THERAPEUTIC MEDICAL PHYSICS

I. Goal:

To prepare students for careers as independent investigators in the field of medical physics. Graduates will be qualified to work in university departments, research institutes, laboratories, and hospitals as professional medical physicists.

II. Faculty:

N. Agazaryan, J.DeMarco, L. Kobe, P. Rosemark, J. Smathers

III. Courses:

All students must demonstrate competence in the subject matter covered in the Core courses (see also 5.1 and 7.1 in the Program Overview). In addition, students are required to take the three clinical rotations (BMEDPHY 202A, 202B and 202C), BMEDPHY 201, 203, 208B, 210, M230 and some advanced mathematics courses. The faculty will recommend additional course work for each student in accordance with the student's specific needs.

IV. Ph.D. Written Qualifying Examination:

A student must demonstrate knowledge both of the material presented in the courses and the current research in the field by passing the Ph.D. Written Qualifying Examination. A student can have two chances to pass.

V. The Dissertation Advisor will be Determined by Mutual Decision between the Student and the Faculty Member Selected

VI. First Oral Qualifying Examination Format

1. The Dissertation Advisor will chair and select the Dissertation Committee.
2. The Committee composition will be consistent with University regulations.
3. The First Oral Examination will be based upon a proposed dissertation topic.
4. If the student passes, he or she is then advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D.
5. Other regulations and procedures will be consistent with University policies governing the Oral Qualifying Examination.

VII. Research Topics:

1. Computer controlled (conformal) radiation therapy
2. Three-dimensional treatment planning
3. Photon and electron dosimetry
4. Physics of stereotactic radiation therapy
5. Micro dosimetry
6. Physics of multileaf collimation
7. Dynamic port film imaging
8. Dosimetry of interfaces

VIII. The Dissertation and Final Oral Format Will Be Consistent With University Regulations

IX. Resources:

Facilities include laboratories in the Department of Radiation Oncology, in the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and in the Laboratory for Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Computer facilities include a network of Sun workstations with a large file server as well as network connections to the University computer system. Multiple PC's and Mac's are networked to the Sun System as well. The student will also be able to rotate through the radiation oncology clinics at UCLA and at affiliated hospitals.

X. Financial Support:

A limited number of positions as research or clinical assistants are available.

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Revised 09/22/06