Medical Physics

Medical Physics is a discipline focused on the application of physics to medical diagnosis and treatment. Medical physicists are healthcare professionals with specialized training in the application of physics to radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine and/or radiation protection. Medical physicists have obtained Masters or Doctoral degrees in related areas of physics, and in Canada are certified by the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM).

The Department of Medical Physics at the Nova Scotia Cancer Centre is involved in a diverse range of activities, including:

  • Clinical support of the department of radiation oncology
  • Assurance of the accuracy and quality of radiation therapy treatment
  • Implementation of improved techniques and technology in radiation therapy
  • Novel and applied research focused on the improvement of cancer treatment using radiation therapy
  • Supervision of graduate students and research assistants
  • Teaching of undergraduates, graduate students and radiation oncology residents