Research Interests

Radiological Physics with emphasis on population aspects including radiation dosimetry, clinical image quality, and related aspects of diagnostic x-ray clinical practice that affect the broad U.S. population. Recent area of interest is the impact that new digital-based x-ray imaging technologies have on patient dose, image quality, and aspects of clinical care (eg. Do clinical facilities using digital x-ray technologies tend to acquire more images for each patient?)

Proposed Research Project for FDA Commissioner's Fellow

The FDA Fellow would assist the Preceptor and assisting staff with planning and data analysis of nationwide surveys conducted through the Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends (NEXT), a joint partnership with the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) to periodically survey U.S. clinical facilities that perform a selected diagnostic x-ray procedure. The Fellow would assist with the planning and data analysis for a planned survey of x-ray practice at chiropractic facilities in the U.S. Such planning would include the development of survey questions, database development, and may also include visitation to area clinical facilities to test x-ray equipment data collection procedures.

The Fellow will also assist FDA staff with the identification of a diagnostic x-ray procedure for subsequent survey. This activity would involve basic research regarding the relative public health impact a proposed survey would provide.

The Fellow would also assist with program-level assessment of survey processes in order to improve and optimize the collection and analysis of survey data using information sciences. In order to address the problem of lack of consistent facility use of existing radiation safety resources by enabling consumers make more informed decisions regarding the safe use of x-ray imaging devices, the fellow will also investigate how future NEXT surveys could serve as an information database on radiation safety awareness and current barriers to implementation of existing resources.

Applicant Requirements

The applicant should have a graduate degree in physics or related field of science/engineering. Medical or health physics experience preferred.

Selected Recent Publications

1. David Spelic. The Nationwide Evaluation of X-Ray Trends, Part 2: US Trends for CT. J Am Coll Radiol. 2016 Aug; 13(8):992-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2016.04.029. Epub 2016 Jun 30.
2. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. Contributing author: Reference Levels and Achievable Doses in Medical and Dental Imaging: Recommendations for the United States. NCRP Report 172, September 30, 2012.
3. David Spelic. Tabulation and Graphical Summary of the 2005-06 Survey of Computed Tomography. Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors publication E-15-3, November 2015.
4. David Spelic. Nationwide Evaluation of X-Ray Trends Computed Tomography
2005 – 06: Preliminary Summary. Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, publication CRCPD NEXT_2005-06CT_T, July 2012.
5. DL Miller, M Hilohi, DC Spelic. Patient radiation doses in interventional cardiology in the U.S.: Advisory data sets and possible initial values for U.S. reference levels. Med Phys 39(10), October 2012: pp 6276-86.