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King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Master’s Program
in
Medical Physics
Medical physics is an applied branch of physics
concerned with the application of the concepts and methods of physics to the
diagnosis and treatment of human disease.
The main areas of medical physics are the treatment of cancer by
ionizing radiation (radiation oncology), diagnostic imaging with x
rays, ultrasound and nuclear magnetic resonance (diagnostic radiology),
diagnostic imaging with radioisotopes (nuclear medicine) and the
study of radiation hazards and radiation protection (health physics). Medical physicists are generally involved in three
areas of activities: clinical service and consultation; research and
development; and teaching.
Clinical medical physicists are responsible for assuring that imaging and
treatment facilities meet the rules and regulations of the various Health
Departments. They insure the
quality of diagnostic imaging procedures and the radiation safety.
They develop and improve imaging techniques (e.g., mammography, CT,
MR, ultrasound). They also
insure the quality and accuracy of radiation therapy for the treatment of
cancer. They collaborate with
radiation oncologists to design treatment plans to insure that cancer
patients receive the prescribed dose of radiation to the correct location.
The primary
objectives of this Master’s program in medical physics are to provide
education and clinical training for graduate students and to prepare them
for careers in areas of diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine, radiation
therapy, and health physics.
Admission
Requirements
Motivated applicants who have a B.S. degree in science or engineering from a
university of recognized standing are invited to apply for admission to the
Master’s degree in medical physics, provided they satisfy the general
admission requirements of the Academic Program
The following are the requirements for the Master’s degree in medical
physics.
Core Courses
The following six core courses are required for the
Masters degree in medical physics.
Elective Courses
A candidate for the Master's degree in medical physics will also be required
to take 11 credit hours to be chosen as follows:
1. A minimum of 3 credit
hours to be selected from the following list of courses.
2. The rest of the
electives should be selected from the following list of courses.
Clinical Training
Clinical medical physics training is obtained in the Laboratory in
Radiological Physics courses (MEPH 581-586).
Each laboratory involves performing particular experiments and
procedures in hospitals.
Additional clinical medical physics training is obtained in the clinical
training course (MEPH 590). 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. A student in this
course observes and practices clinical procedures under the direct
supervision of a senior clinical medical physicist.
The student will write a monthly progress report about the clinical
procedures he learned and performed. The evaluation and the follow-up of
each student will be done in cooperation between the supervising medical
physicist from the hospital and a medical physics faculty member from KFUPM.
Comprehensive Examination All candidates for the Masters degree in medical
physics are required to take a written comprehensive examination prior to
receiving the degree. The
examination is offered near the end of each semester and consists of
questions on the core courses.
Candidates are advised to take this exam at the end of the semester in which
they complete the courses. A
candidate who fails the examination may repeat it at a later regularly
scheduled time. Only one such
repeat is permitted. Degree Plan
Courses Description MEPH 500
Human Anatomy and Physiology (3-0-3) The course will cover subjects including cells
physiology, organs and systems physiology and anatomy. The student will
learn to identify gross anatomical structures, define the major organ
systems, and describe the physiological mechanisms for repair, maintenance,
and growth. Anatomical structures and physiological function should be
correlated with the imaging modalities used to view them. Prerequisite:
Instructor Consent MEPH 501
Physics for Medicine and Biology (3-0-3) 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 MEPH 510
Radiobiology (2-0-2) Effects of ionizing radiations on living cells and
organisms, including physical, chemical, and physiological bases of
radiation cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenesis. Co-requisite:
MEPH 561 MEPH 511
Instrumentation for Medical Physics (2-3-3) 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 MEPH 561
Radiological Physics and Dosimetry (3-0-3) 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 and MATH 202 or equivalent MEPH 563
Radioisotopes in Medicine and Biology (2-3-3) Physical principles of radioisotopes used in medicine
and biology and operation of related equipment; lecture and lab. Prerequisite:
PHYS 212 or equivalent MEPH 566
Radiotherapy Physics (2-3-3) 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 MEPH 567
Diagnostic Radiology Physics (3-3-4) Physics of x-ray diagnostic procedures and equipment,
radiation safety, general imaging considerations; lecture and lab. Prerequisites:
PHYS 212 and MATH 202 or equivalent
MEPH 568
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (2-0-2) 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
MEPH 569
Health Physics (3-3-4) 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 MEPH 570
Advanced Brachytherapy Physics (2-0-2) 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 MEPH 571
Advanced External Radiation Oncology (3-0-3) Physics of ionizing radiation therapy with emphasis on
external beam dosimetry and treatment planning. Prerequisite:
MEPH 566 MEPH 573
Imaging in Medicine (3-0-3) 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 and MATH 301 or equivalent MEPH 574
Applications of Digital Imaging: 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 and MEPH 567 MEPH 575
Diagnostic Ultrasound Physics (2-3-3) 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 and MATH 202 or equivalent MEPH 581
Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Radiotherapy (0-3-1) 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 MEPH 582
Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Diagnostic Radiology (0-3-1) Measuring the performance of clinical x-ray,
mammography, fluoroscopy and angiography machines.
Performing dosimetry tests and quality assurance.
Prerequisite:
MEPH 567 MEPH 583
Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Nuclear Medicine (0-3-1) 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 MEPH 584
Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Health Physics (0-3-1) 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 MEPH 585
Laboratory in Radiological Physics – CT, MRI, and DSA (0-3-1) Performing acceptance and quality assurance tests on
CT, DSA and MR scanners and machines.
Performing dosimetry measurements to insure radiation safety. Prerequisite:
MEPH 567 MEPH 586
Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Medical Ultrasound (0-3-1) Performing acceptance and quality assurance tests for
clinical diagnostic ultrasound scanners.
Operating clinical ultrasound equipment independently. Prerequisites:
PHYS 212 and MATH 201 or equivalent MEPH 590
Clinical Training (0-0-6) 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
MEPH 591
Selected Topics in Medical Physics (3-0-3) Various subjects of interest to medical physics faculty
and students. Prerequisite:
Consent of the Instructor MEPH 592
Independent 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 MEPH 599
Seminar (1-0-0) 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 MEPH 600
Medical Physics Project (0-0-3) 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.
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