Quote:
“The growth and contribution of medical physics is a natural consequence of the evolution of modern science and technology.” –American Association of Physicists in Medicine
Definition of Profession:
Medical physics is a branch of applied physics concerning the application of physics to medicine. It generally concerns physics as applied to medical imaging and radiotherapy, although a medical physicist may also work in many other areas of healthcare. A medical physics department may be based in either a hospital or a university and its work is likely to include research, technical development and clinical healthcare.
A medical physicist is a person who applies the principles of physics to direct, contain, and control radiation used for medical purposes. Some of the responsibilities of medical physicists are: protecting patients and others from unsafe and unnecessary exposure to radiation; obtaining high quality images; and delivering the proper dose of radiation to the specified area.
About the Field:
Of the large body of medical physicists in academia and clinics, roughly 85% practice or specialize in various forms of therapy, 10% in Diagnostic imaging, and 5% in nuclear medicine.[1] Areas of specialty in medical physics however are widely varied in scope and breadth.
How To Get There:
In North America, the degree of medical physics can be offered at a Masters level, doctorate level, and/or residency levels. Several large and established universities offer these degrees in Canada and the United States. Some programs such as the University of Texas Health Science Center Department of Radiology even offer Dual Medical Residency and Ph.D. degrees in medical physics. Eleven universities in the United States, and four programs in Canada currently have graduate programs in Medical Physics that are accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP). As CAMPEP continues to gain support from bodies such as The American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the American Board of Radiology has specified that graduation from a CAMPEP accredited clinical training program be considered a requirement to sit for the ABR certification exams by 2012.
On The Job:
The essential responsibility of the Qualified Medical Physicist’s clinical practice is to assure the safe and effective delivery of radiation to achieve a diagnostic or therapeutic result as prescribed in patient care. The medical physicist performs or supervises the pertinent procedures necessary to achieve this objective. The responsibilities of the medical physicist include: protection of the patient and others from potentially harmful or excessive radiation; establishment of adequate protocols to ensure accurate patient dosimetry; the measurement and characterization of radiation; the determination of delivered dose; advancement of procedures necessary to ensure image quality; development and direction of quality assurance programs; and assistance to other health care professionals in optimizing the balance between the beneficial and deleterious effects of radiation.
Salary Range:
The salaries are excellent for graduating students trained in medical physics. Each year the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) produces an extensive salary survey . In a recent (2005) survey, the average salaries for medical physicists without board certification are $110,000 and $123,000 for those with M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, respectively. With board certification, these increase to $150,200 for M.S. and $163,400 for Ph.D. employees.
State of the Art:
There is currently a national shortage of trained medical physicists. There are about 3000 medical physicists in the U.S. The current need is for approximately 250-300 new medical physicists per year, but only about 50-60 are being produced by the current training programs. In addition, about 50% of current medical physicists are over the age of 50, meaning that there will be an increasing shortage in the coming years due to retirement. Thus, the job market for medical physics graduates is quite strong.
A critical shortage also exists in the supply of qualified radiation safety professionals throughout a broad spectrum of activities within the United States, including medical practice and research, regulatory oversight, academic research, environmental protection, occupational safety, and the research and application of nuclear technologies. A recent survey conducted by the Health Physics Society indicates that present demand for radiation safety professionals is approximately 130% of supply. Demand during the next five years, which appears to be related solely to attrition, is expected to exceed supply by nearly 160%.
Tools of the Trade /Lifestyle:
Many medical physicists are involved in the research and design of new medical equipment. They work on new applications for high-energy machines, such as linear accelerators to treat cancer. Diagnostic imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging, is constantly being improved. Medical physicists are also developing new imaging procedures using infrared and ultrasound sources.
Most medical physicists work in clean, well-lighted laboratories and classrooms in hospitals and universities. They may conduct research independently or as members of teams. They must be able to communicate their ideas to doctors, students, and sometimes patients both orally and in writing. While they generally work forty-hour weeks, overtime may be necessary for emergencies and special projects. They spend additional hours studying the latest developments in the field.
You are:
• have a high level of ability and interest in physical sciences and computing
• have an interest in medicine and in the development of new methods of patient care and treatment
• be able to concentrate for long periods, with a high level of attention to detail
• have high ethical standards
• be able to take responsibility for decisions
• have an enquiring mind and good problem solving skills
• have excellent oral and written communication skills
• be able to reassure nervous patients
Related Professions:
Workers in related occupations include cardiovascular technologists and technicians, clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, diagnostic medical sonographers, nuclear medicine technologists, radiation therapists, and respiratory therapists.
