School of Health Sciences - Medical Physics Graduate Program
Medical Physics Defined
Medical physics is an applied branch of physics concerned with the applications of physical energy to the diagnosis and treatment of disease. It is closely allied with medical electronics, bioengineering, and health physics (radiation protection and control).
Medical physicists are involved in three main areas of activity: clinical service and consultation, research, and teaching.
- Clinical Service Many medical physicists are involved with the areas of diagnosis and treatment of disease. Typically this includes consulting with physicians on such matters as planning of radiation treatments for cancer patients, collaborating with physicians on procedures utilizing radionuclides and radiation for imaging internal organs, or designing radiation installations.
- Research Medical physicists often play a leading role in medical research on cancer, heart disease, and other disorders. This may involve working on radiation problems such as the basic mechanisms of biological change following irradiation, or the development of new techniques for the precise measurement of radiation. They may also be involved in developing improved techniques for imaging organs, including applications of digital computers to medical diagnosis.
- Teaching Many medical physicists are involved in teaching and training activities to prepare future medical physicists, resident physicians, medical students, and medical technologists in appropriate aspects of the use of radiation in diagnosis and therapy.
The Purdue University/Indiana University Medical Physics Program
- Medical Physics Plan of Study - M.S. (4+1 Honors program)
- Medical Physics Plan of Study - M.S. (Coursework)
- Medical Physics Plan of Study - M.S. (Thesis)
- Medical Physics Plan of Study - Ph.D.
The PU/IU program is administered through the Purdue University School of Health Sciences with clinical aspects of the program provided through the IU School of Medicine. Participants enter the program as Purdue University graduate students. Typically the basic academic courses in bionucleonics, health physics, radiation biology, nuclear pharmacy, statistics, and basic medical physics are taken at the Purdue campus in W. Lafayette, IN. Clinical experience and clinically related research is then carried out at the Indiana School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, in Indianapolis. (Indianapolis is approximately 60 miles from W. Lafayette.)
Faculty
Participating faculty at both Purdue and Indiana University are highly qualified in the primary and support areas of medical physics (therapy and imaging physics), health physics, radiation biology, nuclear pharmacy, and related areas. You can view a complete list of Health Sciences and Affiliated faculty.
For additional information about the Purdue/IU Medical Physics program, contact Dr. Robert D. Stewart, Associate Professor and Assistant Head of Health Sciences; Director, Radiological Health Sciences Program.
Requirements for Admission to the Program
Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to the Purdue University Graduate School (see Graduate School Bulletin). In addition, the applicant should have an undergraduate degree in physics, electrical engineering, or comparable academic training. The number of available slots for new students each year is very limited. Because the number of applicants far exceeds the available number of openings, successful applicants will generally be those who have a strong academic record, outstanding GRE scores, and good recommendations. Although there is no firm deadline for applying, consideration of an application (particularly if financial support is needed) after February 1 each year cannot be assured.
A list of comments about getting into the field and the program is available.
Academic Program
Both the MS and the Ph.D. programs must meet the general requirements of the Purdue University Graduate School (see Graduate School Bulletin). A typical MS plan of study includes a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit plus an acceptable thesis. A typical Ph.D. plan of study includes approximately 48 semester hours of credit plus an acceptable original, scholarly thesis.