Premavathy Rassiah, PhD

Languages spoken: English, Tamil, Malay (individual language)

Academic Information

Departments: Radiation Oncology - Associate Professor (Clinical)

Academic Office Information

prema.rassiah@hci.utah.edu

Board Certification

  • American Board of Radiology

Prema Rassiah, PhD, is an associate professor of radiation oncology and a medical physicist at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital. In addition, she serves as the Clinical Director of Medical Physics Operations.


She obtained her degree of doctor of philosophy in medical physics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2005. Before commencing her PhD, she was a fellow of the World Health Organization at Stanford University Medical Center. She is an active member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the American Board of Radiology and the Children's Oncology Group.

Her clinical and research interests include Dosimetric algorithms and Total Body Irradiation.

Education History

Doctoral Training University of Texas, Health Sciences Center
Medical Physics 		Ph.D.
Other Training Stanford University
IMRT Training 		Certificate
Other Training Prince of Wales Hospital
Stereotactic Radiosurgery 		Certificate
Other Training Peter Mac Callum Cancer Institute
Brachytherapy Training 		Certificate
Graduate Training University Science Malaysia
Medical Physics 		M.S.
Undergraduate University Science Malaysia
Honors Medical Physics 		B.S.

Selected Publications

  1. Harkenrider MM, Albuquerque K, Brown D, Kamrava M, King M, Mourtada F, Orio P, Patel R, Price M, Rassiah P, Solanki AA, Small W Jr, Schechter NR (2021). ACR-ABS-ASTRO practice parameter for the performance of radionuclide-based high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Brachytherapy, 20(6), 1071-1082.
  2. Vogel J, Hui S, Hua CH, Dusenbery K, Rassiah P, Kalapurakal J, Constine L, Esiashvili N (2021). Pulmonary Toxicity After Total Body Irradiation - Critical Review of the Literature and Recommendations for Toxicity Reporting. Front Oncol, 11, 708906.
  3. Rassiah P, Esiashvili N, Olch AJ, Hua CH, Ulin K, Molineu A, Marcus K, Gopalakrishnan M, Pillai S, Kovalchuk N, Liu A, Niyazov G, Peagarcano J, Cheung F, Olson AC, Wu CC, Malhotra HK, MacEwan IJ, Faught J, Breneman JC, Followill DS, FitzGerald TJ, Kalapurakal JA (2021). Practice Patterns of Pediatric Total Body Irradiation Techniques: A Children's Oncology Group Survey. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.
  4. Szegedi M, Sarkar V, Paxton A, Rassiah P, Salter BJ (2021). Seismic reinforcement of a linac installation. J Appl Clin Med Phys, 22(4), 166-171.
  5. Sarkar V, Lloyd S, Paxton A, Dial C, Rassiah P, Szegedi MW, Hitchcock YJ, Salter BJ (2021). Evaluation of the dosimetric impact of changes in shoulder position on target coverage for spine SBRT to metastases in the lower cervical spine region. J Radiosurg SBRT, 7(4), 321-328.
  6. Paxton AB, Sarkar V, Kunz JN, Szegedi M, Zhao H, Huang YJ, Nelson G, Rassiah P, Su FF, Salter BJ (2020). Evaluation of the effects of implementing a diode transmission device into the clinical workflow. Phys Med, 80, 335-341.
  7. Szegedi M, Boehm C, Paxton A, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Sarkar V, Zhao H, Su F, Kokeny KE, Lloyd S, Tward J, Salter BJ (2020). Comparison of transperineal ultrasound image guidance technique to transabdominal technique for prostate radiation therapy. Med Phys, 47(12), 6113-6121.
  8. Zhao H, Paxton A, Sarkar V, Huang YJ, Frances Su FC, Haacke C, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Szegedi M, Salter B (2020). Prevention of Radiation Therapy Treatment Deviations by a Novel Combined Biometric, Radiofrequency Identification, and Surface Imaging System. Pract Radiat Oncol, 11(2), e229-e235.
  9. Rassiah P, Su FF, Huang YJ, Spitznagel D, Sarkar V, Szegedi MW, Zhao H, Paxton AB, Nelson G, Salter BJ (2020). Using failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to generate an initial plan check checklist for improved safety in radiation treatment. J Appl Clin Med Phys, 21(8), 83-91.
  10. Sarkar V, Szegedi M, Paxton A, Nelson G, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Reddy CB, Tao R, Hitchcock YJ, Kokeny KE, Salter BJ (2020). Preliminary clinical experience with Calypso anchored beacons for tumor tracking in lung SBRT. Med Phys, 47(9), 4407-4415.
  11. Su FF, Huang YJ, Rassiah P, Salter BJ (2020). FMEA-guided transition from microSelectron to Flexitron for HDR brachytherapy. Brachytherapy, 19(2), 241-248.
  12. Sarkar V, Paxton A, Rassiah P, Kokeny KE, Hitchcock YJ, Salter BJ (2020). Evaluation of dose distribution differences from five algorithms implemented in three commercial treatment planning systems for lung SBRT. J Radiosurg SBRT, 7(1), 57-66.
  13. Zhao H, Williams N, Poppe M, Sarkar V, Wang B, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Huang YJ, Kokeny K, Gaffney D, Salter B (2019). Comparison of surface guidance and target matching for image-guided accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). Med Phys, 46(11), 4717-4724.
  14. Sarkar V, Paxton A, Kunz J, Szegedi M, Nelson G, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Huang YJ, Su F, Salter BJ (2019). A systematic evaluation of the error detection abilities of a new diode transmission detector. J Appl Clin Med Phys, 20(9), 122-132.
  15. Sarkar V, Paxton A, Szegedi MW, Zhao H, Huang L, Nelson G, Huang YJ, Su F, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Salter BJ (2019). An evaluation of the consistency of shifts reported by three different systems for non-coplanar treatments. J Radiosurg SBRT.
  16. Zhao H, Sarkar V, Wang B, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Szegedi M, Jessica Huang Y, Huang L, Tward J, Salter B (2019). Calculation of delivered composite dose from Calypso tracking data for prostate cancer: And subsequent evaluation of reasonable treatment interruption tolerance limits. J Appl Clin Med Phys, 20(8), 105-113.
  17. Huang YJ, Su FF, Gaffney DK, Kokeny KE, Zhao H, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Salter BJ, Poppe MM (2018). Skin dose estimation using virtual structures for Contura Multi-Lumen Balloon breast brachytherapy. Brachytherapy, 17(6), 956-965.
  18. Sarkar V, Paxton A, Szegedi MW, Zhao H, Huang L, Nelson G, Huang YJ, Su F, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Salter BJ (2018). An evaluation of the consistency of shifts reported by three different systems for non-coplanar treatments. J Radiosurg SBRT, 5(4), 323-330.
  19. Gonzalez VJ, Hullett CR, Burt L, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Sarkar V, Tward JD, Hazard LJ, Huang YJ, Salter BJ, Gaffney DK (2017). Impact of prone versus supine positioning on small bowel dose with pelvic intensity modulated radiation therapy. Adv Radiat Oncol, 2(2), 235-243.
  20. Salter BJ, Szegedi M, Boehm C, Sarkar V, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Wang B, Zhao H, Huang J, Huang L, Kokeny K, Tward JD (2016). Comparison of 2 transabdominal ultrasound image guidance techniques for prostate and prostatic fossa radiation therapy. Pract Radiat Oncol, 7(2), e99-e107.
  21. Zhao H, Wang B, Sarkar V, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Huang YJ, Szegedi M, Huang L, Gonzalez V, Salter B (2016). Comparison of surface matching and target matching for image-guided pelvic radiation therapy for both supine and prone patient positions. J Appl Clin Med Phys, 17(3), 14-24.
  22. Huang YJ, Harrison A, Sarkar V, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Szegedi M, Huang L, Wilson B, Gaffney DK, Salter BJ (2016). Detection of late radiation damage on left atrial fibrosis using cardiac late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging. Adv Radiat Oncol, 1(2), 106-114.
  23. H Zhao, V Sarkar, A Paxton, P Rassiah-Szegedi, Y Huang, M Szegedi, L Huang, F Su, B Salter (04/19/2016). Feasibility of Supraclavicular Field Treatment by Investigating Variation of Junction Position Between Breast Tangential and Supraclavicular Fields for Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) Left Breast Radiation [Abstract]. 58th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine in Washington, DC from July 31 - August 4, 2016.
  24. Zhao H, Sarkar V, Rassiah-Szegedi P (01/06/2016). Comparison of CT-on-rails and a 3D surface imaging system for image guided pelvic radiation therapy for both supine and prone patient positions. J Appl Clin Med Phys.
  25. Sarkar V, Huang L, Huang YJ, Szegedi MW, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Hitchcock YJ, Kokeny KE, Wang B, Salter BJ (2018). Dosimetric evaluation of abdominal compression as a method to reduce the incidence of radiation-induced pneumonitis in lung SBRT treatment. J Radiosurg SBRT, 4(2), 125-132.
  26. Sarkar V, Huang L, Huang YJ, Szegedi MW, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Salter BJ (2018). Head to head comparison of two commercial phantoms used for SRS QA. J Radiosurg SBRT, 4(3), 213-223.
  27. Sarkar V, Huang L, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Huang J, Szegedi M, Salter BJ (2015). Planning for mARC treatments with the Eclipse treatment planning system. J Appl Clin Med Phys, 16(2), 5351.
  28. Rassiah-Szegedi P, Szegedi M, Sarkar V, Streitmatter S, Huang YJ, Zhao H, Salter B (2014). Dosimetric impact of the 160 MLC on head and neck IMRT treatments. J Appl Clin Med Phys, 15(6), 4770.
  29. Szegedi M, Hinkle J, Rassiah P, Sarkar V, Wang B, Joshi S, Salter B (2013). Four-dimensional tissue deformation reconstruction (4D TDR) validation using a real tissue phantom. J Appl Clin Med Phys, 14(1), 4012.
  30. Szegedi M, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Sarkar V, Hinkle J, Wang B, Huang YH, Zhao H, Joshi S, Salter BJ (2012). Tissue characterization using a phantom to validate four-dimensional tissue deformation. Med Phys, 39(10), 6065-70.
  31. Wang B, Sarkar V, Busselberg C, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Huang Y, Szegedi M, Salter B (2017). SU-E-T-404: A Prototype Program for Analyzing 4D Image Guidance Shifts for Lung SBRT. Med Phys, 39(6Part16), 3797.
  32. Zhao H, Wang B, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Sarkar V, Huang Y, Szegedi M, Gonzalez V, Salter B (2017). SU-E-J-60: Comparison of CT-On-Rails and a 3D Surface Imaging System for Image Guided Pelvic Radiation Therapy for Both Supine and Prone Patient Positions. Med Phys, 39(6Part6), 3666.
  33. Sarkar V, Wang B, Hinkle J, Gonzalez VJ, Hitchcock YJ, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Joshi S, Salter BJ (2011). Dosimetric evaluation of a "virtual" image-guidance alternative to explicit 6 degree of freedom robotic couch correction. Pract Radiat Oncol, 2(2), 122-37.
  34. Szegedi M, Sarkar V, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Wang B, Huang YJ, Zhao H, Salter B (2012). 4D CT image acquisition errors in SBRT of liver identified using correlation. J Appl Clin Med Phys, 13(1), 3564.
  35. Rassiah-Szegedi P, Wang B, Szegedi M, Tward J, Zhao H, Huang YJ, Sarkar V, Shrieve D, Salter B (2011). Individualized margins for prostate patients using a wireless localization and tracking system. J Appl Clin Med Phys, 12(3), 3516.
  36. Salter BJ, Sarkar V, Wang B, Shukla H, Szegedi M, Rassiah-Szegedi P (2011). Rotational IMRT delivery using a digital linear accelerator in very high dose rate 'burst mode'. Phys Med Biol, 56(7), 1931-46.
  37. Wang B, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Huang YJ, Sarkar V, Szegedi M, Kokeny KE, Anker CJ, Shrieve DC, Salter BJ (2011). Initial experience and clinical comparison of two image guidance methods for SBRT treatment: 4DCT versus respiratory-triggered imaging. J Appl Clin Med Phys, 12(3), 3429.
  38. Salter BJ, Fuss M, Sarkar V, Wang B, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Papanikolaou N, Hollingshaus S, Shrieve DC (2008). Optimization of isocenter location for intensity modulated stereotactic treatment of small intracranial targets. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 73(2), 546-55.
  39. Salter BJ, Wang B, Szegedi MW, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Shrieve DC, Cheng R, Fuss M (2008). Evaluation of alignment error due to a speed artifact in stereotactic ultrasound image guidance. Phys Med Biol, 53(23), N437-45.
  40. Rassiah P, Salter BJ, Fuller CD, Blough M, Papanikolaou N, Fuss M (2006). Monte Carlo characterization of target doses in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Acta Oncol, 45 (7), 989-94.

Global Impact

Education History

Type School Degree
Graduate Training University Science Malaysia
Medical Physics		 M.S.
Other Training Peter Mac Callum Cancer Institute
Brachytherapy Training		 Certificate
Other Training Prince of Wales Hospital
Stereotactic Radiosurgery		 Certificate
Undergraduate University Science Malaysia
Honors Medical Physics		 B.S.