What Is the Job of a Nuclear Physician?
Nuclear medicine involves the use of radioactive material to diagnose and treat illnesses and diseases. These include cancer, hyperthyriodism, kidney dysfunction, brain disorders and impairments, and pulmonary diseases. Nuclear physicians are the medical professionals responsible for providing nuclear medicine to patients.
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History
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Nuclear medicine began in 1946 to treat thyroid conditions with an influx of doctors in the field occurring during the 1950s. During the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, the use of nuclear medicine expanded to cover many other types of illnesses.
Function
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Nuclear physicians oversee the testing and treatment of patients using radioisotopes, elements that can help create advanced medical images of the body. The nuclear physician is responsible for selecting the type and amount of the radioisotope. He's also responsible of establishing the form it will be used in.
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Types
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Practicing nuclear physicians actively treat patients in medical hospitals, while research nuclear physicians conduct experiments and clinical studies to determine additional uses and effects for nuclear medicine. In addition, some nuclear physicians serve as professors in medical schools.
Training
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Nuclear physicians begin their schooling by receiving bachelor's degrees, typically in a field like biology, chemistry, physics, or pre-medicine. After graduation, they continue on through 4 years of medical school and then receive 1 to 2 years of training in a field other than nuclear medicine.
Advanced Training and Certification
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Education for nuclear physicians culminates in two years of nuclear training that focuses on topics such as physics, radio pharmacy, and radiation biology. At the completion of their training, nuclear physicians must become certified by the American Board of Nuclear Medicine.
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