Graduate Courses

Medical Physics

None

Forces on bones and muscles; body fluid flow; electrodynamics of nerve impulses; electrocardiograms; magnetocardiograms and magnetoencephalograms; diffusion processes, membrane transport, kidney function; biological effects in magnetic resonance and ultra-low frequency electromagnetic radiation; laser applications. Prerequisite: PHYS 212 or equivalent

Effects of ionizing radiations on living cells and organisms, including physical, chemical, and physiological bases of radiation cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenesis. Corequisite:MEPH 561

Concepts of medical instrumentation, transducers, and medical electronics design. Various types of sensors and measurement apparatus used for the calibration of medical imaging and therapy systems will receive particular attention. Prerequisite:PHYS 303 or equivalent

Interactions and energy deposition by ionizing radiation in matter; concepts, quantities and units in radiological physics; principles and methods of radiation dosimetry. Prerequisites:PHYS 212; MATH 202 or equivalent

Physical principles of radioisotopes used in medicine and biology and operation of related equipment; lecture and lab. Prerequisite:PHYS 212 or equivalent

Ionizing radiation use in radiation therapy to cause controlled biological effects in cancer patients. Physics of the interaction of the various radiation modalities with body-equivalent materials, and physical aspects of clinical applications; lecture and lab. Prerequisite: MEPH 561

Physics of x-ray diagnostic procedures and equipment, radiation safety, general imaging considerations; lecture and lab. Prerequisites: PHYS 212; MATH 202 or equivalent

Physics and technology of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), emphasizing techniques employed in medical diagnostic imaging. Major topics: physics of MR, pulse sequences, hardware, imaging techniques, artifacts, and spectroscopic localization. Prerequisite: MEPH 567

Physical and biological aspects of the use of ionizing radiation in industrial and academic institutions; physical principles underlying shielding instrumentation, waste disposal; biological effects of low levels of ionizing radiation; lecture and lab. Prerequisite:MEPH 561

The use of radioactive sources for radiotherapy including: materials used, source construction dosimetry theory and practical application, dosimetric systems, localization and reconstruction. The course covers low dose rate, high dose rate and permanently placed applications. Prerequisite: MEPH 566

Physics of ionizing radiation therapy with emphasis on external beam dosimetry and treatment planning. Prerequisite: MEPH 566

The conceptual, mathematical and statistical aspects of imaging science, and a survey from this formal viewpoint of various medical imaging modalities, including film-screen radiography, positron and x-ray computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Prerequisites: PHYS 212; MATH 301 or equivalent

This course will focus on practical aspects of digital diagnostic imaging. The course will cover digital subtraction angiography (DSA), x-ray transmission computed tomography (CT), and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Prerequisites: MEPH 561, MEPH 567

Propagation of ultrasonic waves in biological tissues; principles of ultrasonic measuring and imaging instrumentation; design and use of currently available tools for performance evaluation of diagnostic instrumentation; biological effects of ultrasound; lecture and lab. Prerequisites:PHYS 212; MATH 202 or equivalent

Practicing the protocol for the determination of absorbed dose from high-energy photon and electron beams. Performing dosimetry and quality assurance for radiation therapy machines. Participating in treatment plans of cancer patients. Prerequisite: MEPH 566

Measuring the performance of clinical x-ray, mammography, fluoroscopy and angiography machines. Performing dosimetry tests and quality assurance. Prerequisite: MEPH 567

Practicing the acceptance and quality assurance procedures for Nuclear Medicine imaging and non-imaging hardware. Practicing regulations and record keeping associated with the acquisition and dispensing of radio-pharmaceuticals. Radiation safety of patients, personnel, and area monitoring. Prerequisite:MEPH 563

Performing dosimetry procedure to monitor ionizing radiation in hospital and radiation areas. Performing shielding tests and shielding design. Practicing regulations and record keeping associated with radiation monitoring and radiation safety. Prerequisite: MEPH 569

Performing acceptance and quality assurance tests on CT, DSA and MR scanners and machines. Performing dosimetry measurements to insure radiation safety. Prerequisite: MEPH 567

Performing acceptance and quality assurance tests for clinical diagnostic ultrasound scanners. Operating clinical ultrasound equipment independently. Prerequisites: PHYS 212; MATH 201 or equivalent

The course consists of a 16-week hospital-based clinical rotation in: diagnostic imaging (x-rays, CT, DSA, fluoroscopy, diagnostic ultrasound), MRI, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, mammography, radiation protection, and health physics. The student will write a monthly progress report about the clinical procedures he learned and performed. Prerequisite: Department Approval

Various subjects of interest to medical physics faculty and students. Prerequisite: Consent of the Instructor

The course can be taken under the supervision of a faculty member to conduct an in-depth study of a subject. Prerequisite: Consent of the Instructor

Graduate students are required to attend the regular departmental seminars. This course carries no credit and is graded on a Pass or Fail basis. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

The project is an independent study performed under the supervision of a medical physics faculty advisor. The report should include an introduction to the topic, literature review, research methodology, analysis of data, conclusions and recommendations, appendices and references. The report will be presented and evaluated by a faculty committee. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing