The Physical Sciences Department supports Peter Mac’s clinical staff in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer through the provision of high quality medical physics and biomedical engineering expertise, the development of new equipment and procedures, and through research.
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Specifically, the department’s role includes:
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- Radiation physics support for clinical radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging.
- Biomedical engineering support for computer systems and the automatic brachytherapy equipment used in radiotherapy, as well as the patient-coupled equipment used in operating theatres and in the wards.
- Responsibility for radiation safety throughout Peter Mac.
- Clinical and developmental research
- Teaching of radiation physics to other Peter Mac staff, eg. to radiation oncology registrars.
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Quality Assurance
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Radiotherapy
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The Physical Sciences Department performs basic and comprehensive checks on all major radiotherapy equipment which are used in planning or delivery of RT, to meet specifications which ensure that in routine clinical operation, the equipment will not limit the accurate delivery of the prescribed dose(s) to the specified anatomical volume(s) - tumours and adjacent organs. The Department also carries out individual in vivo dose measurements, as required, for certain complex treatments where regular dose calculations are considered uncertain.
Technical procedures in external beam radiotherapy are monitored, largely through the Department's day-to-day oversight of treatment planning, while each individual brachytherapy treatment is subject to close checks by a physicist.
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Diagnostic Imaging
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The Physical Sciences Department carries out compliance testing of:
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- Image quality (contrast, spatial resolution) of diagnostic imaging equipment (planar X-ray, CT scanners, fluoroscopy,);
- Operating parameters of X-ray sources (kilovoltage, milliamp settings);
- Radiation dosimetry in and around the x-ray field
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The Department also provides guidance on techniques, procedures and on the correct use of instrumentation.
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Biomedical Engineering
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The Physical Sciences Department performs:
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- Acceptance testing of all electromedical equipment, all electrical installations to patient treatment areas of the hospital, and of all medical laser equipment and installations
- Periodic testing of all the above and preventive maintenance of all electromedical equipment to ensure safety, function and minimum downtime
- Testing of safety interlocks and calibration of surgical laser power output, prior to each treatment session
- Educational/advisory services to users on the safe and correct use of electromedical equipment.
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Radiation Protection
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The Physical Sciences Department is responsible for:
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- Management of the personal radiation monitoring service, whereby all occupationally exposed staff members have their accumulated radiation doses read and recorded at 3-monthly intervals. This serves as an ongoing check of work practices and working environments
- Surveys of radiation levels in and around radiation treatment areas, done regularly and in special circumstances, along with continuous oversight of radiation protection aspects of nuclear medicine, brachytherapy, imaging and nursing practices
- Surveys of radiation levels and consultation on radiation practices in diagnostic imaging
- General oversight of the utilisation of radiation and radioactive materials in Laboratory Research
- Educational/advisory service to users, with respect to radiation safety matters.
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Education
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The Physical Sciences Department participates in educational programs for Peter Mac staff and others.
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- Radiation Physics teaching to registrars training as radiation oncologists.
- Training of medical physicists from developing countries, in conjunction with IAEA.
- Training of junior physicists and physicis registrars for ACPSEM accreditation.
- Supervision of postgraduate training of staff for higher degrees.
- Supervision of project work for university students.
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Research
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The Physical Sciences Department at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is located within the Division of Radiation Oncology. As such, most of its research projects are directly aimed at improving patient care in radiotherapy. However, there are also collaborations outside of the division including both applied and basic research.
The department has 1.5 positions dedicated to research and 3 of its staff members are currently enrolled in research work as part of studies for a higher degree. However, all members of the department are involved in various activities for research and development. Examples for current projects are given below.
We have affiliations with Melbourne University, RMIT, Monash and Wollongong Universities. A particular strength of the group is that it includes both medical physicists and biomedical engineers. This has led to many successful development projects in the past. Examples are the design of a compensating filter cutter, a monitor unit calculation program and the development of a unique parallel plate ionisation chamber for brachytherapy dosimetry.
For more information please see Physical Sciences Research Projects.
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Staff
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Director
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Deputy Director
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| B.E., PhD, Grad Dip Bus (Mgt)
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| FIE Aust,MACPSEM, MIEEE, CPEng
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Principal Research Physicist
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| | FACPSEM, FCCPM, FInstP(UK), MARPS
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Senior Physicists
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| | | | B.Sc (Hons) Dip Ed, M.AppSc
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Junior Physicists and Physics Registrars
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| |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | B.Sc(Phys) M.Sc M.Tech(Mod&Sim)
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Senior Biomedical Engineer
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Biomedical Engineer
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Contact us
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The Physical Science Department has offices at all Peter Mac sites:
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