Medical Physicist
Job Description:Medical physicists are specialists in healthcare science, also known as clinical science.
Job Category:What you will do:
You’ll be:
- developing and testing new systems to help investigate patients’ conditions
- monitoring equipment to make sure it’s accurate, safe and well-maintained
- training hospital staff
- planning treatment programmes and explaining procedures to patients
- carrying out procedures and analysing test results
- using computer simulations and mathematical modelling in research and development work
You’ll develop new technology for diagnosis and treatment, covering areas like:
- imaging techniques – to track organ functioning and aid image-guided surgery
- radiation and radio therapies – calculating dosages for the treatment of cancers
- electronics – designing instruments to measure or support damaged organs
- laser technology – to reduce the need for invasive surgery, like breaking up kidney stones or treating eye disorders
You’ll work closely with medical professionals like doctors, radiographers and medical physics technicians.
Skills:
You’ll need:
- knowledge of medicine and dentistry
- maths knowledge
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
- science skills
As well as:
- analytical thinking skills
- complex problem-solving skills (creative skills)
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- excellent written communication skills
Entry Requirements:
To become a medical physicist, you will need a strong educational background in physics and related subjects. While there are no specific GCSE subject requirements for this career, a solid foundation in mathematics and science is essential. Here’s a general list of subjects that can be beneficial for aspiring medical physicists:
- Mathematics: Mathematics is a fundamental subject for physics and is crucial for solving complex problems, performing calculations, and understanding scientific principles.
- Physics: Physics provides the foundational knowledge you’ll need to pursue a career in medical physics. It covers key principles in mechanics, electricity, magnetism, optics, and more.
- Chemistry: While not always required, Chemistry can be beneficial, as it provides insight into the behaviour of matter and chemical reactions, which can be relevant in medical physics.
- Biology: A basic understanding of biology can be helpful, especially in medical physics specialties related to medical imaging or radiation therapy.
- Computer Science (Useful): Familiarity with computer programming and data analysis can be advantageous, as medical physicists often work with specialized software and equipment.
Post School
You’ll need:
- an honours degree in physics
- paid or unpaid experience in a hospital medical physics or engineering department
- in the UK, you’ll need to have completed the 3-year NHS Healthcare Scientist Training Programme (STP)
Again, in the UK, if you don’t have a degree-level qualification, you can apply for the NHS Practitioner Training Programme (PTP).
This consists of an undergraduate degree course like healthcare science, and work based training.
Working Hours and Environment:
You’ll usually work around 37.5 hours a week.
You may have to work evenings or weekends as part of an on-call rota.
You’ll be based in a hospital, clinic or laboratory setting, and may need to travel to other hospitals to meet with other scientists.
You’ll wear protective clothing when working with hazardous substances and radiation.
Career Path & Progression:
You could go on to lead a department, work in higher education, research, or in the medical equipment manufacturing industry.