Academic Programmes
Entry requirements
A person studying to become a Medical Physicist is called an Intern Medical Physicist. An Intern Medical Physicist at the WITS/Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital complex must hold a four year degree in Physics or Medical Physics and must be appointed/seconded for a minimum of two years in a full time capacity to the Division of Medical Physics. They must register as an Intern Medical Physicist with the HPCSA. Suitability of the candidate and availability of posts are also considerations.
Nature of the Training
Should the intern not have sufficient credit in formal academic Medical Physics, the intern has to first complete a short course in Medical Radiation Physics (non-credit carrying towards a degree) through WITS Enterprise. The following are qualifying courses:
- Medical Physics of Radiation Oncology
- Medical Physics of Imaging (Radiology and Nuclear Medicine)
- Radiation Protection and Control
- Radiobiology for Medical Physicists
- Radiation Physics for Medical Physicists
The student receives approximately 65 hours of formal lectures and tutorials and is subject to five written examinations at the end of the semester.
Internship training can only commence once the academic requirements have been met. The internship training includes at least 15 months in Radiation Oncology Medical Physics, and at least 3 months each in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Medical Physics.
Programme Content
The Medical and Dental Board of the HPCSA regularly inspects and accredits the academic and internship components. A detailed program of the syllabus, competencies and projects covered are available from the Division.
Permanent Medical Physics services are currently active in Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Radiology and a team of qualified Medical Physicists provide supervision of candidates during their internship.
MSc programme
We also offer a 2-year programme leading to an MSc (Physics) by coursework and research report in the field of Medical Physics. This is co-ordinated by the School of Physics, Faculty of Science at WITS.
Course code: SM003 [F/T]; SM004 [P/T]
Three categories of students are targeted for this course:
- Students wishing to pursue a career in Medical Physics or Metrology in the long-term, who have a background in pure or applied Physics. Candidates still need to complete an internship in order to fulfill the HPCSA experiential requirements for registration as a clinical medical physicist.
- HPCSA-registered Medical Physicists who seek to supplement their knowledge and research ability.
- Supernumerary fellowship students who require specific training in Medical Physics [minimum 2 years full-time].
The following courses are offered over one year in a 2 year cycle commencing February each year:
- PHYS7057 Medical Physics of Radiation Oncology
- PHYS7056 Medical Physics of Imaging [Radiology and Nuclear Medicine]
- PHYS7061 Radiation Protection and Control
- PHYS7062 Radiobiology for Medical Physicists
- PHYS7058 Radiation Physics for Medical Physicists
- PHYs7060 Clinical Dosimetry in Radiotherapy
- PHYS7052 Advanced Brachytherapy
- PHYS7054 Dosimetry
- PHYS7053 Advanced Dosimetry
- PHYS7063 Accuracy in Radiotherapy Medical Physics
- PHYS7059 Advanced Radiation Oncology
- PHYS7055 Dosimetry Standards, Uncertainties and Traceability.
The second year is dedicated to a research report in Dosimetry, Radiotherapy Medical Physics or Radiation Metrology. Depending on the academic record, a student may be required to read a course in basic Anatomy and Physiology. A course in Professional Ethics or Research Methodologies or Advanced Research Ethics could also be arranged should there be sufficient interest.
Furthermore, the rules concerning examinations, examiners, awarding of the degree, submission of the research report, etc of the School of Physics and the Faculty of Science at the University shall be complied with. Students receiving Financial Aid from the University will be expected to assist with undergraduate teaching for a period of 6 h/wk in the School of Physics.