Understanding the Role
Pella Regional Health Center is building a new radiation oncology program and is hiring its first onsite Radiation Oncologist to lead it. This is a ground-floor role for a physician who wants to shape a service line rather than step into a fixed one. Today, cancer patients in the region travel to Des Moines, Ottumwa, and other distant sites for radiation. This position brings that care home and keeps treatment, follow-up, and the multidisciplinary team in one place.
Position Snapshot
| Specialty |
Radiation Oncology |
| Position Type |
New program, first onsite Radiation Oncologist |
| Employer |
Pella Regional Health Center (hospital employed) |
| Setting |
Outpatient radiation oncology within a multidisciplinary cancer program |
| Schedule |
Building toward 5 days per week as volume grows |
| Call |
No formal call; phone availability with RN triage support |
| Service Line Oversight |
Radiation clinic operates under the radiology service line |
Why the Position Exists
Pella Regional already runs an active medical oncology practice, with a visiting physician group onsite four days per week and a breast surgery program led by a general surgeon. The missing piece is onsite radiation. Patients who need radiation are currently routed out of the area, most often south and east toward Ottumwa and Des Moines.
The organization is investing directly in this service line:
- A capital campaign with a goal of roughly $14.3 million funded the radiation program buildout
- Approximately $13 million was raised within about 30 days of the campaign going public
- Support spans hospital administration, the medical staff, and the surrounding communities, including a neighboring-town fundraising effort
- There is no competing radiation center in town, which positions the program to capture regional volume quickly
The Role
The incoming Radiation Oncologist will:
- Establish and grow Pella Regional's onsite radiation oncology service
- Treat patients drawn from Pella and the surrounding service area, primarily south and southeast Iowa
- Work alongside the onsite medical oncology group, breast surgery, and surgical and GYN oncology support
- Participate in multidisciplinary tumor board and help expand it as volume grows
- Help design workflow, build referral relationships, and influence the long-term direction of the program
Practice Setting
- Hospital employed by Pella Regional Health Center
- The organization's preference is direct employment; there is flexibility for employment through an affiliated radiation oncology group if a strong candidate prefers that structure
- Outpatient radiation oncology within a team-based cancer program
- The radiation clinic operates under the radiology service line, led by the Radiology Director, with nursing oversight through the Chief Nursing Officer
Schedule
The program is in launch phase, so the schedule is built to scale.
| Stage |
Onsite Presence |
| Program launch / ramp-up |
Approximately 2 to 3 days onsite per week, with remote work as needed |
| Mature program (target) |
5 days per week onsite |
Leadership expects volume to ramp quickly given the regional need and community support, and is presenting the role as a five-day position that starts with flexibility during the buildout.
Who Thrives Here
This role fits a physician who wants ownership and is comfortable operating with autonomy:
- Confident and able to practice independently in a single-physician program
- Experienced practice is preferred; a new graduate with strong clinical confidence will also be considered
- Flexible, creative, and collaborative
- Motivated by building something and influencing how a program develops
- Interested in shaping quality, workflow, and the patient experience from the start
Qualifications
- Board certified or board eligible in Radiation Oncology
- Eligible for Iowa medical licensure