Medical Physics
What, why and how?
Overview



Overview of Medical Physics
Educational Options
Career Opportunities
What is Medical Physics?
Primarily, Medical Physics is
divided into four areas:




Radiation Therapy Physics
Diagnostic Radiology Physics
Nuclear Medicine
Radiation Safety and Health Physics
Radiation Therapy
Planning Procedures
Treatment Planning
Quality Assurance
Imaging Science
Nuclear Medicine
Are you a Software Geek?
Health Physics
Protecting the public from radiation
What is the hot topic in
Health Physics?
Terrorist Attack
Clinical Responsibilities
Educational Options
Undergraduate Major in Physics
With a Concentration in Medical Physics
A Physics Minor or
P314
Some useful classes
Thinking about Medical Physics?
Think about enrolling in:
Physics P314
Prerequisite P201 with P202 strongly recommended
P221 and P222 satisfy the prerequisite.
Medical Physics is the application of physics to medicine.
P314 – Introduction to Medical Physics
– A survey of the field of Medical Physics including ● radiation biology
● oncology physics
● imaging science
● therapy technology
Instructor: Dr. Susan Klein
Biophysicist and Medical Physicist
Department of Physics
Department of Radiation Oncology
Thinking about Medical Physics?
Think about enrolling in:
Anatomy A480/580*
*580 for Graduate Students
*480 for Undergraduate Students (seniors)
Medical Physics is the application of physics to medicine.
A480/580 - Human Anatomy for Medical Imaging A digital imaging-intensive study that substitutes for the 1 yr
sequence: Anatomy A215* and Physiology P215*
*This is a prerequisite for all graduate and residency programs in Medical Physics.
Instructor: Dr. Valarie O’Loughlin
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Medical Sciences
Thinking about Medical Physics?
Think about enrolling in:
P371
*AKA: HSCI 312
Prerequisite P221 and P222.
Medical Physics is the application of physics to medicine.
P371 – Fundamentals of Radiation Science
– A rigorous calculus-based introduction to the mathematics, physics
and chemistry required for graduate work in Medical Physics.
● radiation biology
● oncology physics
● nuclear physics
● health physics
Instructor: Dr. Ulrike Dydak
Diagnostic Imaging Medical Physicist
Purdue University School of Health Sciences
Thinking about Medical Physics?
Think about enrolling in:
P472/572
*500 for Graduate Students; 3 credit hours
*400 for Undergraduate Students (seniors); 4 credit hours
Medical Physics is the application of physics to medicine.
P472/572 - Radiation Oncology Physics
- A rigorous, calculus-based course in therapy medical physics -
Instructor: Dr. Colleen DesRosiers
Associate Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology
Indiana University School of Medicine
Past President of the Ohio River Valley Chapter of the American Association of
Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)
Purdue University &
Indiana University

Purdue School of Health Sciences
within the College of Human and
Health Sciences
– Diagnostic Imaging Physics
– Nuclear Medicine
– Health Physics

Indiana University School of Medicine
– Radiation Therapy Physics
– Residency Program
CAMPEP Accredited
Schools
East Carolina University
Louisiana State University
McGill University
CAMPEP
accredited
University of Alberta - Cross Cancer Institute
University of British Columbia
University of Calgary - Tom Baker Cancer Centre
University of California - Los Angeles
University of Chicago
University of Florida
University of Kentucky Medical Center
University of Manitoba – Cancer Care Manitoba
University of Oklahoma HSC
University of Texas HSC - Houston
University of Texas HSC - San Antonio
University of Wisconsin
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Wayne State University
For Example: Academics
The Proton Therapy System
Indiana University Health
Proton Therapy Center
Technology Research
The Low Energy Neutron
Scattering (particle radiography)
Employment Opportunities
In Radiation Therapy Physics
Primary Employment
Careers in Medical Physics

At the Bachelor’s degree level
– Medical Physics Assistant
– Technician/Dosimetrist

At the Master’s degree level
– Clinical physicist
– Research technologist
– Health Physicist

At the Doctoral level
– Clinical physicist
– Academic medical physicist
– Researcher
Salaries: MS level
Salaries: PhD level
Pathways into Medical Physics
BS in Physics
Or a related field
MS or PhD in Physics
Or a related field
MS or PhD in Medical
Physics
Medical Physics
Postdoctoral Training
Medical Physics Residency
Program
On-the-Job Clinical Training
in Medical Physics
On-the-Job Clinical Training
in Medical Physics
Board Certified Medical Physicist
Clinical Medical Physics Practice
Fundamental Medical Physics Research
Pathways to Medical Physics
Summary



Medical Physics is the application of
physics to medicine and biology
The path into medical physics/health
physics is through an undergraduate
physics degree
Opportunities for employment exist at
every degree level.
Contact Information



American Association of Physicists in
Medicine (aapm.org)
http://applied.physics.indiana.edu
sbklein@indiana.edu