Message from the Director

Welcome to the Division of Physics and Engineering web site. Radiation oncology truly is a team effort, and our group is primarily responsible for the technical aspects of radiation therapy. Our goal is to ensure that our patients receive the prescribed dose of radiation to the correct location for each and every treatment session. The division currently consists of four Ph.D. faculty medical physicists, two medical dosimetrists, and one IT specialist.

Medical Physics

Medical Physics is an applied branch of physics concerned with the application of the concepts and methods of physics to the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. It is recognized as a medical specialty under the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) with board certification obtained through the American Board of Radiology (ABR).

Medical physicists frequently contribute in the areas of clinical service, education, and research. Three of our medical physicists are board-certified by the ABR in Therapeutic Medical Physics and one is in the board certification process. We are actively involved in education at UTMB through our departmental radiation physics course for radiation oncology physician residents as well as facilitating small group classes though the School of Medicine.  Our faculty frequently contribute to both peer-reviewed publications as well as scientific presentations at scientific meetings. We are actively involved at both the regional and national levels in various professional organizations.

For more information on the field of Medical Physics, please visit the American Association of Physicists in Medicine’s web site at http://www.aapm.org/medical_physicist/default.asp#clinical. 

Medical Dosimetry

Medical dosimetrists work closely with radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiation therapists to create a personalized treatment plan for each patient.  This requires a balance of getting enough radiation to the target to be therapeutic, while sparing surrounding normal tissues as much as possible to maintain function and quality of life. Our dosimetrists are also actively involved in physician resident training  through hands on teaching of treatment planning concepts. Both of our dosimetrists are certified by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB). 

For more information on Medical Dosimetry, please visit the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists’ web site at https://www.medicaldosimetry.org/. 

Information Technology

Radiation oncology is a dynamic and technologically advanced field, requiring seamless integration of a number of complex clinical systems. Additionally, radiation oncology is a data-intense field requiring acquisition, transmission, and storage of this data as part of the patient care process. Information technology and clinical systems support is a vital component in providing quality care in a clinical environment.  

Thank you for visiting the Division of Physics and Engineering web site.

Brent C. Parker, Ph.D.

Director, Division of Physics and Engineering