Kenneth “Kip” Matthews Named Director of LSU–Mary Bird Perkins Medical Physics Program

The LSU–Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Dr. Charles M. Smith Medical and Health Physics Program named Kenneth “Kip” Matthews as director.

Matthews, the Dr. Charles M. Smith Distinguished Professor of Medical Physics in the LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy, previously served as Interim Director. He brings decades of leadership in medical physics education and research.

Matthews will lead the program’s academic, research and training initiatives, advancing its mission to prepare the next generation of medical physicists through expanded research opportunities, enhanced mentorship, and industry partnerships. His appointment reinforces LSU’s commitment to health science education and cancer care innovation.  

“Dr. Matthews brings significant experience in medical physics education and research, along with a long-standing commitment to this program and its students,” said Robb Brumfield, Interim Dean of the LSU College of Science. “His leadership will continue to strengthen our academic and clinical partnership with the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center while preparing highly trained medical physicists to serve patients and communities across Louisiana.” 

Leaders at Mary Bird Perkins emphasized that the appointment strengthens the decadeslong partnership between the two institutions.  

“Dr. Matthews’ appointment marks a pivotal moment for the LSU and Mary Bird Perkins medical physics partnership,” said Sotirios Stathakis, the Dr. Charles M. Smith Chief of Physics at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “As the only medical physics graduate program in Louisiana, we are committed to leading the region in education and training. We are especially eager to integrate Dr. Matthews’ experience to establish new clinical and educational programs, further expanding our ability to prepare the next generation of cancer care providers.” 

The LSU Medical Physics & Health Physics Program is a collaborative partnership between the LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. The program combines graduate education with hands-on clinical training in radiation oncology physics, supported by strong research and clinical partnerships. 

Matthews earned his doctorate in medical physics from the University of Chicago in 1997. From 1997 to 2001, he served as a clinical and research physicist at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago. He earned board certification in medical nuclear physics from the American Board of Radiology in 2001. 

Since joining the LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy in 2001, Matthews has provided expertise in medical imaging, teaching, and research within the LSU Medical Physics and Health Physics Program. 

“LSU has been an excellent place to build my career as an educator in medical physics,” Matthews said. “I especially enjoy the excitement of my students as they pursue their research projects.” 

“With our close partnership with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, we have a premier training program for master’s students in medical physics, who are the backbone of the workforce,” he said. “I often describe our students as my extended family, and this appointment allows me to continue fostering the careers of those who mean so much to me.” 

Matthews is a member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the Southwest Chapter of AAPM, the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society, and the Society of Directors of Academic Medical Physics Programs. He was named a Fellow of AAPM in 2017, and he was the inaugural recipient of the Southwest AAPM Chapter’s Mentor Award in 2024. 

LSU’s master's program in Medical & Health Physics has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP) since 2006. LSU added a dedicated doctoral curriculum in medical physics in 2011 and received CAMPEP accreditation that same year. A medical physics residency program created by Mary Bird Perkins received its CAMPEP accreditation in 2012. 

The LSU and Mary Bird Perkins partnership was established in 1980. Under the leadership of Professor Emeritus Kenneth Hogstrom and President and CEO Todd Stevens, the collaboration expanded significantly beginning in 2004. This partnership remains one of the few medical physics programs in the country that integrates a university science department with a cancer center. 

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a leading cancer care organization serving southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi, with nine regional centers across Baton Rouge, Covington, Gonzales, Hammond, Houma, Zachary, and Natchez.