Medical physics aspects of cancer care in the Asia Pacific region

Medical physics plays an essential role in modern medicine. This is particularly evident in cancer care where medical physicists are involved in radiotherapy treatment planning and quality assurance as well as in imaging and radiation protection. Due to the large variety of tasks and interests, medical physics is often subdivided into specialties such as radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation oncology medical physics. However, even within their specialty, the role of radiation oncology medical physicists (ROMPs) is diverse and varies between different societies. Therefore, a questionnaire was sent to leading medical physicists in most countries/areas in the Asia/Pacific region to determine the education, role and status of medical physicists

Applications of Medical Physics

Applications of Medical Physics” is a Special Issue of Applied Sciences that has collected original research manuscripts describing cutting-edge physics developments in medicine and their translational applications. Reviews providing updates on the latest progresses in this field are also included. The collection includes a total of 20 contributions by authors from 9 different countries, which cover several areas of medical physics, spanning from radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, radiology, dosimetry, radiation protection, and radiobiology

Core curriculum for medical physicists in radiology. Recommendations from an EFOMP/ESR working group

Some years ago it was decided that a European curriculum should be developed for medical physicists professionally engaged in the support of clinical diagnostic imaging departments. With this in mind, EFOMP (European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics) in association with ESR (European Society of Radiology) nominated an expert working group. This curriculum is now to hand. The curriculum is intended to promote best patient care in radiology departments through the harmonization of education and training of medical physicists to a high standard in diagnostic radiology. It is recommended that a medical physicist working in a radiology department should have an advanced level of professional expertise in X-ray imaging, and additionally, depending on local availability, should acquire knowledge and competencies in overseeing ultrasound imaging, nuclear medicine, and MRI technology. By demonstrating training to a standardized curriculum, medical physicists throughout Europe will enhance their mobility, while maintaining local high standards of medical physics expertise. This document also provides the basis for improved implementation of articles in the European medical exposure directives related to the medical physics expert. The curriculum is divided into three main sections: The first deals with general competencies in the principles of medical physics. The second section describes specific knowledge and skills required for a medical physicist (medical physics expert) to operate clinically in a department of diagnostic radiology. The final section outlines research skills that are also considered to be necessary and appropriate competencies in a career as medical physicist

A 2009 survey of the Australasian clinical medical physics and biomedical engineering workforce

A survey of the Australasian clinical medical physics and biomedical engineering workforce was carried out in 2009 following on from a similar survey in 2006. 621 positions (equivalent to 575 equivalent full time (EFT) positions) were captured by the survey. Of these 330 EFT were in radiation oncology physics, 45 EFT were in radiology physics, 42 EFT were in nuclear medicine physics, 159 EFT were in biomedical engineering and 29 EFT were attributed to other activities. The survey reviewed the experience profile, the salary levels and the number of vacant positions in the workforce for the different disciplines in each Australian state and in New Zealand. Analysis of the data shows the changes to the workforce over the preceding 3 years and identifies shortfalls in the workforce

A survey of the Australasian clinical medical physics and biomedical engineering workforce

A survey of the medical physics and biomedical engineering workforce was carried out in 2006. 495 positions(equivalent to 478 equivalent full time (EFT) positions) were captured by the survey. Of these 268 EFT were in radiation oncology physics, 36 EFT were in radiology physics, 44 were in nuclear medicine physics, 101 EFT were in biomedical engineering and 29 EFT were attributed to other activities. The survey reviewed the experience profile, the salary levels and the number of vacant positions in the workforce for the different disciplines in each Australian state and in New Zealand. Analysis of the data identifies staffing shortfalls in the various disciplines and demonstrates the difficulties that will occur in trying to train sufficient physicists to raise staffing to an acceptable level

AAPM/SNMMI Joint Task Force: report on the current state of nuclear medicine physics training

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) recognized the need for a review of the current state of nuclear medicine physics training and the need to explore pathways for improving nuclear medicine physics training opportunities. For these reasons, the two organizations formed a joint AAPM/SNMMI Ad Hoc Task Force on Nuclear Medicine Physics Training. The mission of this task force was to assemble a representative group of stakeholders to:• Estimate the demand for board-certified nuclear medicine physicists in the next 5-10 years,• Identify the critical issues related to supplying an adequate number of physicists who have received the appropriate level of training in nuclear medicine physics, and• Identify approaches that may be considered to facilitate the training of nuclear medicine physicists.As a result, a task force was appointed and chaired by an active member of both organizations that included representation from the AAPM, SNMMI, the American Board of Radiology (ABR), the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine (ABSNM), and the Commission for the Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs (CAMPEP). The Task Force first met at the AAPM Annual Meeting in Charlotte in July 2012 and has met regularly face-to-face, online, and by conference calls. This manuscript reports the findings of the Task Force, as well as recommendations to achieve the stated mission

Lack of Motivation among Radiology Technologists to Conduct Clinical Research at KFSH&RC

The Department of Radiology in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center is committed to excellence in research, particularly in pioneering new advances in technological innovation. As one of the top Radiology Departments in the world, it is recognized for its strength in physics, engineering, molecular imaging and clinical medicine.The Radiology Department provides clinical services in Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology, Ultrasound, Vascular Laboratory, Cross Sectional Imaging (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear Medicine and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). There are also several cooperative interdepartmental activities with the Department of Surgery, Department of Oncology, Internal Medicine, and Emergency, etc.This study is enlightened the factors that associated with lack of motivation to conduct clinical research within radiology technologists whether this factors are quantitative or qualitative  to improve the research activities within the area and add benefit of our joint clinical projects through participation of faculty from the College of Applied Medical Sciences, School of Medicine and other areas in teaching and learning research activities that enrich the educational experience and create a multidisciplinary collaborative research environment.Special emphasis is placed on the teaching of radiology technologists both during their internship a year rotation in the department which is part of their regular yearly curriculum and also during their career to help improving the experience and maintain the medical and clinical productivities outcomes. The goal of the research initiative in the Department of Radiology is to apply new and innovative technologies to challenging clinical problems, in order to improve patient health, practice quality, and scientific knowledge.

Focal Spot, Fall 1976

https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/focal_spot_archives/1015/thumbnail.jp

Focal Spot, Summer 1997

https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/focal_spot_archives/1076/thumbnail.jp

Focal Spot, Fall/Winter 1994

https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/focal_spot_archives/1068/thumbnail.jp