How Does Physics Impact Modern Medical Practices?

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SUMMARY

Physics significantly influences modern medical practices through fields such as medical physics and biomedical engineering. Key applications include radiation therapy, medical imaging techniques (CT, MRI, PET, SPECT, ultrasound, mammography), nuclear medicine, and process engineering. To engage in medical engineering, pursuing an undergraduate degree in physics or engineering is essential, along with seeking research opportunities. These disciplines will continue to shape advancements in healthcare technology and patient treatment methodologies.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of medical physics principles
  • Familiarity with biomedical engineering concepts
  • Knowledge of medical imaging technologies (CT, MRI, PET, etc.)
  • Basic grasp of radiation therapy techniques
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the field of medical physics and its applications in healthcare
  • Explore biomedical engineering programs and their curriculum
  • Investigate advancements in medical imaging technologies
  • Learn about radiation therapy methods and their clinical implications
USEFUL FOR

Students considering careers in healthcare technology, professionals in medical physics and biomedical engineering, and anyone interested in the intersection of physics and medicine.

Tyler28
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Just a few questions I'm looking for my future career decisions anything would be more than helpful, I'm only a freshman as of now.
first off, what major ways does physics influence the medical field?
second, what engineering influences are there in typical medical practice?
last, how can one get more involved with the development of medical engineering?
 
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Tyler28 said:
Just a few questions I'm looking for my future career decisions anything would be more than helpful, I'm only a freshman as of now.
first off, what major ways does physics influence the medical field?
second, what engineering influences are there in typical medical practice?
last, how can one get more involved with the development of medical engineering?

Did you try to find this for yourself? I mean, Google is at your fingertips.

I entered "what major ways does physics influence the medical field?" exactly as the way you typed it, and one of the first results I get was this:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02841860802244158

I suspect that you will get the same type of results if you try all your other questions. There is very little excuse to ask a question cold nowadays.

Zz.
 
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ZapperZ said:
Did you try to find this for yourself? I mean, Google is at your fingertips.

I entered "what major ways does physics influence the medical field?" exactly as the way you typed it, and one of the first results I get was this:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02841860802244158

I suspect that you will get the same type of results if you try all your other questions. There is very little excuse to ask a question cold nowadays.

Zz.
ya I did I am just looking for more personal experiences though, from people in that field of study
 
Those are pretty broad questions, so it's tough to answer without narrowing things down a little.

You might want to start by looking up the fields of medical physics and biomedical engineering. Both physics and engineering have had and will continue to have major impacts on the medical field for years to come. Some major examples include:
- radiation therapy
- medical imaging (CT, MRI, PET, SPECT, ultrasound, mammography, etc.)
- nuclear medicine
- process engineering and control theory
- modeling disease progression and response
- nanomaterial design and fabrication
- human factors engineering

There are a lot of avenues toward getting involved. Most start with an undergraduate degree in either physics or engineering. While you're doing that, you can look for opportunities to get involved in research that you find interesting. The further you go academically, the more opportunities there are.
 
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Choppy said:
Those are pretty broad questions, so it's tough to answer without narrowing things down a little.

You might want to start by looking up the fields of medical physics and biomedical engineering. Both physics and engineering have had and will continue to have major impacts on the medical field for years to come. Some major examples include:
- radiation therapy
- medical imaging (CT, MRI, PET, SPECT, ultrasound, mammography, etc.)
- nuclear medicine
- process engineering and control theory
- modeling disease progression and response
- nanomaterial design and fabrication
- human factors engineering

There are a lot of avenues toward getting involved. Most start with an undergraduate degree in either physics or engineering. While you're doing that, you can look for opportunities to get involved in research that you find interesting. The further you go academically, the more opportunities there are.
Thank you, that is more helpful than you know!
 

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