PHYSICS has penetrated the medical field.
According to Dr. Agnette Peralta, director of the Bureau of Health Devices and Technology of the Department of Health and an applied physics professor of the UST College of Science, medical physics is the application of physics to medicine.
“In medical physics, we work with radiation devices and we learn about the different types of radiation such as the alpha, gamma, beta, and ultraviolet rays, including laser, and infrared. We measure and quantify them, and study their behavior upon interaction with human matter. We also determine their safe levels and detrimental effects to people,” Peralta said.
Medical Physics is a master’s degree offered only in the UST Graduate School, the first such program in the Philippines. It was founded by Thomasian Dr. Celia Anatalio, who specializes in radiation oncology and diagnostic radiology. The College of Science, on the other hand, offers an undergraduate program for applied physics, graduates of which can qualify for the master’s program.
According to Peralta, the program shows promise with the increasing number of enrollees.
“Before, we used to have only one or two students in the Graduate School for MS Medical Physics. Now, we already have 12 students. For a graduate program in the sciences, that is already a very big number,” she said.
Peralta also said there is a high demand for medical physicists not only in the Philippines, but all over the world. She said that some Filipino medical physicists are already employed in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Canada and the United States.
Pointing out the benefits of medical physics, Peralta said that the field is useful in establishing radiation oncology departments for hospitals. “This department uses radiation to treat cancer patients through the use of x-rays, fluoroscopy, ultrasounds, electrocardiography, and nuclear medicine which uses the nuclear properties of matter in diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancers.” Alena Pias P. Bantolo and Francis James B. Gatdula
Sir,
I am Muhammad Shahid KM, studying Bsc. Radiation Therapy Technology[2nd Year] in India, and I wish to join MSc. Medical Physics after my UG course. So I humbly request you to send me the eligibility & all details regarding the admission of this course.
Thanking You
Yours faithfully,
SHAHID.
Hi Mr. Muhammad Shahid KM,
I saw your comment just now. I wrote the article about medical physics in UST from which your comment registered. I am sorry not to have replied sooner because I am no longer connected with the Varsitarian since June 2009 after I served as Science and Technology Editor back then.
Regarding your concerns on taking MS in Medical Physics, you may contact the UST Graduate School in these numbers – (632)406-1611 loc. 8247 or (632)731-5396. You may also visit the university website for admissions (www.ust.edu.ph).
Thank you!
Francis James Gatdula, RMT
UST Medicine and Surgery
Class 2013
Hello, I am Aina Maree Eusebio – Siason. I am going to take up BS Physics in Maxino College Dumaguete City this june as a second course. I would like to ask if by God’s grace I would be successful with this course, can I proceed with a master’s degree in medical physics and at the same time teach in UST? Will there be any salary deductions or not? It would be great if you can email to me your advice about by query.
By the way, I am also a BS Nursing graduate who recently passed the December 2010 Nursing Licensure Exam.
Hi Ms. Eusebio-Siason,
I saw your comment just now. I wrote the article about medical physics in UST from which your comment registered. I am sorry not to have replied sooner because I am no longer connected with the Varsitarian since June 2009 after I served then as Science and Technology Editor back then.
Regarding your concerns on taking MS in Medical Physics, you may contact the UST Graduate School in these numbers – (02)406-1611 loc. 8247 or (02)731-5396. For the concerns about teaching in UST while having your masteral degree, you may contact the UST Office of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at (02)406-1611 loc. 8231/8415 or 731-3038.
Thank you!
Francis James Gatdula, RMT
UST Medicine and Surgery
Class 2013
Hi Dr. Agnette,
Perhaps you have heard already about us. Currently we are looking for Medical Physicists who could work with us on a part time basis or on a project basis, preferably with experience in Dosimetry. By the way I am a graduate of UST too, BSEE. Is there a way I could get the list of those who have already obtained the Master’s Degree in Medical Physics from UST?
Thank you so much in advance and God bless.
Sincerely Yours,
Dax Velmonte
TUV Rheinland
Hello Mr. Velmonte, It is to my understanding that Mr. Renz Pineda, a colleague from the UST – Graduate School has already filled in the dosimetrist position in your company. In case you still have positions available for a part time medical physicist or a full time medical physicist in the future, please know that I am interested to apply. I have a clinical training in Diagnostic Radiology Medical Physicist under Engr. Bayani San Juan and Dr. Augusto Morales, Jr. of the CDRRHR. Although I am currently employed by a private company as a Medical Physicist who conduct performance/conformance testing of diagnostic medical equipment, I am looking for additional opportunities to expand my professional knowledge. Sincerely, Kristina Maaño
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Augusto A. Morales, for all the intelligence bestowed upon you by your genes, your over-inflated ego and low emotional quotient makes you nothing but a walking douchebag. Does being an associate professor give you a sense of Godlike supremacy over your students? Do not worry, we will prove just how fragile and mortal you are. Trampling on the hopes of your students because of a grudge was not a very wise thing to do. Even if you laugh at this post, I will be the one laughing at your face very soon. The emotional pain that you gave to your students will be nothing short of the physical pain you are soon going to feel.
Hi,
We are looking for MedicalPhysicist who could help us in our thesis. The concept of our research is that by using magnets we should be able to separate plasma from red blood cells in a test tube in just a few seconds. Please let us know if you could help us. Thanks.
Greetings,
I am a one of the students from CEU Makati. We are currently having our research which involves separation of red bloods cells from serum/plasma. We would like to ask for your expertise about this matter. We would like to know if a 10,000 gauss neomydium magnet may attract red blood cells considering that red blood cells are paramagnetic. What would be the best approach for us to be successful in our research.
Regards,
Rachelle Samson