Steven MarshMedical Physics

Medical PhysicsUniversity of Canterbury

Steven Marsh

Introduction

• University of Canterbury teaches the academic portion of the TEAP training requirements as specified in the “Accreditation of University Postgraduate Courses in Medical Physics for the Purposes of the ACPSEM Training, Education and Accreditation Program” policy document.

• In 2014 there were 13 students enrolled in all courses, three of these were registrars.

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Lecture courses

• Currently medical physics course content given in seven MDPH courses:

– MDPH401 Anatomy and Physiology– MDPH402 Nuclear Medicine– MDPH403 Radiation Physics– MDPH404 Radiation Biology– MDPH405 Radiation Therapy– MDPH406 Medical Imaging– MDPH407 Research Tools

• An eighth course is selected from 400 level physics courses

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MDPH401 – Anatomy and PhysiologyWarwick Shillito

• Structural and functional organisation • Cellular biology• Tissues• Cellular pathology: adaptions and injury• Neoplasia• Integumentary system• Skeletal system• Muscular system• Nervous system• Endocrine system• Cardiovascular system• Lymphatic system• Cardiovascular system• Respiratory system• Digestive system• Urinary system• Reproductive system• Human embryology

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MDPH402 – Nuclear MedicineSteven Marsh

• Radioactive decay• Radionuclide choice• Specific properties of detectors used in Nuclear Medicine• Radionuclide production• Radiopharmaceuticals• Non-imaging tracer studies• Imaging systems used in Nuclear Medicine• Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)• Diagnostic Interpretation of radionuclide studies• Analysis methods commonly used in Nuclear Medicine• Therapeutic uses of unsealed sources• Patient doses• Dosimetry• Radiation protection specific to Nuclear Medicine

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MDPH403 – Radiation PhysicsTony Cotterill

• Atomic and nuclear structure• Nuclear stability• Nuclear models• Radioactive decay• Decay chains and equilibrium• Radio-activation• Modes of radioactive decay• Types of reactions• Fission• Fusion• X-rays, gamma rays, etc.• Photon beam attenuation• Photon interactions with matter• Energy transfer mechanisms• X-ray production• Heavy charged particle interactions• Particle range• Neutron interactions, scattering and absorption• Neutron activation• Neutron shielding and measurement• Nuclear reactor types• Introductory nuclear reactor physics• Dosimetric principles quantities and units• Cavity theory• Detection and monitoring equipment• Terrestrial radionuclides and decay chains• Cosmic radiation

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MDPH404 – Radiation BiologySteven Marsh

• The development of radiation protection• Radiation protection organisations• ICRP system of radiological protection• Effects of ionising radiation• Quantities and units of radiation protection• Basic principles for dose reduction technical aspects• Basic principles for dose reduction – external and internal hazards• Safety of the radioactive patient• Effects of total body irradiation• Natural and man-made radiation• Organisation of radiation protection• Transport, storage and disposal of radioactive material• Basic radiation biology• Structural shielding• Radiation detection and measurement• Radiation biology – survival curves• Radiation biology – fractionation, accelerated RT, Oxygen effect• Radiation biology – normal tissue tolerance• Radiation biology – heritable and foetal effects

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MDPH405 – Radiation TherapyBryn Currie

• Introduction to clinical radiation therapy• History and development of radiation therapy• Treatment machines – physical and clinical aspects• Treatment machines – technical aspects• Commissioning of radiotherapy equipment• Phantoms used in radiotherapy• Quality assurance• Clinical dosimetry – photons and electrons• Dosimetry protocols• Instrumentation• Primary standards and traceability for dosimetry• Introduction to brachytherapy• Treatment techniques in radiation therapy• Treatment simulation• Patient positioning• Treatment planning

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MDPH406 – Medical ImagingDarin O’Keeffe

• Radiography – screen film and digital radiography• Fluoroscopy• Mammography• Digital subtraction angiography• Computed tomography• Ultrasound imaging• Magnetic resonance imaging• Introduction to image processing• Image perception

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MDPH407 – Research ToolsBryn Currie

• Understand the science of writing• Understand the science of scientific writing• Have a working understanding of LaTeX• Have a working understanding of MatLAB• Understand appropriate statistical methods to plan and analyse

experiments• To be able to install and work with the EGSnrc environment• To be able to create and analyse simple dose distributions in a water

phantom• To be able to install and work with the BEAMnrc environment• To be able to create and analyse three dimensional dose distributions

in a more complex phantom• To attain a basic understanding of how to generate a phase space file

using BEAMnrc.

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The 8th Course

• PGDipSci or MSc students are required to sit eight courses in their 400 level studies. The eighth course is generally selected from PHYS400 courses e.g.:

– PHYS413: Laser Physics and Modern Optics– PHYS444: Condensed Matter Physics– PHYS411: Advanced Quantum Mechanics

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UoC ACPSEM Accreditation

• Documentation for re-accreditation was sent to ACPSEM earlier in the year

• Likely time for accreditation visit is February 2015

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Medical physics research

• Many interesting developments – I’ll highlight two projects:– The Linac MRI project in collaboration with the

University of Sydney is attempting to integrate real time MRI imaging with radiotherapy to allow the treatment beam to precisely and accurately focus on the tumour.

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Medical physics research

– Or the MARS-CT project which has an ability to differentiate and quantify simultaneously several targeted cell types, biomarkers, and drug delivery at the target tissue

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MARS-CT scanner 3D image of mouse showing bone (red)Iodine in cardio system (blue)

and barium in lungs (green)

Research collaborations

• Actively seeking research opportunities• 2015 will also see projects offered in collaboration

with: – ESR– NZBRI– VUW

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Masters of Medical Physics degree

• There has been discussion in the past regarding offering a Masters in Medical Physics (MMP)

• The difference to the MSc would be in the amount of effort required in the thesis component

• Motivators for MMP is that it takes less time and there is reduced hospital supervisor input required

• However this is at the expense of research experience and not all HODs are in favour of changing

• Would naturally require approval from ACPSEM• This has not been progressed at this stage

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Registrar – when to appoint

• UoC has no preference as to when in their academic registrars are appointed

• Until recently popular opinion was that appointing registrars at the end of third year improved funding to the university – this is not the case

• Australian hospitals tend to appoint post MSc• The Sydney model is to appoint post MSc but to

engage likely candidates in clinically relevant (hospital based) research in their thesis year

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Conclusions

• Courses as offered match the requirements specified in the “Accreditation of University Postgraduate Courses in Medical Physics for the Purposes of the ACPSEM Training, Education and Accreditation Program” policy document

• University of Canterbury Medical Physics students are actively engaging in research projects throughout Australasia

• Masters in Medical Physics degree is still up for debate though I think interest is waning

• From the university’s perspective registrars can be appointed at any stage of their academic programme

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