Medical Physicist

OFO No: 211101

Other names for Medical Physicist:

What is a Medical Physicist? 

A Medical Physicist is a specialised medical professional.  They apply medical physics to health related issues.

There are 5 areas of medical physics:

Radiotherapy:

• Medical Physicists are responsible for planning the radiation treatment of the patient and ensuring that the prescribed dose is accurately delivered.

Radiology:

• Medical Physicists are responsible for ensuring that x-ray equipment meets safety standards and that it’s used correctly. This is to ensure the best patient care and that patients and radiation workers are exposed to as little radiation as possible.

Medical Imaging:

• Medical Physicists make use of technology to take images of the inside of the human body. These images are used in diagnostics, as teaching tools, and in routine healthcare for a variety of conditions.

Health Physics:

• Medical Physicists study how radiation affects living systems. This area of medical physics is NOT the study of how radiation works to create energy, or to fight cancer, but rather it’s the study of how to manage radiation safely.

Nuclear Medicine:

• Medical Physicists help nuclear medicine physicians to develop techniques, for example for evaluation of the functioning of the heart or kidneys. They try to improve the methods of computer-assisted image processing and are also responsible for the safe handling of radiopharmaceuticals.

What does a Medical Physicist do?

• uses highly specialised and technical equipment
• assists doctors and specialists in treating and preventing disease
• does research
• writes reports
• attends conferences and seminars
  
• lectures

Are you . . . ?

• interested in medicine?
• curious?
• goal orientated?
• dedicated?
• hard worker?
• scientifically inclined?
• intellectual?

How do I become a Medical Physicist?

You will need a BSc degree majoring in Physics. This can be done at ANY South African university. Once you have your BSc you can then specialise in an area that suits you.

• SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL PHYSICS SOCIETY (SAMPS)

http://www.saapmb.net/samps.html

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER:  Clinical Biochemist or Toxicologist

Is becoming a Medical Physicist the right career choice for me?