South Carolina State UniversityMedical Physics Option
Fall-2005
The Medical PhysicistBridges Physics and Medicine
Physics
Medical Physicist
Medicine
A medical physicist is a professional who specializes in the application of the concepts and methods of physics to the diagnosis and treatment of human disease.
What is a Medical What is a Medical Physicist?Physicist?
>>>>>>
The Medical Physicist is Part of the Medical Team
Therapy– Physician (Radiation
Oncologist, Surgeon,..)– Medical PhysicistMedical Physicist– Medical Dosimetrist– Physics Assistant– Radiation Therapist
Imaging– Physician (Radiologist,
Cardiologist, …)– Medical PhysicistMedical Physicist– Physics Assistant– Radiological
Technologist
Therapy Responsibilities• Calibration and quality assurance
Contributed By: Dong (MD Anderson)
Therapy Responsibilities• Development of new devices and techniques
Contributed By: Dong (MD Anderson)
Motivations
A problem: Low enrollment of physics majors
A concern:
African Americans and other minorities are underrepresented
in the profession of medical physics.
Average Income (MS Degree)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Sala
ry (
Tho
usan
ds)
0-2 3-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20+
Years of Experience
Total Annual Income
No CertificationCertification
Source: 2002 AAPM Survey
Two of the proposed courses
• Medical Physics Seminar (B/NE/P 160)
• Essentials of Medical Physics (B/P180)
Medical Physics Seminar Topics covered by guest lectures and
Speakers
• Medical Physics as a non-traditional career option
• Medical Imaging
• Radiation Therapy
Speakers From-------?-Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) -MUSC - Radiation Oncology -South Carolina Cancer center, Columbia, SC
- Vanderbilt University- Institute of Imaging Science
-Wake Forest University -Medical College of Georgia
- Hampton University
-Emory University
Visits To imaging and treatment centers
• Advanced Diagnostic Center (ADC) Orangeburg, SC
• Radiation Treatment CenterOrangeburg, SC
Essentials of Medical Physics
• Basic principals in Medical Physics MUSC ( Radiology department)
• A foundation for theoretical and practical aspects necessary for studying medical physics applications in different areas:
SCSU ( Physics department)) SCSU (Biology department)
III. Introduction to Electrophysiology and Signal Monitoring
• Hands-on measurement of pulse rate and signal analysis• Hands-on measurement of EKG & pulse rate & wave
analysis• Hands-on measurement of Skeletal muscle EMG• Hands-on measures of blood pressure & Heart Rate
variation• Hands-on measurement of Pulmonary & EKG actions• EKG/ECG Introduction and Signal Analysis
Students at Conferences• 2006
– AAPM (Florida) • 2007
– APS (Denver, CO)– SEAAPM (Atlanta, GA)
• 2008
– NSBP (Maryland)– SCAMP (Florida)
• 2009
– NSBP (Nashville ,TN)– SEAAPM (Chapel Hill, NC)
Summer Internships 2006-20102006- MUSC/Hampton Uni./ Wake Forest Uni.
2007-MUSC/Hampton University/Wake Forest Uni
2008- Henry Ford Hospital/Vanderbilt Uni./Wake Forest University (2)2009- Wake Forest Uni./Hampton Uni./University of South Carolina/Firelands Cancer
Center(Sandusky Ohio) /University of Rochester ( cancer center)/Oregon Health & Science Uni.2010- Hampton Uni.(2) ,Wake Forest Uni. and MUSC Medical Uni.
Leadership Training
• Training (One week-05) – MUSC
• Networking (conference and annual meetings)– American Physical Society (-06, -07)– American Association of Physicists in Medicine (2007)
• Summer –Faculty Program at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (-06 ,-07,-08)
Are we succeeding ?
Yes
Physics Majors
Year: 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Enrolled: 3 9 19 24 17 22
Medical Physics Profession
1. Ms. Sophia Moore Senior Biology Major Graduated in May 2007
- Currently preparing for Medical Physics graduate programs
SC State Graduate First Physics Graduate to Receive
Medical Physics Option Degree 08
2. Ms. Koressa Williams December-2008
Three SC State Graduates Received Physics Degree with Medical Physics Option
May-2010
• Jessica Johnson• Horace Lambert• Shenita Jackson
Recruiting strategy• Flyers• Scholarships (STEM)• Medical Physics Bulletin Board• Presentations to admitted SCSU students• Visits to high schools & invitations to
medical physics seminars• Offer text books• Multimedia
Yes We are succeeding
Yes Yes
Yes We are succeeding Yes