True Tales of Medical Physics (eBook)

Since the discovery of the x-ray over 125 years ago, scientists and medical professionals alike have harnessed the power of the atom to heal and protect. This book brings together an all-star cast of high-profile and award-winning scholars, introducing the general readership to an often unnoticed yet societally vital profession - medical physics. This collection of personal short stories offers an informal, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of these esteemed professionals, encapsulating their transformative 'aha' moments within a whimsical hodgepodge of instructive and inspiring anecdotes. They even pass on words of wisdom discovered from their diverse experiences throughout the academic, clinical, and commercial worlds. The wealth of information packed into these vignettes runs the gamut from practical career advice to lighthearted tales of humorous misadventure, providing a tremendous overview of the breadth and depth of medical physics as a career and discipline while imparting sage advice that extends well beyond the field. In his Foreword to this book Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, provides his strong endorsement of the life-saving work carried out by medical physicists and the profession as a whole.

Jacob Van Dyk is Professor Emeritus of Oncology and Medical Biophysics at the Western University, London, Ontario, Canada, and Former Head of Physics and Engineering at the London Regional Cancer Program (LRCP) of the London Health Sciences Centre. He has over 40 years of experience in the practical facets of radiation oncology physics with 24 years at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (1971-1995); 15 years at the London Regional Cancer Program (LRCP), London, Ontario, Canada (1995-2010); and nearly two years at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria (2009-2011). During his tenure at PMH, he took a one-year leave of absence (1974-1975) to work at the Centre de Radiothérapy, Hôpital Cantonal de Génève, in Geneva, Switzerland.