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King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

 

College of Sciences

 

 

 

 

 

 

Master’s Program

in

Medical Physics

 


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).

 

Role of Medical Physicists

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. 

 

Program Objectives

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 Graduate School. Applicants must have a suitable scientific background to enter the medical physics program demonstrated by the completion of the following KFUPM courses or their equivalent: Methods of Applied Mathematics (MATH 301), Modern Physics (PHYS 212) and Experimental Physics I (PHYS 303).  Applicants must make up any deficiencies in their prior program within two semesters of enrollment. 

 

Academic Program

The following are the requirements for the Master’s degree in medical physics.

 

COURSE

CREDITS

1. Completion of core courses

22

2. Completion of elective courses

11

3. Completion of clinical training

6

4. Completion of Med Phys Project

3

5. Passing the comprehensive examination

TOTAL

42

 


Core Courses

The following six core courses are required for the Masters degree in medical physics.

 

COURSE

#

TITLE

CR

MEPH

500

Human Anatomy and Physiology

3

MEPH

510

Radiobiology

2

MEPH

561

Radiological Physics and Dosimetry

3

MEPH

563

Radioisotopes in Medicine and Biology

3

MEPH

566

Radiotherapy Physics

3

MEPH

567

Diagnostic Radiology Physics

3

MEPH

569

Health Physics

4

 

 

 

22

 

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.

COURSE

#

TITLE

CR

MEPH

581

Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Radiotherapy

1

MEPH

582

Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Diagnostic Radiology

1

MEPH

583

Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Nuclear Medicine

1

MEPH

584

Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Health Physics

1

MEPH

585

Laboratory in Radiological Physics – CT, MRI, and DSA

1

MEPH

586

Laboratory in Radiological Physics – Medical Ultrasound

1

 

2.   The rest of the electives should be selected from the following list of courses.

COURSE

#

TITLE

CR

MEPH

501

Physics for Medicine and Biology

3

MEPH

511

Instrumentation for Medical Physics

3

MEPH

568

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

2

MEPH

570

Advanced Brachytherapy Physics

2

MEPH

571

Advanced External Radiation Oncology

3

MEPH

573

Imaging in Medicine

3

MEPH

574

Applications of Digital Imaging: DSA, CT, MRI

2

MEPH

575

Diagnostic Ultrasound Physics

3

MEPH

591

Selected Topics in Medical Physics

3

MEPH

592

Independent Reading

3

EE

614

Digital Signal Processing

3

EE

617

Image Processing and Holography

3

MATH

513

Mathematical Methods for Engineers

3

 

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

COURSE

#

TITLE

LT

LB

CR

 

FIRST SEMESTER

MEPH

500

Human Anatomy and Physiology

3

0

3

 

MEPH

510

Radiobiology

2

0

2

 

MEPH

561

Radiological Physics and Dosimetry

3

0

3

 

MEPH

567

Diagnostic Radiology Physics

3

3

4

 

 

 

 

12

3

12

12

SECOND SEMESTER

MEPH

566

Radiotherapy Physics

2

3

3

 

MEPH

563

Radioisotopes in Medicine and Biology

2

3

3

 

MEPH

58x

Elective Laboratory in Radiological Physics

0

3

1

 

XXX

xxx

Elective

3

0

3

 

MEPH

599

Seminar

1

0

0

 

 

 

 

8

9

10

10

THIRD SEMESTER

MEPH

569

Health Physics

3

3

4

 

MEPH

58x

Elective Laboratory in Radiological Physics

0

3

1

 

MEPH

58x

Elective Laboratory in Radiological Physics

0

3

1

 

XXX

xxx

Elective

3

0

3

 

XXX

xxx

Elective

2

0

2

 

 

 

 

8

9

11

11

FOURTH SEMESTER

MEPH

590

Clinical Training

0

0

6

 

MEPH

600

Medical Physics Project

0

0

3

 

 

 

 

0

0

9

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

42

 


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: DSA, CT, MRI (2-0-2)

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 Reading (3-0-3)

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.