Forty years. Three Owners. One Way.
The story of how Unicon Medical Physics became what it is, and why it stayed that way.
Founded by a physicist who trained the next generation
Dr. James Kereiakes built Cincinnati's medical physics community from the ground up. A charter member of the AAPM, two-time gold medal winner, and professor at UC's College of Medicine for more than 30 years, he was one of the most decorated medical physicists in American history.
When regulations began requiring facilities to have physics support, he didn't set out to build a company. He started helping the radiologists he had trained. They called because they trusted him. The business grew from there.
Read more about Dr. Kereiakes
Grown by a physicist who never sold out
Kish Patel arrived in Cincinnati in 1991 with a PhD in medical physics and a deep respect for what Dr. Kereiakes had built. Rather than compete, he called and offered to help with overflow work. For three years he delivered.
In 2000, Dr. Kereiakes sold him the business. Kish ran it for the next 23 years. He grew the team, deepened the client relationships, and turned down every venture capital offer that came his way. His reasoning was simple — he didn't want to hand 20- and 30-year client relationships to people he didn't trust to care for them the same way he did.
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Carried forward by a physicist who knew what mattered
Michael Cox had known the Unicon team since 2013. He joined as a physicist in 2019. When Kish raised the question of succession on a nine-hour drive to Des Moines, Michael raised his hand.
The acquisition closed in 2023. The team stayed the same. The clients stayed the same. What changed was the technology, the systems, and a deliberate plan to serve more facilities across the region.
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Thriving with dedicated physicists who love the work
Today, Unicon is a board-certified team of medical physicists serving Healthcare networks, independent hospitals, imaging centers, and private practices across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and more. We are independently owned, physicist-led, and rooted in the same communities we serve.
The industry around us has changed. Independent physics practices have been bought up, consolidated, and reorganized around margin rather than service. Unicon has watched it happen and made a different choice.
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I’ve worked with the incredibly knowledgeable and helpful physicists from Unicon Physics for over 10 years. Not only is the equipment testing and reporting completed timely and thoroughly, but the support from this team is also unmatched. Over the past decade, I’ve had many questions around the Ohio rules and regulations. Every time, my questions are answered efficiently and with a detailed explanation of the ‘why’ behind the rule. I attribute our numerous successful ODH inspections and safe radiation operations to our partnership with Unicon Physics.
Unicon Physics staff are very knowledgeable about all the areas of their scope of practice. They always respond in a timely manner to all questions. They always give their full support until the question is answered or the problem is solved.
My experience with Unicon Medical Physicists has always been positive. Their imaging physicist team consistently delivers precise, reliable insights and is quick to respond to questions and requests, helping us stay proactive and regulatory ready. They are a trusted partner in ensuring the highest quality and safety across our imaging services.
Unicon has been an outstanding, long-time partner demonstrated through consistent collaboration, responsiveness, and shared commitment to excellence. The professionalism and rigor applied to physics testing ensures accuracy, compliance, and confidence in every outcome. Unicon is truly a dependable partner who elevates both quality and performance.
Working with Unicon across two different health networks has been a consistently outstanding experience. Their responsiveness is unmatched — questions get answered quickly, issues are resolved without delay, and the team genuinely cares about getting things right. They've made my job easier at every step, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
The Unicon Physics team is incredible to work with. They are responsive, supportive, and extremely knowledgeable in policies, procedures, and regulations. They make the job of an Imaging leader much easier. I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to partner with this remarkable team.
We have been utilizing Unicon for many years for our radiation-generating equipment. They are consistently excellent and professional. I've had many questions for the physicists regarding regulations and they have always been very helpful and gracious. I would highly recommend their services.
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