PROGRAM RESEARCH

MEDICAL PHYSICS & HEALTH PHYSICS PROGRAM

The medical physics and health physics groups research the applications of radiation technology to the health-care, national defense, and nuclear energy industries. The Medical Physics and Health Physics Program presently offers the M.S. degree, which requires that the student complete a research thesis. The Program offers Specialization in Medical Physics within the PhD degree in Physics, which requires the student complete dissertation research in Medical Physics or Health Physics research.

Research Faculty

• Jonas Fontenot, Ph.D. - Adjunct Assistant Professor
• John P. Gibbons , Ph.D. - Adjunct Associate Professor
• Kenneth R. Hogstrom, Ph.D. - Professor and Director
• Kenneth L. Matthews, II, Ph.D. - Associate Professor
• Brent Parker, Ph.D. - Adjunct Assistant Professor
• Michael Price, Ph.D. - Adjunct Assistant Professor
• Erno Sajo, Ph.D. - Associate Professor
• Polad Shikhaliev, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor

Areas of Research Concentration

Medical Physics Research

• Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy
• Image-guided Radiotherapy
• X-ray Capture Therapy
• Prostate Brachytherapy Dosimetry
• Intravascular Radioisotope Imaging
• X-ray Imaging Detectors

Health Physics Research

• Radiation Damage in DNA
• Aerosol Transport
• Radiation Detectors for Medical Physics, Health Physics and Security Application

Research Facilities

• Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
• CAMD Synchrotron Radiation Facility
• Animal Irradiation Facilities
• Nuclear Science Building
• Radiation Detector Development Lab
• Computing Facilities
• Design & Construction Shops

Recent Student Theses

Graduation Student Advisor Title Abstract/PDF Link 2009 Ricky Hesston Gibbons Dosimetric Evaluation of a Delivery Verification and Dose Reconstruction Method for Helical Tomotherapy Link 2009 Shima Ito Parker Impact of Intrafraction Motion on Post-Mastectomy TomoTherapy of the Chest Wall Link 2008 Christopher Welch Matthews Computed Tomography Imaging to Quantify Iodine Distribution in IUdR-Labeled DNA Link 2008 Jason Matney Parker Determination of CTV-to-ITV Margins for Free-Breathing Respiratory-Gated Treatments Using 4DCT and the Novalis ExacTrac Gating System with Implanted Fiducials Link 2008 David Perrin Hogstrom Segmented Field Electron Conformal Therapy Planning Algorithm Link 2008 Morrow, Andrew Matthews PET/CT Detectability and Classification of Simulated Pulmonary Nodules Using an SUV Correction Scheme Link 2008 Oves, Scott Hogstrom Dosimetry Intercomparison using a 35-keV Synchrotron Beam Link 2007 Hill, William Matthews Experimental Investigation of an Electronically Collimated Radiation Detector for Location of Gamma-Ray Sources Link 2007 Vinci, Justin Hogstrom Accuracy of Cranial Coplanar Beam Therapy with BrainLAB ExacTrac Image Guidance Link 2007 Beardmore, Allen Rosen Evaluation of MVCT Images with Skin Collimation for Electron Treatment Planning Link 2007 Smith, Koren Gibbons Investigation of Superficial Dose from a Static TomoTherapy Beam Link 2007 Lackie, Adams Matthews Directional Algorithm for an electronically-collimated radiation detector Link 2006 Robinson, Jabari Sajo Verifcation of Direct Brachytherapy Dosimetry for a Single Seed Impact Link 2006 Ashenafi, Michael Boyd TomoTherapy for post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT): Comparison with conventional electron beam technique Link 2006 Richert, John Hogstrom Improved abutment dosimetry in segmented-field electron conformal therapy Link 2005 Kelley, Laurie Matthews Performance evaluation of two CZT gamma ray imaging systems Link 2005 Bernstein, Kenneth Matthews ROC comparison of Acquisition parameters for two PET/CT scanners based on lesion detectability in a torso phantom Link 2005 Jarrett, Michael Sajo Experimental method development for direct dosimetry of permanent interstitial prostate brachytherapy implants Link 2005 Nookala, Prashanth Matthews Modification of CT quality assurance phantom for PET/CT alignment and PET resolution Link