In the future all accredited radiotherapy physicists should have a PhD
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TOPICAL DEBATE
In the future all accredited radiotherapy physicists should have a PhD Jeremy Booth1 · May Whitaker2 · Clive Baldock3
© Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine 2020
Introduction and overview: Clive Baldock, moderator An important component of a physicist’s education and training to become a qualified medical physics specialist accredited in a particular specialty area is the acquisition of an appropriate postgraduate degree. A further important and compulsory component is the experience gained whilst working in an appropriate clinical environment. Professional bodies in the physical sciences and engineering in medicine, such as the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM), have over many years been responsible for the setting and maintaining of professional standards to ensure the safe and clinicafflly competent practice of medical physicists. This has evolved over the years to comply with legislative and regulatory requirements, international evidence and standards, and the care and safety needs of all patients and staff. With many medical physics specialists entering their chosen profession with a doctoral qualification, or having gained one whilst working in a medical physics environment, it is timely for this Topical Debate to explore the academic level of attainment required to undertake the role of medical physics specialist in the accredited radiotherapy specialisation.1 Arguing for the Proposition is Jeremy Booth, PhD. A/Prof Booth is the Head of Medical Physics at Northern Sydney Cancer Centre and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. A/Prof Booth studied his PhD at the University of Adelaide investigating the dosimetric effect of treatment uncertainties. He trained as a clinical Medical * Clive Baldock [email protected] 1
Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
2
Department of Radiation Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, 119‑143 Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
3
Research and Innovation Division, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
Physicist from 2001 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, before relocating to St Leonards in 2007 as the Deputy Head of Medical Physics at Royal North Shore Hospital and Head of Medical Physics from 2011. A/Prof Booth has maintained a strong interest in image-guided radiotherapy, and more recently adaptive radiotherapy and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in health. He was the ACPSEM Boyce Worthley Award winner in 2015, won the ASTRO Basic Sciences Award in 2014, has more than 20 invited presentations and over 100 publications in refereed journals. A/ Prof Booth has led several world first clinical trials including MLC tracking for prostate and lung, and now leads an industry partnership for adaptive radiotherapy with Varian Medical Systems. Arguing against the proposition is May Whitaker, determinedly and unashamedly PhD-less. Ms Whitaker became the Head o
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