Medical physicists are the health professionals who provide physics support for clinical radiology services, including diagnostic radiology, radiation therapy and nuclear medicine.
In Demand
The demand for medical physicists has grown exponentially. The use of radiation in medical diagnosis and treatment has increased, with new diagnostic radiology procedures and new types of radiation therapy coming into use. Clinical imaging equipment has become increasingly more sophisticated, requiring greater expertise to operate and maintain. Additionally, medical imaging is being increasingly used in medical research fields such as cancer and neuroscience.
A Master of Science in medical physics is the gateway to the profession.
Medical physicists find impactful and profitable employment. Medical physicists at hospitals earn more than $190,000 per year on average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What Do I Need?
A medical physicist typically has an undergraduate degree in physics, mathematics, or engineering, and wish to enter the work in the medical environment. They then complete an M.S. or Ph.D. in a graduate program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP). An M.S. in medical physics is the typical gateway to the profession. (Our program is CAMPEP-accredited.)
Many states require board certification to become licensed to practice medical physics in that state. All states require the training and coursework specifically in the field of medical physics.
Why Georgetown?
We leverage Georgetown University’s preeminence in medicine to ensure our students understand the human dimension of radiology along with the technical essentials. Our nationwide connections with care providers, researchers, regulators and equipment manufacturers give our students a broad perspective on best practices and opportunities in the field.
Health Science Hub: Washington, D.C., is the ideal location to prepare for or elevate your career in medical physics. The NIH and other national labs are a short drive or Metro ride away, and professional organizations and lobbying groups are abundant in the capital area.
Georgetown has been a name in education and medicine since long before the discovery of radio waves. Today, our students and alumni benefit from our reputation as they work in hospitals and laboratories in the D.C. area and across the nation.
Accomplishment in the Field: Our programs are building on a legacy of continuous innovation. From the invention of the full-body CT machine, to the introduction of scanners in hospital settings, to developments in the growing field of pediatric radiology, Georgetown researchers are leading the way in improving medical care through medical physics.
Our faculty and community partners have pursued a variety of careers in and around medical physics, from equipment development to clinical program management to safety auditing and regulation. Whether you want to run a hospital radiology program or a startup building the next generation of scanning technology, we have the firsthand experience to guide you to success.
Treating All Kinds of Patients: As diagnostic imaging becomes essential to many clinical areas, from cancer care to neurology, practitioners are called upon to deliver services safely and ethically to a diverse patient population.
In particular, pediatric radiology is increasingly necessary, and most equipment has not been designed with children’s comfort and safety in mind, presenting challenges for medical physicists to solve. Our ties to Children’s National Hospital and other specialized programs give our students unparalleled opportunities to learn and work in this growth area.
Learn more about how our two-year curriculum will prepare you for a successful career.
Program Statistics
| Year | Applied | Offered | Accepted | Graduated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Contact Us
Want to learn more about the M.S. in Medical Physics at Georgetown? We welcome you to connect with us and schedule a personalized tour with our faculty.