Rad Onc Docs vs. Medical Physicists

[DrBowtie]

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I have become interested in Rad Onc as a possible specialty and have a good shot at getting into med school. Lately, one of my advisors (I am a physics/biology major) suggested I become a med. physicist as a back up plan. So my questions are:

What role a med physicist fit into the team?
How are they viewed by rad onc docs?
Practical differences between the two jobs?
and any other input you would like to add on the subject.

Also any advice on what knowledge would be useful prior to shadowing a rad onc.

Thanks,
Brett

 

[JETER]

Hey

Was your advisor speaking to you about "medical physics"? If so, it is different than being a physician. Medical Physicists usually have a PhD in the subject, and very few schools offer a quality program (the best is the combined HarvardMS/MIT medical physics program, good luck getting in though!). A list of accredited programs can be found here

I too was interested in medical physics as a career, as I was a physics and engineering major in school. I am also a due paying member of the "American Association of Physicists in Medicine" and I would recommend a membership if you are interested. They set you up with a couple of big conferences/yr (usually in NY), and provide lots of contacts. For some answers to most of your questions, try their website: http://www.aapm.org/ PM me if you have any questions about this.

As for the benefits, you can make uber bucks in the field, and lack of direct patient care means no malpractice.

As for me, my interest in medical physics waned sharply after I tried a stint as a graduate student in physics. I will going to medical school this fall instead.

Can't help you though on the question pertaining to rad onc. Sorry.

~Jeter

I have become interested in Rad Onc as a possible specialty and have a good shot at getting into med school. Lately, one of my advisors (I am a physics/biology major) suggested I become a med. physicist as a back up plan. So my questions are:

What role a med physicist fit into the team?
How are they viewed by rad onc docs?
Practical differences between the two jobs?
and any other input you would like to add on the subject.

Also any advice on what knowledge would be useful prior to shadowing a rad onc.

Thanks,
Brett

 

[stephew]

I have become interested in Rad Onc as a possible specialty and have a good shot at getting into med school. Lately, one of my advisors (I am a physics/biology major) suggested I become a med. physicist as a back up plan. So my questions are:

What role a med physicist fit into the team?
How are they viewed by rad onc docs?
Practical differences between the two jobs?
and any other input you would like to add on the subject.

Also any advice on what knowledge would be useful prior to shadowing a rad onc.

Thanks,
Brett

The med pys is an integral part of the radonc team. they're our colleagues. the thing you asre asking yourself is do you want to focus on medical treatment planning- that is you work with dealing with the technical aspect of machines and dosimetrey, or do you want to see patients and be an oncologist who does planning as a part of their job.

 

[DrBowtie]

Thanks for finally getting around to my post.

Right now I am 100% focused on med school. I told my physics advisor about my plans and interest in rad onc and he suggested medical physics as a potential backup career if it didn't work out.

Stephew, your post was spot on. I was looking for info on the actual job duties of each. Thanks.

Jeter, As a physics major, I am in SPS and AAPM. I think I might end up going to one of their conferences and also apply for their clinical internship considering its the closest I'll prolly be able to get to exposure to rad onc before rotations.

 

[stephew]

Thanks for finally getting around to my post.

Right now I am 100% focused on med school. I told my physics advisor about my plans and interest in rad onc and he suggested medical physics as a potential backup career if it didn't work out.

Stephew, your post was spot on. I was looking for info on the actual job duties of each. Thanks.

Jeter, As a physics major, I am in SPS and AAPM. I think I might end up going to one of their conferences and also apply for their clinical internship considering its the closest I'll prolly be able to get to exposure to rad onc before rotations.

well good luck in your career. Your physics background would make you attractive to PD's in radonc.
All the best,
Steph