Author: Jessica Fagerstrom 👨🔬
Affiliation: University of Washington 🌍
Purpose:
To explore how interdisciplinary partnerships between physics educators and medical physicists can enhance student preparation for careers in medical physics by integrating applied medical physics concepts into high school and undergraduate physics curricula and to highlight the potential of leveraging educational platforms, such as the Living Physics Portal, to introduce students to real-world applications of physics in healthcare.
Methods:
Potential strategies for collaboration between the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and AAPM were examined, focusing on ways to introduce medical physics concepts into early education. These strategies include guest lectures, outreach programs, and mentorship opportunities led by medical physicists. The Living Physics Portal, an online platform developed in part by AAPT, was identified as a valuable resource for educators aiming to integrate real-world applications of physics, including medical physics, into their curricula. Anecdotal evidence from existing collaborations suggests that such partnerships can positively influence student interest in medical physics.
Results:
Initial feedback from educators and students involved in outreach indicates increased interest in medical physics. The use of real-world case studies, such as those available through the Living Physics Portal, has the potential to make physics more engaging and relevant for students. Partnerships between medical physicists and educators may encourage students to consider careers in medical physics earlier in their academic journeys.
Conclusion:
Interdisciplinary partnerships between AAPT and AAPM have the potential to significantly enhance student preparedness for careers in medical physics. By fostering early awareness and interest in applied physics fields, these collaborations can create a more informed and motivated pipeline of students entering medical physics graduate programs. Continued development and evaluation of such initiatives are essential to addressing workforce shortages and advancing the field.