Overview
An overview of the division of Medical Physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology
The Division of Medical Physics, located in VCU’s Massey Cancer Center, serves the radiation oncology clinic by developing and maintaining the equipment, radioactive sources and other technologies used for radiation treatment.
Medical physicists collaborate and consult with physicians and researchers within the Department of Radiation Oncology to provide compassionate, comprehensive care and ensure the safety of patients undergoing radiation therapy.
Mission
Information about our mission
Our mission is to provide consultation in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions requiring radiation therapy, advance the field through innovative translational research and prepare students for careers in medical physics through hands-on clinical education.
Educational Programs
Information about the educational programs supported by the Division of Medical Physics
Through foundational professional training, hands-on clinical experience and rigorous scientific research, our education programs prepare students for careers as clinical medical physicists, independent investigators and active contributors in the field of medical physics. The Division of Medical Physics supports various educational programs:
Graduate Degrees and Certificate
The VCU Medical Physics Graduate Program offers three tracks for students:
- Master’s Degree
- Doctoral Degree
- Graduate Certificate
Graduate education within the Division of Medical Physics prepares students for careers as clinical medical physicists, independent investigators and active contributors to the field of medical physics. We initially received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP) in 2010 for the master’s and doctoral programs and began accepting students for the certificate program in 2015.
For a fall semester start, the deadline for application is January 15.
Read more about our graduate degrees and certificate here.
Clinical Residency
Accredited by CAMPEP, this two-year program provides clinical training in all aspects of radiation oncology physics for individuals with an M.S. or Ph.D. in physics, medical physics or a closely related field.
Our Research
Information about the Division of Medical Physics research
We encourage all faculty, students and residents in the Division of Medical Physics to participate in research during their time at VCU and submit their findings to conferences and journal publications.
The growing field of medical physics provides a broad spectrum of research opportunities, with areas including but not limited to:
- Computation physics
- Medical device development
- Translational cancer research
- Nano-particle pre-clinical research
- Imaging techniques
- Brachytherapy
- Interoperability of computer systems
- Radiotherapy of gynecologic and gastrointestinal malignancies
- Quality improvement with treatment planning
- Characterization of OBI photon spectrum and its impact on reconstructed images
Resources
Resources available to faculty, students, and researchers in the Division of Medical Physics
To assist current and prospective members of the Medical Physics program, we have prepared a collection of resources and relevant links. These will help ensure that you get the most out of your experience in the program and that you will remain up-to-date with everything related to medical physics.
- 2023-2024 Student Handbook
- The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) is the primary professional society for medical physicists. Its website contains general information about the field, as well as specific information regarding medical physics education, research, and employment. The AAPM's Medical Physics Residency Application Program (MP-RAP) offers insights and information regarding residency training programs.
- VCU participates in the international academic virtual exchange network known as Red de Intercambio Académico Virtual Estudiantil (Red IAVE) to encourage international exchange of information between medical physics students and professionals. The IAVE Facebook page showcases posts of interest and networking events.
Our Faculty
Meet our highly-skilled and motivated faculty team members who are dedicated to the practice and research efforts of medical physics.
In addition to providing full-time clinical support to both the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Radiology, our faculty members guide the next generation of medical physicists in their academic studies, engage in cutting-edge research and bring our physics family closer together through social and professional outings.
Faculty DirectoryContact Us
For official correspondences with the Medical Physics Educational Programs, please address requests and inquiries to the following address:
VCU Department of Radiation Oncology
Medical Physics Educational Programs
Adult Outpatient Pavilion, 3nd Floor
1001 East Leigh Street
Campus Box 980058
Richmond, VA 23219
P: +1.804.628.6965
F: +1.804.828.7981
E: medphys@vcu.edu