Advanced Science
Medical Physics is a four
year degree program which is part of the Advanced Science Course
at the University of New South Wales.
Contents
What
is Medical Physics?
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| The Medical Physics
graduating class of 2000 check their emails one last time. Either
that or a dose simulation for a radiotherapy treatment. |
Medical physics is the application of
physics to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disease
and disability.
The traditional areas of medical physics
have been in radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and in health physics,
but with the recent rapid translation of new physical techniques
into medical instrumentation, physicists are becoming essential
in many clinical areas, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound,
measurement of the body’s electric and magnetic fields, positron
emission tomography, pulmonary physiology, cardiology, neurology,
ophthalmology and biomedical sensors and implants.
The medical physicist is an important
member of the medical team in any modern hospital facility. Furthermore
they are involved in the calibration, maintenance and use of the
various instruments and are often required to modify and improve
instruments for research purposes.
There has also been an increasing demand
for health physicists who are concerned with the environmental and
occupational sources of health hazards. Their interest is not only
in the safe use of ionising radiation, but also in microwaves, sound
and laser radiation.
How
to Become a Medical Physicist
To study Medical Physics at UNSW, you
must obtain entry to the Advanced Science Course. Entry is restricted
to high ability students. Four years are required for this degree
because it covers not only the content of the conventional three
year Physics degree, but also involves substantial additional commitments
in studying Medical Physics, Biophysics, Biology, Biochemistry and
Physiology. The course is structured to allow you to choose several
supplementary subjects that meet your own particular needs. Because
of its physics content, graduates in Medical Physics will also be
recognised as Physics graduates by the relevant professional bodies.
The degree with honours will be awarded on the basis of a weighted
performance over the last three years of the four year degree.
What
are the Job Prospects?
Graduates of the UNSW program have been
very successful in gaining positions directly after, and often before,
graduation. Very few universities offer comparable degrees and the
enrolments are relatively small. The majority of our graduates work
in hospitals. Some are working in research labs and some have gone
on to higher study.
Why
Study Medical Physics at The University of New South Wales?
The School of Physics at the University
of New South Wales is the only one in Australia with a Department
of Biophysics. There are several members of academic staff with
research and teaching interests in the application of physics to
medicine and biology.
Furthermore UNSW is in an ideal location
that has good liaison with several major teaching hospitals. The
department possesses excellent research facilities and an outstanding
research record.
Typical
Course Structure for the Medical Physics Degree Program
The program starts with a very general
science course: Physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology. It
becomes more specialised in each successive year. As members of
the advanced science program, students are eligible for the special
projects in physics.
Year 1
The first year program is determined
by the requirements of higher year subjects: the biology subjects
are a necessary background for molecular biology, physiology and
anatomy; the chemistry is needed for biochemistry and molecular
biology, and of course mathematics is needed in first and second
years to provide the essential tools for physics. In each of the
two semesters it includes first year subjects in Physics, Mathematics,
Chemistry and Biology. The first year laboratory component in physics
has a program which allows students who have performed well to undertake
mini-projects in one of the research laboratories to replace part
of the laboratory program.
Year 2
Second year includes these
Physics subjects: Mechanics, Computational Physics, Quantum Physics,
Relativity, Electromagnetism, Thermal Physics, Introductory Biophysics
and Physics Laboratory. It also includes Differential Equations
and Calculus from Mathematics and the subjects Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology. Students in second year should also choose two
General Education subjects. A special tutorial program is available
for motivated students.
Year 3
Third year includes Experimental
Physics, Advanced Optics, Advanced Biophysics, Computer Applications
in Experimental Science, and Physiology. Students in third year
should also choose two General Education subjects. They may also
choose elective subjects from Physics or from other Schools or Faculties.
The experimental physics subject may include a 'Physics Participation
Project' in which students work on a research project in one of
the research laboratories.
Year 4
The final year includes a research
project in Medical Physics. This project forms a major part of
the year's work and is usually conducted in the Medical Physics
section of a major hospital. Students also study Medical Physics
A & B, Statistical Mechanics, Solid State Physics, Applied
Electromagnetism and Radiation Protection. Honours in Medical
Physics is awarded on the basis of a weighted average of performance
in second, third and fourth years.
Subject
Descriptions
PHYS9411
Medical Physics 1.
Staff Contact: A/Prof. J. Wolfe
UOC3 S1 HPW2
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI). Ultrasound. Dosimetry and radiotherapy planning. Radioisotopes,
brachytherapy. Nuclear Medicine: Radioisotope production. Radiopharmaceuticals.
Basic instrumentation. Gamma camera. Safety and quality control
in Medical Physics.
PHYS9412 Medical Physics 2.
Staff Contact: A/Prof. J. Wolfe
UOC3 S2 HPW2
X-rays and C.T. SPECT and PET. Radiotherapy: radiation sources,
interactions of radiation with the body, radiation detection and
measurement. Devices and special topics
PHYS9413 Medical Physics Project
Staff Contact: A/Prof J Wolfe
UOC6 S3 HPW9
Projects are usually undertaken in a hospital setting under the
supervision of a practising Medical Physicist, though university
or industry-based projects may also be offered.
Students will provide a written report on their project and will
present a seminar on their work.
PHYS9414 Medical Physics Report
Staff Contact: A/Prof. J. Wolfe
UOC3 S1 HPW2
A report or literature survey on a topic relevant to the program
of study.
PHPH9171 Physiology for Medical
Physics 1
Staff Contact: Dr. G. Simonetta
UOC6 S1 HPW6
Physical and chemical principles involved in cellular processes.
Operation and interaction of various systems in the body including
excitable tissues, the cardiovascular system, blood and neuroscience.
Practical classes provide experiments in these areas of physiology.
PHPH9172 Physiology for Medical
Physics 2
Staff Contact: Dr. G. Simonetta
UOC6 S2 HPW6
Physiological principles involved in reproduction, the respiratory,
gastrointestinal and endocrine systems and in kidney and body fluids.
Practical classes provide experiments in these areas of physiology.
ANAT9171 Anatomy for Medical Physics
Staff Contact: Dr. B. Freeman
UOC6 S1 HPW6
Anatomy of the whole body derived from study of prosected specimens.
General topographical and systemic anatomy, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular,
respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and nervous systems
Further Information
For more information about Medical Physics
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