Radiology Science and Physics

The Radiological Sciences section of The Department of Radiology includes faculty with degrees in the sciences of radiology. This includes those trained in medical physics, engineering, chemistry and pharmacy sciences related to radiology. Medical physics is a branch of applied physics, which utilizes concepts and methods of physics to help diagnose and treat human disease. Medical physicists in Texas must be licensed by the State of Texas in the practice of medical physics and be board certified by either of the following: The American Board of Radiology, The American Board of Medical Physics or The American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine. Currently, the basic science faculty is comprised of a medical physicist with a PhD degree.

The faculty of the Radiological Sciences section provides basic science training through didactic and laboratory teaching in basic, atomic and nuclear physics, instrumentation, functional, anatomical, and interventional medical imaging, safety, chemistry including magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and basic research in radiology. Graduate training is provided to radiology fellows, radiology residents and medical students. The same topics also are part of the training of medical imaging technologists. In addition the basic scientists contribute to the daily clinical work in the department and to both basic and clinical research in radiology as well as performing administrative duties related to the Radiological Sciences section.

Radiological Science curriculum for residents in radiology lasts for one year and includes three one hour lectures per week covering all the basic sciences, instrumentation and radiation safety in radiology.  Medical imaging technology training includes a four month course in basic atomic and nuclear physics for nuclear medicine, a four month course in radiation safety, a four month course in nuclear medicine instrumentation and three four month courses in basic and advanced magnetic resonance imaging physics and instrumentation.

Faculty conduct research in most areas of medical imaging including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), functional brain imaging such as fMRI, ultrasound imaging, nuclear medicine imaging and 3-D imaging, 3-D image processing and many other forms of image processing and analysis.  In addition, research has been proposed that includes a novel and unique delivery and presentation of the physics of radiology utilizing a curriculum based on the WWW, state-of-the-art video streaming technology and computer-generated 3-D models and animations, which will augment and improve student comprehension and understanding.

One of the areas of emphasis in the Radiological Sciences section is developing 3-D imaging in radiology. 3-D imaging does not supplant traditional training and diagnosis of routine tomographic and planar clinical radiographic imaging but provides methods of significant image enhancement. 3-D images frequently give a global view of clinical problems and permit interactivity with the 3-D image for better anatomical display. 3-D image immersion permits the physician to view the anatomy from within the patient without an invasive procedure. Patient care improvements have been demonstrated in providing better clinical, interventional and surgical planning. Global and immersive views of the anatomy from CT, MRI, Nuclear and Ultrasound make medical training easier and enhance communication between the physician and the patient. A natural consequence of 3-D image reconstruction is the anatomical quantitation that is possible. This has been applied, for example, in the volume measurement of anatomical features including tumors and other anatomical anomalies. This 3-D imaging technology is rapidly developing, has become routine in specific clinical imaging protocols and is becoming integrated into the training of medical students and radiologists.