Editing Medical physics (section)

{{Short description|Application of physics in medicine or healthcare}}
{{About|the discipline|the journal|Medical Physics (journal)}}
'''Medical physics'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=NYS Medical Physics|url=http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/medphys/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=www.op.nysed.gov|archive-date=2012-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603011906/http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/medphys/|url-status=dead}}</ref> deals with the application of the concepts and methods of physics to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases with a specific goal of improving human health and well-being.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iomp.org/medical-physics/|title = Medical Physics – International Organization for Medical Physics| date=27 March 2018 }}</ref> Since 2008, medical physics has been included as a health profession according to [[International Standard Classification of Occupations|International Standard Classification of Occupation]] of the [[International Labour Organization]].<ref>''Guidelines for the Certification of Clinically Qualified Medical Physicists''. IAEA. Link: https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/TCS-71web.pdf</ref>

Although medical physics may sometimes also be referred to as ''biomedical physics'', ''medical biophysics'', ''applied physics in medicine'', ''physics applications in medical science'', ''radiological physics'' or  ''hospital radio-physics'', a "[[medical physicist]]" is specifically a health professional<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-launches-guide-to-promote-recognition-of-medical-physicists-as-health-professionals|title = IAEA Launches Guide to Promote Recognition of Medical Physicists as Health Professionals|date = 15 February 2021}}</ref> with specialist education and training in the concepts and techniques of applying physics in medicine and competent to practice independently in one or more of the subfields of medical physics.<ref>''IAEA Safety Standards: General Safety Requirements Part 3: Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards''. IAEA. 2014. Link: https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub1578_web-57265295.pdf</ref> Traditionally, medical physicists are found in the following healthcare specialties: [[radiation oncology]] (also known as radiotherapy or radiation therapy), diagnostic and interventional [[radiology]] (also known as medical imaging), [[nuclear medicine]], and [[radiation protection]]. Medical physics of [[radiation therapy]] can involve work such as [[dosimetry]], [[linear particle accelerator|linac]] quality assurance, and [[brachytherapy]]. Medical physics of diagnostic and interventional [[radiology]] involves [[medical imaging]] techniques such as [[magnetic resonance imaging]], [[ultrasound]], [[CT scan|computed tomography]] and [[radiography|x-ray]]. Nuclear medicine will include [[positron emission tomography]] and radionuclide therapy. However one can find Medical Physicists in many other areas such as physiological monitoring, audiology, neurology, neurophysiology, cardiology and others.

Medical physics departments may be found in institutions such as universities, hospitals, and laboratories. University departments are of two types. The first type are mainly concerned with preparing students for a career as a hospital Medical Physicist and research focuses on improving the practice of the profession. A second type (increasingly called 'biomedical physics') has a much wider scope and may include research in any applications of physics to medicine from the study of biomolecular structure to microscopy and nanomedicine.