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CareersinMedicalPhysics:AResourceGuide
Provided toJanetTate,OregonStateUniversityPerkind favorofMiriamLambert,M.S.,MedicalPhysicistatNWKaiserPermanentehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-lambert-b7396218January2016
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CareersinMedicalPhysics:AResourceGuide
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MedicalPhysicsSpecialties
• Therapeutic(alsocalledTherapyPhysics)• Focusesontreatingcancerwithradiation(highenergyx-rays,electrons,orprotons).
• Diagnostic(alsocalledImagingPhysics)• Focusesonthediagnosisofcancer(CTscanners,MRImachines,lowenergyx-rays).
• MedicalNuclearPhysics• Focusesonthediagnosisandtreatmentofcancerusingradioactiveisotopes.
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TherapyPhysics
• Clinicaland/orresearchworkdedicatedtothetreatmentofcancer.• Intheclinic,workwithradiationoncologistsandtherapystafftotreatcancerpatients.• Commissionandcalibratetreatmentmachines,primarilyelectronorprotonaccelerators.• Doqualityassurancetoverifyeachpatientistreatedcorrectly.• Mostworkdoneduringtheday,butsomeeveningandweekendworkrequired.
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DiagnosticorImagingPhysics
• Clinicaland/orresearchworkdedicatedtothediagnosisofcancer.• Intheclinic,takeresponsibilityforcommissioningnewCTscanners,x-ray,mammography,orMRImachines.Performmonthlyqualityassurancetestsoneachimagingmachinetoensurehighqualityimageswhileminimizingradiationdosetothepatient.• Majorityofroutineworkdoneduringbreaksorafterhours.Mayrequireagreateramountofeveningorweekendworkthantherapyornuclearmedicinephysics.
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MedicalNuclearPhysics
• Thesmallestbranchofmedicalphysics.• Clinicaland/orresearchworkdedicatedtothediagnosisandtreatmentofcancerusingradioactiveisotopesproducedinanuclearreactor.• Mostworkatuniversitieswithclinicalreactors.
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MedicalPhysicistCareerOptions• University
• MostpositionsrequireaPhDinMedicalPhysics– oraPhDinanotherfieldandaresidencyinMedicalPhysics.• Manyresearchmedicalphysicistssplittheirtimebetweenresearchandhands-onclinicalwork.• Theold“publishorperish”criterionstillapplies.
• Clinic• ManypositionsdonotrequireaPhD– atwoyearMaster’sdegreeandaresidencyarejustfine.• Lotsofhands-onclinicalworkandroutineQA.Verylittletimeorresourcesareavailablefororiginalresearch.• Nopressuretopublishunlessyouwanttoandcandoresearchwhentheclinicisslow.
• Industry• VeryfewpositionsrequireaPhD.• SomepositionsmayonlyrequireaBachelor’sdegreeinPhysics.• ABRcertificationmaynotbenecessary.• Theworkmaymorecloselyresembleengineeringorprogrammingthantraditionalphysicsresearch.• Opportunitytoworkonnewtechnologywithoutthehassleofgrantapplications!
• Government• ManypositionsdonotrequireaPhD.• Mostlyregulatorywork– writingnewstateorfederalrulesforradiationtreatmentorimagingmachines.• HealthPhysicswork– auditingclinicstoverifytheyareoperatingwithinguidelines.
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Let’sTalk$$$
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196.8
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0
50
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Master'sJunior PhDJunior Master'sSenior PhDSenior
Thousand$
DegreeandYearsofExperienceJunior: 0- 4yearsSenior:5+years
AverageMedicalPhysicist Salaryasof2014
ClinicorUniversity
Industry
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TheClinical(Non-Industry)MedicalPhysicistCareerPath
• Bachelor’sDegreeinPhysics(4years)• MSc,PhD,orDMPinMedicalPhysics(2– 7years)• Residency(2years)• CompletePart1oftheABRexam(ingradschoolorresidency)• Getfirstjobasajuniorphysicist• CompletePart2oftheABRexam• CompletePart3oftheABRexam• YouarenowanABRcertifiedmedicalphysicist!• EnrollinMaintenanceofCertificationwiththeABR(ongoingrequirementsfortherestofyourcareer).
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DegreeRequirements
• Therearethreegraduatedegreeoptionsformedicalphysicists• MSc(MasterofScience)
• Requires2yearsofgraduateschool• Allowsyoutoworkinmostclinics
• PhD(Doctorate)• Average5– 7yearsofgraduateschool• Requiredtoworkinmostuniversities
• DMP(ProfessionalDoctorateinMedicalPhysics)• 2yearsgraduateschool+2yearresidency• Allowsyoutoworkinmostclinics,butmaynotbeacceptableforuniversitypositions
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ABRRequirements
• TheAmericanBoardofRadiology(ABR)certifiesmedicalphysicistsintheU.S.andCanada.Inordertoadvanceinthefield,youmustbeABRcertified.TheABRrequiresthatyou:• ReceiveyourdegreefromaCAMPEPaccreditedprogram• Completea2yearresidencyfromaCAMPEPaccreditedprogram• Pass3examsoverthecourseofsixyearsfromthetimeyoufinishresidency
• Part1:written,coversabroadrangeofphysicsprinciplesandalsoananatomyexam.Maybetakenwhileingradschoolorresidency.
• Part2:written,focusesonmedicalphysicsratherthanphysicsingeneral.Canonlybetakenaftercompletingresidency.
• Part3:oral,specificallydealswiththebranchofphysicsyou’vechosentomakeyourspecialty(Therapy,Imaging,orNuc Med).CanonlybetakenafterpassingParts1and2.
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CAMPEP
• TheCommissiononAccreditationofMedicalPhysicsEducationPrograms(CAMPEP)certifiesthatgraduateprogramsmeetcertainstandardsinteachingmedicalphysics.
• MAKESUREtheprogramyouapplytoisCAMPEPaccredited!YoucannotapplytotaketheABRexamunlessyougraduatefromanaccreditedprogram.
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APartialListofCAMPEPAccreditedGraduatePrograms
• ClevelandStateUniversity– ClevelandClinic• GeorgiaInstituteofTechnology• OregonStateUniversity/OregonHealthSciencesUniversity• SanDiegoStateUniversity• UniversityofBritishColumbia• UniversityofFlorida• UniversityofWisconsin• VanderbiltUniversitySchoolofMedicine(offersaDMPprogram)
CheckthefulllistofCAMPEPaccreditedgraduateprogramshere:www.campep.org
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Residency
• TheABRrequiresaCAMPEPaccreditedresidencyforboardcertification,butitcanbehardtoget!• In2015thereweremorethan150applicantsfor117totalavailableresidencypositions.• Thereare80accreditedTherapyPhysicsresidencyprograms.• Thereare11accreditedImagingPhysicsresidencyprograms.• Thereareonly2accreditedNuclearMedicineresidencyprograms(youmayapplytoanImagingPhysicsresidencyandapplypartialcredittotheNuc Medresidencyrequirement)
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TheDMP
• SincetheABRrequiresaresidencyanyway,whynotcombineyourMaster’sDegreeandresidencyintooneprogram?ThisistheDMP,orProfessionalDoctorateofMedicalPhysics.• Advantages• GuaranteedResidency.• Clinicallyfocused,unlikeaPhDwhichhasaresearchfocus.
• Disadvantages• Anewdegree,notwidelyknowntohospitaladministrators(i.e.,thepeoplewhomighthireyou).• TheONLYcurrentlyCAMPEPaccreditedDMPprogramisatVanderbiltUniversitySchoolofMedicine
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FindingaJoborResidency
• TheAmericanAssociationofPhysicistsinMedicine(AAPM)isyourfirst,bestresource.Theypublishaquarterlybluebook(nowelectronic)thatlistsjobopportunitiesformedicalphysicistsofallstripes.TheyalsohavealinkforaResidencyMatchprogram.Youcanjoinasastudentifanothermedicalphysicistsponsorsyou.
http://www.aapm.org• CAMPEPpublishesalistofaccrediteduniversityandresidencyprograms.
http://www.campep.org
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JobsinIndustry
Ifyou’rereadytobedonewithschool,workingforacompanyratherthanauniversityorclinicmightbeyourpreference.Here’sjustapartiallistofthemanycompaniesinhealthcare,somebig,somesmall,thatemployphysicistsandengineers.
Varian MedicalSystems Elekta BrainLabGeneralElectric Phillips RaySearchSunNuclearCorporation Wellhofer LAPLaserPTW MobiusMedicalSystems
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StudentResources
• StayintouchwithmedicalphysiciststudentsandtraineesviatheSTSCblog,facebook,andtwitteraccounts.https://aapmstsc.wordpress.com/
• Ifyou’reanundergraduate,considerapplyingforasummerinternshipinmedicalphysics.Inadditiontotheregularsummerundergraduatefellowshipprogram,womenandminoritystudentsmaybeeligiblefortheDREAMprogram,whichworkstoincreasediversityinthefield.Clickthelinkandscrolltothebottomofthepage.http://gaf.aapm.org/
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GOODLUCK!!!
Itmaytakepersistence,butyou’reaphysicist.Youhavethatinspades.Youcangetawellpayingjobinafieldthat’spersonallyandprofessionallyrewarding,andwhetherinindustry,research,ortheclinic,youcanmakearealdifference.Believeinyourself,anddon’tgiveup.Itwillhappen.