Education & Training

The goal of the Clinical Medical Physics Residency Program at the University Hospitals / Case Western Reserve University is to prepare individuals to practice independently as a certified medical physicist in Radiation Oncology. Clearly, few individuals can be experts in all areas of medical physics, but the graduate should have the experience and knowledge base necessary to implement and maintain routine clinical procedures, and establish novel techniques. Major objectives of the program include:

Prepare the graduate for certification in the specialty of medical physics (therapeutic, i.e. radiation oncology) by an appropriate certification Board.

Provide a broad based in-depth training that will permit the graduate to immediately contribute to the quality of medical care received by the radiation oncology patient.

The training program is designed to provide the resident with an understanding of the role of patient safety in the clinical practice of medical physics; the technical knowledge, skills and competency required for the safe application of the technologies used in the practice of medical physics; an appreciation of the clinical purpose and applications of sophisticated technologies; an understanding of the protocols and practices essential to the employment of technologies to detect, diagnose and treat various cancer related illnesses; the ability to use analytical and research methods to solve problems arising in the clinical environment; the ability to deploy new strategies within the clinical environment; the ability to critically evaluate research and scholarly articles in medical physics; the communication and interpersonal skills that are necessary to function in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment; the professional attributes and the ethical conduct and actions that are required of medical physicists; and a valuing of career-long continuing education to keep professional knowledge and skills current.

Training will take place under the close supervision of experienced radiation oncology physicists. The program emphasizes all areas of training and experience that will be needed by a radiation oncology medical physicist in a “state-of-the-art” treatment facility, as well as exposes them to management of a single accelerator community-based free-standing facility.