Emily Hirata

Emily Hirata, Ph.D., serves as Associate Professor and Clinical Chief of Physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. A board-certified medical physicist, she leads clinical operations while advancing research in data-driven quality improvement and workflow optimization for radiation therapy delivery.

Her academic foundation includes:

• Bachelor of Science in Physics from Purdue University (1998-2001)
• Master of Science in Medical Physics from University of Wisconsin-Madison (2001-2003)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences from University of Hawaii (2012-2017)

Dr. Hirata's research integrates medical physics with computational innovation, focusing on standardization of clinical operations through machine learning applications for error prevention and quality assurance. Her work bridges radiation oncology, health informatics, and process engineering to enhance treatment safety and efficiency, particularly in VMAT planning and motion management systems.

Analysis of her 2021-2025 publications reveals a dominant trend toward virtual quality assurance frameworks and smartphone-based motion monitoring, with significant contributions to automation in clinical workflows, cost analysis of radiation therapy, and leadership development within medical physics. These works consistently emphasize data-centric approaches to reduce physical measurements while maintaining safety standards.

Dr. Hirata actively mentors emerging professionals and promotes STEM education for middle-school students. She serves as a Physicist Surveyor for the American College of Radiology and holds committee positions with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and American Board of Radiology, demonstrating leadership beyond clinical responsibilities.

As Clinical Chief of Physics at UCSF, she directs the radiation oncology physics team while contributing to national standards through committee work. Her collaborative approach extends to multi-center initiatives improving contouring training and cost analysis methodologies across diverse healthcare settings.