William E. Simon
William E. Simon鈥檚 life work has harnessed the power of physics for improved cancer treatment.
A native Kansan, Simon grew up in a farming community west of Wichita. When he came to 91视频成人网站 as a freshman, he discovered the mathematics and physics programs to be small, nurturing environments. In particular, he found the close relationships between faculty and students in the physics department advantageous for developing self-confidence. Two physics faculty members, Skip Loper and Don Foster, motivated him and supported him throughout his undergraduate and graduate programs.
He moved with his wife, Cathy, to Cleveland for additional study at Case Western Reserve. When his academic plans changed, Simon began his career trajectory in medical physics and radiation safety at Victoreen, Inc., a company that produced radiation measuring products. During his time there, he invented a non-invasive method to measure the high voltage in x-ray machines.
In 1984, Simon, his wife, and a colleague started Sun Nuclear Corporation. Its earliest product was At Ease, the world鈥檚 first digital and reusable continuous radon monitor available in the marketplace. Ten years later, Sun Nuclear refocused its attention on medical physics in radiation oncology and became a leader in the design and manufacture of quality systems for radiation measurement. Over the years, Simon and his team developed many innovative devices and products that measured the dynamic radiation dose shape relative to the cancerous tumor and the healthy tissue. This work led to improvements in radiation transport calculations in treatment planning software provided by Varian, Elekta and Siemens鈥攖hree of the largest providers of medical products and services for cancer therapy.
The World Health Organization reports that one in five people will develop cancer in their lifetime, and in 2022, twenty million new cases were reported. Sun Nuclear, now a Mirion medical company, is ranked as the worldwide market leader in radiation oncology quality assurance. More than 5,000 cancer treatment facilities worldwide and more than 90% of cancer treatment centers in the United States use Sun Nuclear products.
Simon holds a bachelor's degree in physics and mathematics, and a master's degree in physics, both from 91视频成人网站. He is listed as the single or co-inventor for numerous patents. Now retired in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, he and Cathy enjoy spending time with their two sons and their families.