8/12/2011
Curriculum Vitae
IF I WERE YOUR MENTOR
•1993-1998:
Germany
BS & MS, Physics, Darmstadt,
•2008: First solo backpack (4 days,
•1998 -
2002: PhD, Nuclear Physics, Rutgers
University, NJ
Sonja Dieterich, Ph.D.
Chief of Clinical Physics
Clinical Associate Professor
•2002-2007, Medical Physics at Georgetown
• 2002 - 2003 Postdoc
• 2003 – 2007 Assistant Professor
• 2005 – 2007 Lead Physicist, CyberKnife Program
•2007 – present,
August 2, 2011
Professor
•
•
•2005: 1st 1-week backpacking trip
Stanford, Clinical Associate
2007 – 2009 Chief of Radiosurgery
2009 – present Chief of Clinical Physics
Arizona desert)
•2009: First Peak Climb (Class2)
•2010:
•
first 14’er, 1st Class 3 summer peak
•
Winter Mountaineering class
•
Wilderness First Aid certified
•2011:
•
first snow-camping trip
•
First winter peak climbs
•
First attempt at Mt Shasta (14,179 feet/4321m), and
also first time trip leader
Defining What Success is For You
HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
HOW CAN YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN?
Define what “it” is.
• My family are 95% small business
owners (weaver, waste removal,
landscaping, blacksmith,
electrician…)
•For them, I am:
• Working for s.o. else
• Obscure hospital somewhere in
California (try explaining Virginia!)
• Not clear what I do, definitely not
as useful as being a nurse
• At least I did not marry a physician
(got some sense left in me)
• They still love me despite these
shortcomings
1
8/12/2011
Take-Away Message
Criteria for Success are highly subjective
For you:
◦ Research, industry, clinic, consulting?
◦ Physics group, solo work, part-time work?
 Criteria for success change with time
 Career success and personal achievement
 Goals vs process


Factors for Success

In yourself:
◦
◦
◦
◦

What makes you excited? Me: spirit of adventure.
Learn to love leaving your comfort zone behind
“Can I succeed?” vs. "Is it worth the risk?“
Don’t listen to others too much
Others:
◦ Listen to others (mentors)
◦ Connect to peers (e.g. spend at least 2 complete days here with people
you have never met!)
◦ Regular lunches with non-physics colleagues
◦ Have friends outside your socio-economic circle
Mentors & Teachers
They challenge you.
They give honest feedback. They are supportive.
2