We are delighted that you are considering our CAMPEP accredited Diagnostic Imaging Physics Residency Program at OUHSC in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The program evolved from training post-doctoral physics graduates in clinical aspects of Medical Physics to the Diagnostic Imaging Physics Residency Program in 2011. Our program was a recipient of the 4-year RSNA/AAPM Training Grant of 2014.
The training program follows the main elements of AAPM Task Group Report 249, “Essentials and Guidelines for Clinical Medical Physics Residency Training Program.” We also follow CAMPEP recommendations contained in their report, “Standards for Accreditation of Residency Education Programs in Medical Physics”. The training program is two years long and begins in July. Each year one applicant is selected to join the second-year resident to begin his/her training. We accept both Master’s and Doctorate candidates who have graduated from medical physics or a related field and have either completed or have been approved to take the ABR Part I exam. Preference is given to applicants from a CAMPEP accredited program.
There are three distinct elements in our training. The first and primary focus is the clinical training necessary for our graduates to work as a medical physicist with minimum supervision. Didactic sessions are conducted by board-certified medical physicists to develop the necessary understanding of the clinical relevance of the measurements. The second component consists of research where each resident is expected to work on a research project of his/her choosing leading to an oral/poster presentation at a national/regional meeting. The third component is the teaching aspect of clinical medical physics, acquired through mentoring the junior resident and graduate students in clinical medical physics.
Residents get a great deal of practice and experience testing diagnostic medical equipment, generating reports, performing shielding designs and integrity checks, and patient dose evaluation and optimization under the supervision of board-certified medical physics faculty. A diverse and modern set of imaging equipment is provided by OUMC campuses and outreach clinics, OUHSC facilities, and the VAMC in Oklahoma City. Among the multiple training experiences are included their participation in testing over 12 CT units from various vendors, 9 digital mammography units (including 8 tomosynthesis/3D systems), 2 stereotactic breast biopsy systems, 8 MRI units, 3 PET /CT units, and over 10 SPECT gamma cameras and a large number of radiographic and fluoroscopic units. The residents also have an opportunity to work with Radiation Therapy imaging equipment and work with a radiation safety office that covers 2 broad scope licenses which provides additional training and experience.
Candidates that join our program with a sound background and experience in certain diagnostic imaging modalities are given an opportunity to spend additional training in Nuclear Medicine that allows them to apply for the ABNM certification.