Medical Physics
Medical physicists, as the name may imply, are scientists interested in the application of physics to human biology and medicine. The role of the radiological medical physicist is particularly associated with the application of radiation of various types in medical diagnosis and treatment. Therapeutic applications of Radiation Oncology Physics include radiation treatment of cancer with high energy x-ray and electron beams including IMRT, IGRT, intraoperative and stereotactic radiosurgery, implanted sealed radioactive sources and administered radioactive pharmaceuticals, as well as the treatment of cancer using high dose rate brachytherapy, heat, and the surgical use of lasers. Diagnostic applications include imaging with x-rays, radioactive tracers, ultrasound, and nuclear magnetic resonance signals, and the evaluation of bioelectrical and biomagnetic signals from the heart or brain.
Duties in medical physics may include teaching, research and professional clinical support responsibilities, or a combination of these. Medical physics instruction is necessary for physicians in diagnostic radiology and Radiation Oncology, technologists in these areas, as well as for medical physicists in training. Research can range from fundamental principles to the development of equipment and methods for clinical application and the evaluation of these techniques. The largest area of work in medical physics is clinical professional activities. These include the calibration and testing of equipment, assisting in establishing clinical procedures, calculating patient radiation doses, and oversight of technical quality assurance programs.
Program of Study
Programs of study leading to the M.S. degree in biomedical sciences are offered by the graduate faculty of the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Department of Radiology. In addition to the basic medical science and the radiological physics coursework, a specific course of study is offered in Radiation Oncology physics or in diagnostic imaging. This course of study includes didactic courses, independent study, and hands-on clinical activity covering the selected discipline, along with specific technical research culminating in a research project or thesis. Both graduate programs are committed to excellence in scientific education, clinical experience, and research leading to the professional development of highly motivated and dedicated students. In addition to the capability of creative scientific research, the coursework and clinical experience is intended to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and educational requirement for eventually becoming board certified in their area of study by The American Board of Radiology, The American Board of Medical Physics, or other credentialing body.
Research Facilities
The Radiation Oncology and Radiology Medical Physics Divisions have access to a variety of computer systems for Radiation Oncology treatment planning, programming, and image analysis. A wide range of radiation measuring equipment is available, including a full range of dosimetry and quality control test equipment, Wellhoffer computerized beam scanning system, an array of ionization chambers, packages for film dosimetry and analysis, oscilloscopes, and test phantoms. Also available are multichannel analyzer scintillation detectors, autogamma, and liquid scintillation counters, diode, thermoluminescent dosimetry systems, and scanner for chromic film dosimetry system.
Good access is available to clinical equipment. Radiation Oncology equipment includes two fully equipped SL25 linear accelerators of the precise series, used for external electron and x-ray beam Radiation Oncology, a superficial x-ray therapy unit, a Ximatron x-ray simulator, low and high dose rate brachytherapy (LDR & HDR), hyperthermia. For brachytherapy procedures, UT offers a range of modalities such as prostate seed implant, other sealed radioactive source implants as well as radiopharmaceutical therapy procedures. Besides being a leader in intra-operative Radiation Oncology, UT provides IMRT, and IGRT treatment planning, conventional 3D conformal external beam radiotherapy, and stereotactic neurologic radiosurgery capabilities with inverse planning arc modulation technology.
Diagnostic imaging equipment includes three computed tomography (CT) scanners, a Toshiba 64 slice, a Toshiba 16 slice, and a GE high speed CT scanner located in the radiation oncology area. There are also two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems with fast scanning, vascular imaging and functional imaging capabilities, one 3T and the other 1.5 T unit. Several single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) systems, including one with Coincidence Detection (CoDe) capability for Fluorine-18 FDG positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, two mammography units and one dedicated mammography biopsy system, two biplane cardiovascular suites and an angiography room, a Vortec film digitizing and image communication system, computed radiography (CR) system, an R/F x-ray room dedicated to animal studies, and several digital clinical R/F systems.
Specific Courses Offered in the Radiation Oncology Physics Program Include:
Specific Courses Offered in the Radiological Sciences Program Include: