The University of Toledo

Program Overview

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. 


Specific Courses Offered in the Radiation Oncology Physics Program Include:

• Radiation dosimetry I & II
• Radiation biology
• Structure and function
• Introduction to physics of radiation oncology
• Survey of clinical radiation oncology
• Radiation detection and measurement
• Practical measurements in radiation oncology
• Brachytherapy
• Introduction to computers in radiation oncology 
• Seminar in radiation oncology
• Clinical training in radiation oncology I, II, & III
• Introduction to theory and operation of Linear Accelerators in radiation oncology
• Medical physics journal review in radiation oncology 
• Special topics in radiation oncology 
• Research in radiation oncology 
• Independent study in radiation oncology

Specific Courses Offered in the Radiological Sciences Program Include:

• Radiological physics
• Principles of radiological diagnosis 
• Radiation protection 
• Ultrasound in medical diagnosis Introduction to nuclear medicine
• Seminars in radiology 
• Journal paper review in radiology 
• Current topics in radiology 
• Research in radiology 
• Independent study in radiology
• including nuclear medicine, radiation protection, image processing, diagnostic quality control, radiobiology, diagnostic ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging 

Core courses in the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences include:

• Structure and function of the human body 
• Human genetics 
• On being a scientist seminar series