The specialist in Medical Physics must have learned the fundamental knowledge of Physiology, Biology, Genetics, Anatomy and Biochemistry; have gained theoretical, experimental and professional knowledge in the field of Physics of Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation and the associated topics of Biophysics, Radiobiology, Dosimetry, Computer Science and Electronics applied to Medicine, as well as the Methods and Techniques of Image Formation, with particular regard to their processing and transfer to the network; have acquired the fundamental knowledge of the theory of tracers in nuclear medicine, of systems for diagnostics and clinical therapy and of information systems of interest in the medical field; have learned the principles and operating procedures of Radiation Protection and, more generally, of prevention and the related national and international regulations.
Basic learning objectives:
the student must learn the fundamental knowledge of Physiology, Biology, Genetics, Anatomy, Biochemistry and Pharmacology. The knowledge of the student must be integrated with knowledge of mathematical methods. He must develop knowledge of Physics of Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation and the associated topics of Dosimetry and Radiobiology. He/she must be educated on the fundamental aspects of Biophysics, Statistics, Computer Science and Electronics for Medicine. The student must be able to use the main measuring instruments used in the medical field.
Educational objectives of the School typology (Characterising):
In the field of Radiation Therapies, the resident must learn the fundamental knowledge of basic dosimetry and clinical dosimetry in radiotherapy with external beams and brachytherapy. He must be familiar with the most advanced radiotherapy treatment techniques. He/she must be able to collaborate in the planning and implementation of therapeutic protocols and in the development of clinical trial methods. In addition, the student must acquire the theoretical and practical bases that allow the realization of a treatment plan with ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. It must be able to implement guarantee programs and quality controls in the therapeutic use of radiation.
In the field of Diagnostic Imaging , the student must learn the fundamental knowledge of image formation methods and techniques. In addition, the student must acquire the theoretical and practical bases of tracer theory, nuclear medicine, clinical diagnostic equipment (CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, gamma-camera, SPECT, PET, endoscopy, microscopy, fluorescence, spectrophotometry). The resident must be able to plan and implement guarantee programs, quality controls and clinical dosimetry in diagnostic imaging also for the purpose of patient protection.
In the field of Hospital Information Systems , the student must know the theoretical and technical bases of information systems of interest in the medical field, with particular regard to the processing of biomedical signals and images, archiving and their transfer to the network, both locally and territorially. It must contribute to the IT aspects related to the flow of patients in the various hospital departments and to an automated management of the medical-surgical devices of hospital facilities. The resident must know the software and hardware for the control of biomedical equipment.
In the field of Radiation Protection, the student must learn the principles and operating procedures of Radiation Protection and, more generally, of prevention and the related national and international regulations. He must acquire the scientific and operational knowledge for the physical surveillance of sources consisting of X-ray machines or radioactive materials, including neutron sources, in particular those used in hospitals. They must also carry out an internship during their attendance at the School in accordance with the regulations in force for registration in the list of qualified experts. The student must also acquire the knowledge necessary to carry out physical surveillance in the diagnostic and therapeutic use of non-ionizing radiation (MRI, laser, ultrasound, etc.) and in particular to perform the functions of "responsible expert" for MRI systems and "laser safety officer" pursuant to current legislation.
Integrated training objectives (i.e. common core):
Specialists must be equipped with the cultural and professional skills to carry out the relevant health profession. They will also have to acquire:
- scientific bases and theoretical-practical preparation necessary for the exercise of the profession of specialists and the methodology and culture necessary for the practice of lifelong learning, as well as a level of professional decision-making and operational autonomy;
- essential theoretical knowledge deriving from the basic sciences, underlying all the different articulations of the educational paths;
- indispensable knowledge of equipment and methods, in order to collaborate with other professionals in the assessment of risks, costs and benefits, also in compliance with current regulations in the field of radiation protection and safety.
The following are compulsory professionalizing activities:
the practical training activities of the trainees take place in the university, hospital and territorial structures of the Health Authorities affiliated with the University. In order to achieve the educational purposes of the Medical Physics typology, the student must have collaborated in specialist acts, and in particular must have carried out at least 20% of each of the activities indicated below.
In the field of Radiation Therapies:
- 200 personalized treatment plans for external beam therapies;
- 40 personalized treatment plans for brachytherapy (contact, interstitial and endocavitary and vascular curietherapy;
- 10 personalized treatment plans and related dosimetric controls for at least one of the following special treatment techniques: Total Body Irradiation, stereotactic radiotherapy, TBI with electrons, intraoperative radiotherapy, metabolic therapy with radionuclides;
- 100 measurement and control sessions concerning: initial calibration and periodic verification of the various radiotherapy treatment machines according to national and international protocols;
- implementation of dosimetric data and machine parameters on the computerized system for processing treatment plans; Control of the repeatability of radiotherapy treatment for different irradiation machines and techniques.
As part of theDiag nostica per immagini:
- 10 quality controls of radiopharmaceuticals, short-half-life radioisotope generators, labeled products;
- 100 quality controls according to national and international protocols on equipment (radiological equipment, planar gamma-cameras, SPECT, PET, bone densitometry);
- 20 quality assessments on radiographic sensitive material and development factors;
- 20 quality assessments of digital radiology systems (DR, CR);
- 50 interventions for the measurement of Diagnostic Reference Levels (LDRs), including the study of measures for their reduction;
- 20 quality controls on nuclear magnetic resonance tomographs and ultrasounds.
In the field of Hospital Information Systems:
- 10 specific software applications for the collection, management, storage and transmission of physical-medical and clinical-biological data for different applications;
- 10 applications of specific software for the processing and post-processing of biomedical images for different applications.
In the field of radiation protection from ionizing radiation:
- Internship activities required for the performance of the professional activity of Qualified Expert with the first degree of qualification, in particular:
- 50 Workload determinations of X-ray sources;
- 30 designs and verifications of primary and secondary barriers for X-ray sources;
- 50 tests of the leakage radiation of radiogenic sources;
- 50 exposure measurements for X-ray sources;
- 100 personal dosimetry evaluations for X-ray exposure per 100 workers (their classification and drafting of the relative dosimetry sheets);
- 100 readings of thermoluminescence or film dosimeters;
- 10 dose calculations for population reference group exposure;
- 20 classifications and demarcations of monitored and controlled areas;
- 10 risk assessments from radiogenic sources pursuant to Legislative Decree 230/95;
- 5 elaboration of internal radiation protection standards for X-ray rooms.
- Internship activity required for the performance of the professional activity of Qualified Expert with the second degree of qualification, in addition to what is provided for in relation to the first degree, the student must participate in:
- 30 X-ray exposure measurements with energy up to 10 MeV;
- 10 evaluations of the aspects of physical surveillance in projects of Nuclear Medicine departments;
- 50 surface contamination assessments;
- 20 internal dosimetry determinations and calculation of the effective dose from internal contamination;
- 5 projects for the transport of radioactive material;
- 5 projects for the disposal of radioactive waste from a hospital.
- Internship activity required for the performance of the professional activity of Qualified Expert with the third degree of qualification; In addition to the provisions for the second degree, the student must participate in:
- 10 detection measurements and related neutron flux spectrometry;
- 10 dosimetry measurements and detection of high-energy particles;
- 10 individual neutron dosimetry assessments;
- 10 barrier projects for accelerators used in radiotherapy;
- 5 evaluations of physical surveillance aspects in radiotherapy department projects;
In the field of Radiation Protection from Non-Ionizing Radiation:
- 10 mapping of the magnetic field dispersed around MRI implants or large instrumentation;
- 20 mapping of electromagnetic fields around therapy equipment;
- 20 measurements of electromagnetic fields around diagnostic equipment;
- 10 analysis and discussion of the installation project of class 3 or 4 LASER systems;
- 20 measurements of the parameters of a class 3 or 4 medical LASER beam;
- 10 assessments of the level of exposure of workers and drafting of internal safety regulations.
Related or Supplementary Objectives:
The specialist must acquire the knowledge (e.g.: basic elements in the field of radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and diagnostic imaging; fundamentals of health management, including aspects of safety and occupational medicine, legislative regulations governing the health organization; medical-legal problems inherent in the profession of medical physicist; knowledge of ethics and bioethics) that allow him to express his professionalism as a health worker and to interact positively with other professionals in the health area.
The student will be able to compete for the diploma after completing the professionalizing activities.
As part of the training course, the student will have to learn the scientific bases of the type of School in order to achieve full maturity and professional competence that includes an adequate ability to interpret scientific innovations and critical knowledge that allows him to consciously manage both assistance and his own updating; In this context, participation in meetings, congresses and the production of scientific publications and periods of attendance in qualified Italian and foreign institutions useful for his/her training may be envisaged.