I am an academic radiation oncologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the primary treating physician for pediatric patients in the Department of Radiation Oncology. In addition to pediatric patients, I also treat adult CNS and sarcoma patients. My clinical experience shaped my interest in studying how to minimize toxicities related to radiation therapy without compromising its efficacy. As part of this endeavor, I have published several retrospective clinical studies on the outcomes of pediatric and breast cancer patients after radiation dose reduction or proton radiation with the intention of eliminating unnecessary toxicity. In parallel, I have conducted translational research on the topic of ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) proton radiation, an emerging concept that has shown normal-tissue sparing properties in preclinical studies. My research fellowship was dedicated to using single-cell RNA sequencing technology to identify differential gene expression of small intestinal cells after FLASH vs. standard dose rate radiation. The results of my work became an integral part of a successful NIH P01 grant application at the University of Pennsylvania. My capability as a clinician-investigator grew from my rigorous clinical training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where I developed strong skills in patient care as well as recognizing opportunities for innovation. My goal as a clinician-investigator is to study the radiation toxicity in the era of genomics and identify relevant genetic biomarkers that predictive of radiation toxicity, rationally design clinical trials to test hypotheses, and eventually lead personalized radiation therapy that can benefit patients.