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