Master of Science in

Radiological Medical Physics

Radiological medical physics is an applied branch of physics concerned with the application of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation to the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Professionals in this area are involved with clinical service and consultation, teaching, and research.

One major service is the planning of radiation treatments for cancer patients. Such treatments use external radiation beams or internal radioactive sources and optimize the tumor-to-healthy tissue dose ratio. An indispensable service is the accurate measurement of radiation output from sources employed in cancer therapy. Other important functions include the investigation of equipment performance, organization of quality control practices, design of radiation installations, and control of medical radiation hazards. Such individuals most often find their primary responsibilities in radiation therapy, but on occasion will be employed primarily in nuclear medicine or diagnostic imaging areas.

The therapy specialization produces an individual who can begin with a specific target lesion, knowing size and location, and produce a "best approach" plan for therapy which will maximize patient benefit. This requires sophisticated use of information about radiation absorption and equipment capabilities. The University of Kentucky programs offer an unparalleled opportunity for hands-on as well as didactic learning.

Visitors

Prospective students strongly are encouraged to visit us and talk to professors and students. Also, with program graduates in more than 20 states, there may be one of our graduates nearby whom you can visit. (Please give 24-hour warning of your arrival, if possible, so we can schedule appropriate meetings.)