Grace Gwe-Ya Kim, Ph.D., FAAPM

About Dr. Kim

Dr. Grace Kim was a cherished member of our Division of Medical Physics and our Department. She spent 16 years in our department, and her influence and impact on all of us was broad, deep, and everlasting. Grace was a true and stalwart partner to the entire team of physicians, physicists, dosimetrists, and therapists and, most importantly, part of the countless patient lives she affected through her work. All those who worked with her attest that she was the backbone of our radiation therapy programs at RMAS. Our past, present, and future are indelibly connected to her.

Grace's career in radiation oncology began at the National Standard Laboratory in Korea, where she established a national quality assurance program for radiotherapy and nuclear medicine. She then accepted a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford, focusing on image-guided radiation therapy, which was new at the time. She established the QA program for the first-generation Varian Trilogy machines, and that QA program is still used throughout the field today. Grace realized a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in clinical medical physics, enjoying the dynamic nature of the job as well as the interdisciplinary collaborations required for patient treatments in radiation therapy.

Grace joined our department at UCSD in April 2009 and quickly made a positive impact as a problem-solver and innovator. As technology section chief of CNS & Radiosurgery, Grace ensured that treatment techniques, including treatment planning approaches, were up-to-date and consistent with national guidelines. During her tenure at UCSD, the radiosurgery program grew significantly and became internationally recognized, in large part, due to Grace's efforts and expertise.

In May 2023, Grace was appointed Deputy Director of our Division of Medical Physics. As Deputy Director, Grace led all clinical medical physics services at our La Jolla, Encinitas, and future Hillcrest locations. Grace was a respected leader in our field, serving on both the AAPM and Radiosurgical Society Board of Directors. She was a leader in the field and trained numerous medical physicists and physicians.

Grace brought great passion, kindness, and expertise, which inspired and touched countless lives. Her indelible mark on our field is a testament to her dedication and impact. We will deeply miss her warm presence and unwavering commitment to excellence, and we take comfort in the lasting legacy she leaves behind.