How to Become a Physicist in Medicine

Specialized health care continues to be available, even during poor economic times. Technology in the health care setting is improving and getting more and more complicated, especially in areas that require a medical physicist. Medical physicists are required by state and federal regulatory agencies to be present during the application and use of radioactive material, monitor the quality and accuracy of radiation therapy treatments for cancer and imaging studies used to diagnose disease and to oversee that a health care facility is in compliance with the state and federal safety guidelines in regards to the use of radiation at a facility. Job opportunities in research and clinical care are available in universities, research labs and hospitals. Salaries range from $75,000 to $300,000 based on education level, certification status, experience and responsibilities. Any health care job requires education and training and this one is no exception. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a physicist in medicine, then you need to start planning your education beginning in the first two years of your undergraduate education. Here are the steps to become a practicing physicist in medicine.

Instructions

1. Obtain an undergraduate degree. An undergraduate degree should include a bachelor's degree majoring in physics along with courses in computer science and anatomy. A good background in physics is required including both theoretical and experimental coursework. Computers are used throughout a health care setting. A medical physicist is responsible for the accuracy of the data transferred from one system to another when it involves patient treatment information. This responsibility requires more than basic computer skills. Medical physicists who practice in radiation therapy review treatment plans that are completed using CT scans. This includes reviewing radiation dose to critical structures in the treatment area. A physicist who works as a radiation safety officer may be asked to calculate the dose a fetus received when the mother had to have an emergency CT scan for a life threatening situation. To complete these tasks, knowledge of anatomy is required. If you are a full-time student, it will take about four years to complete your bachelor's degree majoring in physics.

2. Find a medical physics graduate program. Around the end of the second year of undergraduate study, you should start to look for a graduate program in medical physics. It is important to start looking early because the requirements for admission are different for each program depending on their focus and level of degree, master's or PhD. Master's programs usually take between two and three years depending if a thesis or clinical rotation is included in the coursework. Doctoral programs vary based on your dissertation requirements and take longer than master's degree programs.

3. Find a residency or post-doctoral position. New graduates from a medical physics graduate program often don't have the clinical training needed to work solo. Residency and post-doctoral positions follow guidelines to give a new graduated this training in one to two years. During your graduate study, find a residency or post-doctoral positions. Some of these positions begin their application process a year before the position starts and they are very competitive.

4. Find a job. The first medical physics position you accept is the most important since it will set the direction of your career. If you are interested in doing research, then find a research position. If you are interested in a clinical setting, then find a clinical position. A word of caution: your first job should give you an opportunity to work in all aspects of the field and not in one special procedure. Find a good place to learn.

5. Get board certified by the American Board of Radiology. Board certification is not a requirement to work by law, but health care centers often look for candidates that are board certified or working toward certification. Certification is a lengthy process, but will enhance your resume for future positions and increase your salary. This is the only non-physician specialty that has a board-certification process that is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Tips & Warnings

• Medical physics is a very rewarding career that comes with a great responsibility. A medical physicist is responsible for the quality and accuracy of the patient's treatment and imaging. The physician relies on the medical physicist to have equipment operating at the highest of standards and procedures in place to reduce the number of systematic and random errors that can be found in the clinic. Not only a good knowledge of physics, computers and anatomy is required, but also compassion for patients and their families. Some items to do Internet searches on to understand the field of medical physics: "linear accelerators used in cancer treatment," "CT imaging," "PET CT imaging," "MRI," "brachytherapy," "radiation safety officer," "radiation therapy" and "nuclear medicine."

References

• The American Association of Physicists in Medicine: Home
• The American Board of Radiology: Home
• American Society for Radiation Oncology: Home
• Radiological Society of North America: Home