After living in every corner of the country while growing up, studying and training to become a medical physicist, and starting her career, Samantha Simiele, PhD, feels at home again.
Her job in Northern Alabama is a long way from her Eastern Washington roots. But, for the past year and a half, she’s enjoyed the opportunity to work with her brother and sister-in-law at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as an assistant professor and chief of Brachytherapy.
It’s the next best thing to being home. She and her brother, Eric, even have offices next to each other.
“I’ll stop by and say, ‘Hey, are you going out for lunch today?’” Samantha said.
Eric started at UAB in December 2022 and Samatha joined the faculty in October 2023. Eric’s wife, Natalie Viscariello, PhD, is an assistant professor and associate director of the UAB Medical Physics Residency Program.
“It feels like home in a lot of ways,” Eric said. “Working with my wife and sister adds this layer of comfort and support that you don’t typically get in a workplace. We know how to communicate well with each other, and there’s a sense of built-in trust that makes everything smoother.”
Working at UAB is a reunion for the three medical physicists. They completed their graduate work at the University of Wisconsin. Although they didn’t realize it, the Simiele siblings also were training to become co-workers, however unlikely that seemed.
“I didn’t think I’d have another chance to work with him,” said Samantha, who’s a member of the ABR Medical Physics Initial Certification Advisory Committee. “But when this opportunity opened, it was hard to turn down. We just stepped right back into the groove. The only thing people may notice is that we have inside jokes. Otherwise, I don’t think people working with us would know we were related.”
Samantha’s career choice was rooted in family experience. She was raised in Richland, Washington, a location integral to the Manhattan Project. Her mother specialized in radioactive waste management and her father practiced as a health physicist and nuclear engineer. Their experiences impacted their children.
“Our parents’ careers certainly contributed to Eric and I pursuing degrees in health physics,” Samantha said. “I was introduced to the concept of brachytherapy as a graduate student. My advisor is prominent in the brachytherapy community and my graduate research was in brachytherapy. When I transitioned to residency, my research mentor was also a brachytherapy physicist. They passed along their passion for the treatment modality.”
Samantha said that having family in the same location makes logistics much easier for her mother, who still lives in Washington. Her mom is thrilled to have her children together.
“It makes family gatherings easier,” she said. “It’s just one trip to see us.”
The reunion has been positive for everyone. UAB benefits and the Simieles have the chance to work side by side, keeping their family ties strong.
“I was genuinely thrilled when I found out Sam was joining UAB,” Eric said. “I’ve always admired her work ethic and talent, so knowing we’d be working at the same place felt like a dream. It’s not something you expect, but it’s been such a rewarding and fun experience having her here.”
