Clinical Medical Physics

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Local:$ 5.41 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 5.41 k / Year(s) Deadline: Apr 15, 2024
42 place StudyQA ranking:5062 Duration:12 months

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The MSc "Medical Physics with Distinction in Radiotherapy and Biomedical Optics" is an interdisciplinary course offering graduates from physics, engineering, medicine, and natural sciences in-depth insight into topics of Medical Physics. It thus helps closing the existing lack of specialists in that field. In addition, by its strong scientific focus, it provides students with skills needed for further research in this dynamic field.

Aims & Main Learning Objectives

The aim of this programme is to enable students to work and/or carry out independent research in the field of medical physics.

Students that have finished this course should

* have fundamental knowledge in anatomy, physiology, biophysics, genetics, and mathematical modelling
* have detailed knowledge in modern optics and radiotherapy
* be able to bridge the gap between technologists and physicians
* be able to realise a scientific (life-science related) project
* have the ability to solve practical technical problems related to radiotherapy or biomedical optics
* have the ability to critically evaluate technical systems in a medical context

Aims & Main Learning Objectives

The aim of this programme is to enable students to work and/or carry out independent research in the field of medical physics.

Students that have finished this course should

* have fundamental knowledge in anatomy, physiology, biophysics, genetics, and mathematical modelling
* have detailed knowledge in modern optics and radiotherapy
* be able to bridge the gap between technologists and physicians
* be able to realise a scientific (life-science related) project
* have the ability to solve practical technical problems related to radiotherapy or biomedical optics
* have the ability to critically evaluate technical systems in a medical context

Career Perspectives

Graduates are expected to move into positions in health/life-science industry including hospitals, research organisations and industry (e.g. producers of biomedical instruments/imaging systems, health-care oriented software, and pharmaceutical industry).

As the programme follows the guidelines of the German Association of Medical Physics (DGMP) as well as those of the European Federation of Organisations of Medical Physics (EFOMP), graduates may also qualify as state radiation protection commissioners after one year of practical work.

Programme Structure

Tracks, Modules

Two tracks are currently being offered - "biomedical optics/vision science" and "radiotherapy/medical imaging".

In the beginning, all students take four introductory courses jointly: Biophysics, Genetics, Mathematical Modelling, and Basic Medical Science (Anatomy and Physiology) - together accounting for 7 ECTS.

Students specialising in Biomedical Optics then take the following modules: Basic Optics, Adaptive Optics I and II, Abberrometry and Wavefront Analysis, Biomedical Optics, Biomedical Optics, Medical Lasers, Novel Diagnostic Methods in Ophthalmology, Optics in Biophysics and Ophthalmology, Vision Science and Ophthalmology - in total 18 ECTS.

Students specializing in Radiotherapy/Medical Imaging continue with the following modules: Radiation Protection, Radiation Oncology/Radiation Physics, Diagnostic Radiology, Radiotherapy Treatment Planning/Dosimetry/Quality Assurance, Special Radiotherapy Techniques, Nuclear Medicine, Advanced Digital Image Data Analysis, Biophysics and Radiobiology, Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) - in total 18 ECTS.
In addition, lab rotations are offered in both tracks equivalent to 10 ECTS respectively.
Each student has to take modules equivalent to 5 credits (ECTS) from the complementary track. As an alternative, one of the workshops may be chosen.

Workshops

Two workshops are being offered on a regular basis:
A one-week workshop on "Robotic and image guided radiotherapy" (end of August) is organised by the Institute of Radiooncology, Mannheim.
Another one-week workshop on "Medical Physics" takes place in Shanghai and includes a one-day Sino-German radiotherapy seminar.

Thesis (30 ECTS)

International students carry out the research work for their thesis at Heidelberg University. Students from Germany move to partner institutions for their thesis work (Harvard University/Boston, Johns-Hopkins University/Baltimore, Duke University/Durham, Kings College/London, Jiao-Tong University/Shanghai). Due to our well-established and formalised contacts, student support of high quality (incl. accommodation and visa issues) is ensured. Financial support for this study abroad is partially granted by the Eliteprogramm der Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Learning mainly takes place in interactive seminars (max of 20 students), internships and lab rotations (max 10 students). Lectures are focused to lay knowledge foundation during introductory courses. Up-to-date, keynote lectures may complement the student centred learning approach in the advanced parts of the programme. Sufficient workspace and comprehensive access to literature supports the students´ individual learning.

Students are expected to regularly present topics to the group, thus developing their soft skills (e.g. effective literature retrieval or presentation techniques) systematically.

Assessment

Participants' achievement towards their degree takes place throughout the course. Assessment during the taught part of the programme includes written in-class exams, as well as group projects, oral presentations and individual take-home assignments.
The thesis and the defence are the final parts of assessment. A pass mark is needed in each part in order to receive the MSc degree at the end of the programme.

Focus on Research/Teaching

The University of Heidelberg was founded more than 600 years ago (in 1386) and is the oldest University in Germany. Today, as in its old days, it is a leading institution in research and teaching in Europe. It is well renowned Medical Faculty has two campuses, one in Heidelberg and one in Mannheim, both offering innovative courses of study.
In Mannheim Medical Campus, Master level courses specialising in Health related fields are offered in addition to clinical medical training. Selected, highly qualified medical students may join a master level course in their 4th and 5th year of study while continuing their medical studies, thus allowing them to obtain a dual degree.
Medical Physics is a major field of interdisciplinary research throughout the Heidelberg and Mannheim Campus, comprising institutes and clinics at the University and the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research.

Cooperation partners

The Master´s programme MedPhys is internationally connected to leading institutions in research and education in Radiotherapy/Medical Imaging, to contribute to the development of a diverse, globally engaged science and engineering workforce.
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard Medical School was ranked among the top US cancer research and treatment centres. The Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital (form the largest single site for eye care and research in the world. Moorfields Eye Hospital has been treating patients in London and around the UK and the whole world for almost 200 years. The Wilmer Institute of Johns Hopkins University was ranked the US´s #1 eye department in the U.S. News & World Report physician survey this year and for 12 of the 13 years in which the survey has been conducted. Wilmer Institute was also ranked #1 for four years in a row in a similar survey of ophthalmology program directors in the physician publication Ophthalmology Times.
The Jiao-tong University, Shanghai is ranked #4 according to inner Chinese ranking. It has a strong background in engineering and biomedical science.

The course is open to medical doctors, physicists and other professionals in a related field, holding a higher academic degree (equivalent to 240 ECTS, usually a Bachelors degree after at least 4 years of academic full time training). A strong basis of knowledge in physics and mathematics is an essential pre-requisite. Special conditions for admission apply to registered medical students within MaReCuM (Mannheim Reformed Curriculum for Medicine). Candidates holding a three-year Bachelor degree require supplementary courses within this programme, which may necessitate a longer study duration.The language of instruction is English. Students for whom English is not their first language must provide evidence of proficiency. Exemption from this requirement may be granted to those who completed their higher education in English (written proof required with application). A maximum of 40 participants will be accepted each year. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 570 TOEFL iBT® test: 90
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