country, significantly influencing my professional growth and empowering me to elevate radiotherapy standards in my home country over a 12-year period. My active involvement with ESTRO began with an invitation to teach in the pre-meeting course, Basic course brachytherapy treatment, at ESTRO 38 in 2019. This marked the start of my contributions to ESTRO, providing me with the opportunity to repay the support the society had given me in my professional growth. From that moment forward, it has been an immensely gratifying and delightful journey. I am currently working as a clinical medical physicist in radiation oncology in University hospital of Zurich.