Physics in Medicine

Gavin-Ryan

Im a sixth year student and im thinking of doing a medical physics course after school. could anyone tell me what exactly a hospital physicist does, is it a good, satisfying career? etc ive never heard of a hospital physicist untill a couple of months ago, can anyone enlighten me?

Stepherunie

Medical physicists do an awful lot, particularly in radiology departments.

In terms of diagnostic radiography, they're often responsible for making up radiopharmacuticals to inject into patients in RNI. They're also responsible for the initial set up QA testing for any new machines along with the installing company and they work with the radiation safety officer to do quality assurance to make sure that all the machines are operating properly.

In therapeutic radiography you are responsible for planning the actual beam to irradiate the tumour in the patient (I think that's what it is anyways, I know it's important in that area).

That's the best I can think of and i'm probably a bit knowledge poor as I'm a radiography student so i'd know that aspect of there job best.

Chunky Monkey

You could possibly become a perfusionist though I think you would have to do a bit of extra study in the UK as well. Not sure of the details but talking to two perfusionists I know they both had to learn a lot of physics.

There's a description on this page if you're interested anyway: http://www.mater.ie/depts/cardiothoracic/department/perfusion.htm

Tree

friend of mine did a degree in physics before going on to do a masters in medical physics. think she's having a tough time finding a job w/o work experience atm.

Stepherunie

Doing clinical measurement in DIT would be more a way into the Perfusion from what I've read. Though in saying that they page you mentioned Chunky says that you need to do the specific degree in clinical perfusion.

Chunky Monkey

The two fellas I know went to Surrey. One of them also did a night course in physics. I'm not sure what level his qualification was. It looks like a pretty cool job, lot of responsibility though.

Vorsprung

I *thikn* you can get into cardiology jobs with that, things like Echocardiogram technician, cathater lab technician. I'd check it though!