Master’s Degree in Medical Physics

• The main objectives of this program are to provide academic education and clinical training for medical physicists to prepare them for a career in medical physics in the fields of diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and health physics.
• To promote the role of students as leaders and innovators committed to improving best practices in service delivery in medical physics departments.
• To improve students’ knowledge and skills in clinical situations that will advance patient-centered health care.
• To prepare ethically responsible medical physics leaders who advocate for and influence policy decisions that improve health care to be effective, timely, competent and equitable for all members of society.
• To develop influential professionals in the field of promoting medical physics and health physics, quality of services provided, and safety of practices, in addition to teaching and training roles in academic and clinical institutions.
• To develop appropriate research skills and experience within the community of medical physicists and clinical practitioners to improve evidence-based practice in diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy.

• Theoretical knowledge and integrated understanding of all areas of clinical medical physics to prepare for a career in medical physics.
• Identify the responsibilities of medical physicists in patient care and safety.
• Analyze the components, functions, and design of X-ray systems used in imaging and treatment devices in radiology or diagnostic radiology.
• Analyze the components, functions, and design of linear accelerators used in external beam radiation therapy in radiology.
• Provide direct professional care to patients to ensure proper radiation planning and treatment.
• Apply radiation safety principles in the calculation and design of radiation shielding.
• Apply advanced theoretical and technical skills to perform and evaluate quality assurance procedures in medical physics.
• Participate in the development of professional medical physics practices by contributing to management, healthcare policies and knowledge development.
• Demonstrate professional and ethical attributes in clinical areas where medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments are performed.
• Employ appropriate research skills to support the application of best practices in medical physics.
• Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning, teamwork, scientific research, analysis, and interpretation for future applications.

The MP program education system follows AQU Academic Regulations for Master Degrees.

Students eligible to apply for the MP program should fulfill the following requirements:

• Graduates with a Bachelor of Medical Physics, Physics, or related fields of engineering, awarded by any locally and internationally recognized academic institution 
• A minimum of Bachelor graduates rated good. Admission will consider all grades, but more closely looking for higher physics and math grades.
• Admission Exam
• Personal interview
• English language proficiency or passing accredited TOEFL (PBT = 500, iBT = 61) or IELTS (6.0) tests. 

Other requirements: Three letters of recommendation from professors and/or professionals in the field, and a personal statement that addresses interests, career goals, preparation, and relevant experience.

Our graduates will be able to provide their professional services in more than 60 governmental, non-governmental, and private hospitals and medical institutions, in addition to universities, governmental organizations, and the private sector:

• Clinically Qualified Medical Physicist (CQMP) in radiotherapy departments.
• Clinically Qualified Medical Physicist (CQMP) in the departments of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.
• Working in the Licensing and Legislation Department at the Ministry of Health, due to the lack of qualified specialized cadres.

1. Didactic and Clinical Courses:

No.	Course	Course Number	C.H.
1	Radiological physics	8230601	3
2	Radiation detection and dosimetry	8230602	2
3	Radiation protection and safety	8230603	2
4	Fundamentals of diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology physics	8230604	3
5	Fundamentals of nuclear medicine physics	8230605	2
6	Radiobiology	8230606	1
7	Medical Anatomy & Physiological Processes	8230607	3
8	Radiation therapy physics	8230608	4
9	Professionalism and Ethics	8230609	1
10	Radiotherapy, Imaging, and rad safety labs	8230610	1
11	Biostatistics and research methods	8230611	1
12	Advances in imaging and therapy physics	8230612	1
13	Clinical rotation in radiation therapy	8230613	6
14	Clinical rotation in diagnostic and NM imaging	8230614	3
15	Clinical rotation in radiation protection	8230615	1
16	Research Thesis 1	8230700	3
17	Research Thesis 2	8230700	3
	Total		40

2. Remedial Courses: those who do not meet the admission requirements (referenced above) are required to successfully pass up to 10 credit hours as remedial courses depending on student discipline and previous studies. These remedial courses would include:

No.	Remedial course	C.H.	Course No.
1	Calculus 1	3	8230501
2	Mathematical Statistics	1	8230502
3	Classical Mechanics	2	8230503
4	Atomic and Radiation Physics	3	8230504
5	Modern Physics	2	8230505
6	Electricity and Magnetism	2	8230506
7	Quantum Mechanics	2	8230507
Total		15

3. Working in the Licensing and Legislation Department at the Ministry of Health, due to the lack of qualified specialized cadres.

1. Radiological physics 8230601 (3 C.H.)

The purpose of this module is to comprehend the basic principles of radiation physics in order to apply them to medical physics. The interaction of photons, charged particles and neutrons with matter is described. The essential properties of atomic nuclei are also described. Characterization of attenuation must be understood.

2. Radiation detection and dosimetry 8230602 (2 C.H.)

The purpose of this module is to comprehend the physical basis of dosimetry, introduce different theories and describe the principle of operation of the various types of dosimeters. Standard quantities and units are introduced so that dosimetric formalisms of radioactive decay, radiation interactions and the radiation field can then be discussed. All radiation measurements rely heavily on applications of charged-particle equilibrium and/or cavity theory; hence these areas must be covered in detail.

3. Radiation protection and safety 8230603 (2 C.H.)

The course introduces the basic principles of radiation protection as applied in the clinical environment. Attention is given to safety, radiation survey instruments, waste management and emergency procedures in the medical environment.

4. Fundamentals of diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology physics 8230604 (3 C.H.)

The student is introduced to the physical principles and the technical aspects of all modalities used in diagnostic and interventional radiology, including facility design as well as the essential elements of Quality Management in radiology. The principle and the operating modes of the different equipment is described, from the production of X rays to the formation of a medical image, as well as non-ionizing modalities used in diagnostic radiology. The student will also be introduced to the physical principles and the technical aspects of all nuclear medicine (NM) modalities and equipment, including facility design, as well as the essential elements of Quality Management in nuclear medicine. This course addresses the production and use of radionuclides in diagnosis and therapy, nuclear medicine image formation and internal dosimetry.

5. Fundamentals of nuclear medicine physics 8230605 (2 C.H.)

The student will be introduced to the physical principles and the technical aspects of all nuclear medicine (NM) modalities and equipment, including facility design, as well as the essential elements of Quality Management in nuclear medicine. The principle and the operating modes of the different equipment in nuclear medicine is also described. This course addresses the production and use of radionuclides in diagnosis and therapy, nuclear medicine image formation and internal dosimetry.

6. Radiobiology 8230606 (1 C.H.)

This course aims to provide the basic connection between microscopic and molecular interactions of radiation with tissue leading to the biological response of cells to radiation, with the physical interaction mechanisms. It provides the basic background for understanding the effects of radiation on human tissues and the resulting safety policies and therapy regimens.

7. Medical Anatomy & Physiological Processes 8230607 (3 C.H.)

The objective of this course is to familiarize the student with the common anatomical and physiological terminology needed to communicate effectively in the clinical environment. The basic knowledge of structure, topography and function of different systems and organs related to radiotherapy and imaging, should be presented.

8. Fundamentals of Radiation therapy physics 8230608 (4 C.H.)

The student is introduced to the physical principles and the technical aspects of all steps of the radiotherapy process and the essential elements of Quality Management in radiotherapy. The principle and the operating modes of the different equipment used in radiotherapy are given, including facility design. The definition and use of quantities to describe the radiation beams and radioactive sources used in radiotherapy, is given. The student must comprehend the essential elements of dosimetry and patient treatment planning, including definition of the volumes to be irradiated, patient data acquisition, dose distribution (2D & 3D) calculation, evaluation and verification.

9. Professionalism and Ethics 8230609 (1 C.H.)

This material is intended to cover ethical issues in clinical medicine and in the professional conduct of the medical physicist. The term “ethics” is used here in the sense of a permissible standard of conduct for members of a profession. In addition to becoming familiar with written codes of conduct, the student should be introduced to commonly encountered situations in which a choice of actions is available, some of which would be considered unethical (and some of which would be considered ethical), according to current international and national standards of care or practice.

10. Radiotherapy, Imaging, and rad safety labs 8230610 (1 C.H.)

The course will cover the applied practice of Diagnostic Imaging Physics in all areas where medical imaging equipment is utilized (Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, etc). Topics will include current testing and troubleshooting practices of the following imaging modalities: general x-ray, portable x-ray, fluoroscopy (fixed rooms and c-arms), mammography, and ultrasound, computed tomography (including specialized systems), Primary Interpretation Displays, dental imaging (panoramic, cephalometric, intraoral, etc). It will also cover the applied practice of therapeutic radiation physics for clinical radiation oncology. Topics will include current methodologies in treatment delivery and planning algorithms; best practices and protocols for quality assurance; special techniques in radiotherapy; and oncology. Additionally, it covers practical principles of radiation protection as applied in the clinical environment.

11. Biostatistics and research methods 8230611 (1 C.H.)

This course provides the student with the capacity to use statistical methods to make a descriptive analysis of data, and to describe the fluctuations of a measurable or countable characteristic and to describe uncertainties. Students will also be familiar with research methods and ethics, and participate in activities such as the preparation of abstracts for scientific meetings, the creation of posters, oral presentations, and the preparation of manuscripts before being submitted to peer-reviewed journals.

12. Advances in imaging and therapy physics 8230612 (1 C.H.)

This course aims to familiarize the student with the computational and numerical methods frequently used in Medical Physics, like Monte Carlo simulations, with their physical and statistical underlying concepts, as well as to provide the basis of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning techniques and their use to solve data-driven problems.

13. Clinical rotation in radiation therapy 8230613 (6 C.H.)

This course will provide an introduction to the medical physicist’s role in a clinical department. It will provide an initial overview of clinical procedures performed in radiation medicine to provide an opportunity to integrate the principles learned throughout the graduate program as they apply to the field of Radiation Oncology (Therapy) Physics. This will include clinical observations of procedures / work in dosimetry, physics, CT simulation, and at the linear accelerators during the treatment of patients.

14. Clinical rotation in diagnostic radiology and NM imaging 8230614 (3 C.H.)

This course will provide an introduction to how imaging modalities are utilized in a clinical setting. It will provide an initial overview of clinical procedures performed in diagnostic radiology to provide an opportunity to integrate the principles learned throughout the graduate program as they apply to the field of Diagnostic Imaging Physics. This will include clinical observations of procedures in radiography, fluoroscopy, emergency department, OR, interventional radiology, CT, US and PET.

15. Clinical rotation in radiation protection 8230615 (1 C.H.)

This course will provide students with necessary knowledge to develop personal and key skills in radiation protection management in radiotherapy/nuclear medicine/ diagnostic radiology departments.

16. Research Thesis (1 & 2) 8230700 (6 C.H.)

This research course is an individual, but guided research study in Medical Physics with graduate faculty supervision. Written and oral presentations of a research study are required. In many respects the individual research thesis is the culmination of the students’ learning experience during the degree programme. The dissertation offers an opportunity to study in depth a problem or issue which is of personal interest, and which can be explored using the knowledge acquired during the clinical training.