TH‐C‐330D‐02: The Forum On Medical Physics Education: Outcomes and Directions for the Future

Medical physics education leaves much to be desired. The depth and breadth of education of radiologists in the fundamental physics of their profession is simply inadequate when contrasted with the complexity of imaging technologies and the sophistication of imaging procedures. The use of image guidance and complex treatment delivery systems and algorithms in radiationoncology calls for a substantial increase in the level of understanding of physics and its applications by radiationoncologists. These needs provide excellent opportunities for medical physicists to improve their contributions to the education of their physician colleagues, and through this process improve the care of patients in radiology and radiationoncology. Before these opportunities can be exploited to their fullest, however, the education of medical physicists in the clinical applications of radiology and radiationoncology must be improved. In January, 20–22, 2006 a forum on the physics education of radiologists,radiationoncologists and medical physicists was held in Atlanta. The meeting was hosted by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, and representatives of 30 radiology, radiationoncology and medical physics organizations attended the meeting. Participants examined the guidelines for education of specialists in all 3 fields, together with expectations of accrediting agencies (eg CAMPEP and ACGME‐RRC) and certification organizations (ABR, ABMP), and developed a number of consensus recommendations on how the various organizations could communicate and work more closely together to improve the physics education of individuals in all 3 specialties. These recommendations will be presented for discussion in this forum, with the purpose of seeking feedback on the recommendations and encouraging implementation of the recommendations in the participants' institutions.