Medical Physics Unit Montreal General Hospital Room L5-113, Livingston Hall 1650 Cedar Avenue Montreal, QC H3G 1A4 Canada

Medical Physics Unit
Montreal General Hospital
Room L5-113, Livingston Hall
1650 Cedar Avenue
Montreal, QC H3G 1A4
Canada

Telephone: (514) 934-8052
Fax: (514) 934-8229
E-mail: mak@medphys.mcgill.ca
Website: www.medphys.mcgill.ca

48.1 Staff

48.2 Programs Offered

The Medical Physics Unit offers an M.Sc. in Medical Radiation Physics. Facilities are available for students to undertake a Ph.D. in Medical Physics through the Department of Physics.

The Unit is a teaching and research unit concerned with the application of physics and related sciences in medicine, especially (but not exclusively) in radiation medicine, i.e., radiation oncology, medical imaging and nuclear medicine.

The research interests of members of the Unit include various aspects of medical imaging, including 3D imaging, the development of new imaging modalities and applications of imaging in radiation therapy; radiation dosimetry, especially solid state, electret and NMR systems; nuclear cardiology; and applications of radiation biology to therapy.

The M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in Medical Physics are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs, Inc., sponsored by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the American College of Medical Physics (ACMP), the American College of Radiology (ACR), and the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM).

48.3 Admission Requirements

Candidates applying to the M.Sc. program must normally hold a B.Sc. degree (Honours or Major) in Physics or Engineering, with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0/4.0 (minimum of 70%).

48.4 Application Procedures

Students are admitted to the M.Sc. program only at the start of the Fall term in September of a given academic year. Applications for consideration for the Fall term of 2006 must be submitted by March 1, 2006.

Applications being made to McGill University graduate programs for September 2006 should be made on-line via McGill's Website. For information regarding the application procedure and to access the application form, please go to www.mcgill.ca/ applying/graduate.

In exceptional circumstances, a paper application form may be requested from the Medical Physics Unit Graduate Office. Mailed applications for the M.Sc. program in medical physics (September 2006) will be accepted at the Medical Physics Unit Graduate Office from September 2005 until March1, 2006.

Only complete applications will be considered. Interested candidates should (a) ask their university(ies) to send two originals of each transcript, and (b) request that original confidential letters of recommendation be sent by professors familiar with their work. Letters must be originals, must be dated within the last two years, and must be written on official university letterhead, otherwise they will not be accepted. The application fee of $60 may be remitted in either Canadian or US funds. If using the preferred
on-line application form, the application fee is remitted via a valid credit card; if using a paper application, the fee must be remitted in negotiable form payable to McGill University, such as a bank draft or money order, etc. - personal cheques are not accepted.

Non-Canadian applicants whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed a degree using the English language must submit documented proof of competency in English by a TOEFL or IELTS. The original test report must be sent by the testing center, i.e., a photocopy sent by the applicant is not acceptable. The test must have been taken within the two years prior to date of application review, i.e. since May 2004.

All supporting application materials should be sent directly to the Graduate Secretary, Medical Physics Unit.

48.5 Program Requirements

This two-year program provides a comprehensive introduction to the academic, research and practical aspects of physics applied to radiation medicine. In addition to the thesis requirement (32 credits) there are 12 mandatory courses (28 credits). The practical and laboratory sections of the program are conducted in various McGill teaching hospitals.

1. didactic courses in radiation physics, radiation dosimetry, the physics of nuclear medicine and diagnostic radiology, medical imaging, medical electronics and computing, radiation biology and radiation hazards and protection;

2. seminars in radiation oncology, diagnostic radiology and miscellaneous aspects of medical physics, e.g., lasers;

48.6 Graduate Level Courses

Students preparing to register should consult the Web at www.mcgill.ca/minerva (click Class Schedule) for the most up-to-date list of courses available; courses may have been added, rescheduled or cancelled after this Calendar went to press. Class Schedule lists courses by term and includes days, times, locations, and names of instructors.

(3) The production and properties of directly and indirectly ionizing radiations and their interactions with matter; basic theoretical and experimental aspects of radiation dosimetry.

(3) (Prerequisite: MDPH 601) Theoretical and practical dosimetry of radiation sources, both external and internal with respect to the human body. Equipment used for external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy.

(2) (Prerequisite: MDPH 601.) (Corequisite: MDPH 602) This laboratory course gives some experience in practical/clinical aspects as applied to radiation therapy and to the techniques for the measurement of different physical parameters which characterize radiation beams. The student is exposed to the operation of various therapy units, dose measuring devices, 3D treatment planning, virtual simulator units, brachytherapy, quality assurance, calibration and thermoluminescent dosimetry.

(3) (3 hours lectures/week) (Prerequisite (Graduate): MDPH 615) A review of the principles of medical imaging as applied to conventional diagnostic radiography, digital subtraction radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The course emphasizes a linear system approach to the formation, processing and display of medical images.

(2) (Prerequisite: MDPH 615.) (Corequisite: MDPH 614) This laboratory course takes place in hospital departments of medical diagnostic imaging and is designed to give the student a working knowledge of the performance parameters of the diagnostic imaging equipment. Laboratory classes will offer the student the practical experience of image quality control, on selected imaging equipment currently used in diagnostic medicine together with practical applications of the concepts studied in MDPH 614 and MDPH 615.

(2) Deals with the effects and mode of action of ionizing radiation on biological material from molecular interactions, through sub-cellular and cellular levels of organization, to the response of tissues, organs and the whole body. Includes the application of radiation biology to oncology and the biological aspects of environmental radiation exposure.

(2) An introductory course on electronics, with emphasis on digital electronics, data acquisition and microprocessors applied to instrumentation. A basic knowledge of electronics is assumed, but the detailed course contents may vary from year to year, depending on the background of the students.

(2) (Prerequisites: MDPH 607, MDPH 611 or equivalent, MDPH 615) (Corequisite: MDPH 614) The role of computers in the acquisition and storage of data in medical imaging systems, with special reference to computed tomography, gamma cameras, positron emission tomography. Special attention is paid to the interfacing requirements of each device and to image display systems. Demonstrations of some of these systems are included.

(2) (Prerequisites: MDPH 601, MDPH 609) The hazards of ionizing radiations and the safe handling of radiation sources. Topics covered include basic principles; safety codes, laws and regulations; organization of radiation safety; and practical safety measures and procedures.

(3) A rigorous treatment of the physical principles and the instrumentation of radiology, computed tomography and ultrasound medical imaging systems. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the relations between imaging system design, image quality, and safety. Measurement techniques for the evaluation of medical imaging systems are reviewed.

(3) (Corequisite: MDPH 601) The physics of radioactivity and the applications of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals in medical diagnosis. Topics covered include fundamental nuclear physics, radioactivity, radiation spectrometry, the scintillation camera, image analysis and data processing in nuclear medicine, single photon emission tomography, and positron emission tomography.

(1) This course deals with anatomy and physiology, etiology and treatment of cancer and introductory medical statistics, three topics not covered by other courses in the program. Also clinical aspects of radiation oncology physics.

(Students must register for both MDPH 616D1 and MDPH 616D2) (No credit will be given for this course unless both MDPH 616D1 and MDPH 616D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms) (MDPH 616D1 and MDPH 616D2 together are equivalent to MDPH 616) This course deals with anatomy and physiology, etiology and treatment of cancer and introductory medical statistics, three topics not covered by other courses in the program. Also clinical aspects of radiation oncology physics.

(Students must register for both MDPH 625D1 and MDPH 625D2) (No credit will be given for this course unless both MDPH 625D1 and MDPH 625D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms) (MDPH 625D1 and MDPH 625D2 together are equivalent to MDPH 625)

(16) (Students must also register for MDPH 625N2) (No credit will be given for this course unless both MDPH 625N1 and MDPH 625N2 are successfully completed in a twelve month period) (MDPH 625N1 and MDPH 625N2 together are equivalent to MDPH 625)