The Department of Medical Physics works in tandem with Department of Radiation Oncology for Radiotherapy of cancer patients. Calibration, Quality Assurance and maintenance of teletherapy machines, treatment planning and dosimetry of teletherapy and brachytherapy treatments, procurements and preparation of radioactive sources and looking after the radiation safety of the staff are some of the important functions carried out by the Department.

The Department is actively involved in dosimetry, data acquisition of various telecobalt machines, Linear Accelerators, and planning and execution of sophisticated techniques like Multileaf collimeter (MLC), Stereotactic and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Treatment (IMRT)

In addition, the Department also advises and assists other departments like Plastic Surgery, Radiology, Transfusion Medicine and the Cancer Research Institute regarding matters of radiation source procurement, radiation safety and waste disposal. Members

The department is actively involved in research and academic activities. A large number of scientific publications have been brought out by the staff members in international and national journals.

Vision:
The Department of Medical Physics shall be the premier radiation physics program in this part of world, based on the expertise of its staff, outstanding dedication, the best clinical physics service powered by research, advanced technology, education and learning environment

Mission:
Our mission includes quality patient care, adopting advanced radiation technology, education and training to residents and fellows. Research efforts focus on improving patient care

1. Provide outstanding Medical physics service for the effective, safe and efficient delivery of cutting edge treatments achieved through research, process improvement, technology, and automation.
   
   
2. Conduct innovative and highest quality research and development leading to new and more effective radiation treatment methodologies.
   
   
3. Offer an environment that encourages and supports learning and intellectual development; provides educational and training programs for students, post-doctoral fellows, residents and faculty to enhance their productivity; and to produce professionals and leaders for the needs of our profession.
   
   
4. Attract and foster the most talented staff who, share the vision and the core values of the Department, Division, and the Cancer Center and have common goals.

Department

The Department of Medical Physics provides clinical support, performs research, and outreach to physicists and medical physics centers with educational opportunities and quality assurance services.

Medical physicists assist the Division of Radiation Oncology in treating 400 teletherapy and 12-15 brachytherapy patients daily ensuring that each treatment is safely and accurately administered.

The staff has acquired expertise in all advanced treatment techniques like IMRT, SRT, SRS, 3DCRT etc.

Equipment:

The equipment includes a wide range of state of art therapy machines and dosimetry instruments (Table 1). There are also departmental networking facilities, range of modern computersand workstations.

TABLE 1:

Research:

Current research Projects:

• Evaluation of different detectors for IMRT dosimetry
• Design of an IMRT phantom
• 3DCRT Vs IMRT Trail for Head and Neck
• 3DCRT Vs IMRT Trail for Cervix

Department has latest state of the art equipment for external radiotherapy as well as brachytherapy. We have established the advanced techniques like Stereotactic treatment and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT).

Also keeping in mind parallel new technologies in ACTREC, studies in following areas are planned:

• Electronic Portal Imaging (EPID) based IMRT dose verification
• Absolute dose verification for IMRT using different ion chambers & TLD
• Peripheral dose in dynamic multi-leaf IMRT treatment
• Quality Assurance protocols for new Virtual Simulation technique
• Design of IMRT phantom with in-homogeniety
• Pencil Beam data measurement for BrainScan system
• Dosimetric comparison of Dynamic and Step & shoot IMRT (ACTREC)
• Comparative analysis of treatment planning systems for 3-D conformal and IMRT techniques (ACTREC)
• Equipment evaluation of indigenous Telecobalt machine (ACTREC)
  

EDUCATION AND TRAINING: