Barbara Lilieholm

I am a medical physicist. I work in Healthcare as part of a small physics consulting group in San Antonio, TX. Even though I am 57, I have been a medical physicist for only 11 years. Before that I was a stay at home mom, an art teacher, an x-ray technologist, and a research chemist. This is definitely my favorite (and best paying) job!

I have a BS in Chemistry, and a MS in Environmental Chemistry. I also had an AAS degree in Radiologic Technology. Along the way I picked up the physics classes need to sit for the board examinations as a medical physicist. Physics is so much fun!

SPS Alumni Information

SPS Chapter: University of Maine

Barbara Lilieholm is available for student engagement in the following categories: mentoring, in-person speaker, tour opportunities. Send a request using this form .

Alum Location: Boerne, Texas
Education Level: Masters
Disciplines: medical, applied, chemical, electronics, nuclear

Recent position: Senior Medical Physicist, Medical and Radiation Physics
Job Description: I test the image quality, QA/QC, radiation dose, and general workings of MRI, CT, X-ray units, Mammography units, Nuclear Medicine, and Ultrasound machines. I also work with radiologists and administrators to ensure compliance with state and federal agencies, along with image quality issues. I go to different facilities, and test different units every day. Critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills are very important in this job. I do not “fix” the units, but tell staff when they need to call service engineers to correct issues. Sometimes I give radiation safety lectures to radiologists and staff. We also calculate patient or fetal doses, and do radiation shielding design for new facilities.