Medical physics

Medical physics is a branch of applied physics concerning the application of physics to medicine. It generally concerns physics as applied to medical imaging and radiotherapy, although a medical physicist may also work in many other areas of healthcare. A medical physics department may be based in either a hospital or a university and its work is likely to include research, technical development and clinical healthcare.

Medical imaging

Diagnostic radiology, including x-rays, fluoroscopy, mammography, Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, angiography and Computed tomography
Ultrasound, including intravascular ultrasound
Non-ionising radiation (Lasers, Ultraviolet etc.)
Nuclear medicine, including SPECT and positron emission tomography (PET)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and other methods for functional neuroimaging of the brain.
- For example, nuclear magnetic resonance (often referred to as magnetic resonance imaging to avoid the common concerns about radiation), uses the phenomenon of nuclear resonance to image the human body.
Magnetoencephalography
Electrical impedance tomography
Diffuse optical imaging
Optical coherence tomography
Terahertz radiation

Treatment of disease

Defibrillation
High intensity focussed ultrasound, including lithotripsy
Interventional radiology
Non-ionising radiation Lasers, Ultraviolet etc. including photodynamic therapy and LASIK
Nuclear medicine, including unsealed source radiotherapy
Photomedicine, the use of light to treat and diagnose disease
Radiotherapy
Sealed source radiotherapy

Physiological Measurement Techniques

Used to monitor and measure various physiological parameters. Many physiological measurement techniques are non-invasive and can be used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, other invasive methods.

Radiation Protection

Medical Computing and Mathematics

Education

United States:
- CAMPEP Accredited Graduate Programs in Medical Physics:^*
- CAMPEP non-Accredited Graduate Programs in Medical Physics:^*
Canadian programs: ^*
Other programs around the world: ^*

Biomedical engineering

External links

American Association of Medical Physicists

Applied and interdisciplinary physics

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