Medical Physics

Master of Science in Medical Physics (MSMP)

Whether you’re interested in providing radiation therapy to cancer patients or diving into diagnostic imaging physics, our Master of Science in Medical Physics (MSMP) program sets the foundation you need to excel in residency, on your board-certification exams, and in your future pursuits.

Vanderbilt MSMP students pose in their radiation vests
  • 100%
  • Residency Match Rate

    After completing the MSMP, you’ll be ready to apply to residency for your final two years of clinical training. MSMP graduates are also equipped to pursue a Ph.D. in medical physics and/or complete the first part of the 3-part American Board of Radiology certification exam.

    100% of MSMP graduates pursuing residency have successfully matched in the past 5 years. View more student outcome data.

Program Features

5 Semesters of Challenging Coursework

Your first year will lay the theoretical groundwork for your future career. Then you’ll engage in coursework related to your specialization track in Year 2. 

Small Group Learning Environment

Most classes have fewer than 6 students, providing plentiful opportunities for collaboration with students and faculty, one-on-one instruction, and feedback. 

200+ Hours of Clinical Practicum

You’ll be involved in clinical settings from Day 1, with your responsibilities gradually building so that you’ll be equipped to perform residency-level tasks by the end of Year 2. 

Experience at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

During the program, you’ll work with a wide variety of state-of-the-art diagnostic and radiation therapy equipment and be involved in daily quality assurance around VUMC. 

Learn From Faculty with Interdisciplinary Expertise

Throughout your coursework and practicum hours, our faculty will be providing guidance, direct feedback, and support each step of the way. 

MSMP Beyond Coursework

  • Practicum: Hands-On Clinic Work

    Though the MSMP centers on coursework, clinical experience remains crucial to this step of your medical physics training. 

    Whether you’re shadowing a radiologist, running quality assurance, or learning to operate the latest of radiation-producing technology, you’ll be involved in clinical settings from Day 1. 

    Over the course of your two years here, you’ll complete 200+ hours of clinical practicum, and your responsibilities will gradually build so that, by the end of Year 2, you’ll be equipped to perform residency-level tasks. 

    • Work with the wide variety of state-of-the-art diagnostic and radiation therapy equipment available at VUMC 
    • Verify personal treatment plans for various patients 
    • Discuss new techniques, like online adaptive radiation therapy and radiosurgery 
    • Get involved in the daily quality assurance around our medical center 
    • See firsthand what day-to-day life looks like as a radiation therapy or diagnostic imaging resident 

    Throughout your practicum hours, our expert faculty will be providing guidance, direct feedback, and support each step of the way. 

  • Research: Produce New Knowledge in Your Field

    As a medical physicist, other professionals in your space will look to you as an innovator for diagnostic imaging technology and or for radiotherapy treatment delivery in the medical field. Research experience in grad school is a great place to start. 

    In our optional thesis pathway, you can: 

    • Gain exposure to the breadth of medical physics research 
    • Develop a close working relationship with an expert faculty member as your research adviser 
    • Stay on the cutting-edge of medical physics by further exploring developing technologies and treatments 
    • Learn to manage your time and work independently on your research thesis 
    • Gain interdisciplinary scientific experience working with faculty and students involved in related research 
    • Learn the foundation of scientific writing and prepare a research paper summarizing your work to submit to a conference or journal 
    • Discern whether pursuing an independent research PhD in medical physics might be the right next step for you. 

    Even if you’re fully committed to a clinic-based career, our research thesis option will help you develop experience with innovative technologies and learn time-management skills crucial for working independently. 

  • What's Next

    After completing an MSMP in radiation therapy or diagnostic imaging, you’ll be equipped to: 

    Apply to residency for your final two years of clinical training 

    Academic medical centers across the country offer various residency programs for radiation therapy and diagnostic imaging— including a radiation therapy residency right here at Vanderbilt. 

    Pursue a Ph.D. in medical physics or closely-related field for a research- or academic-oriented career. 

    Historically, some of our MSMP students have continued graduate study by joining the Vanderbilt University Physics Ph.D. program and developing a dissertation on a medical physics topic. 

    Complete the first part of the 3-part American Board of Radiology (ABR) certification exam: 

    • Part 1: a computer-based exam generally taken immediately after completing your MSMP graduate coursework 
    • Part 2: a computer-based exam focusing on specialty-specific knowledge in your discipline (i.e., radiation therapy or diagnostic imaging), generally taken near the end of your residency 
    • Part 3: an oral exam covering the same knowledge base as Part 2, generally taken after completion of your residency 

     

[Vanderbilt’s MSMP] is not solely focused on the didactics but on how medical physicists can benefit their radiation oncology departments. That interprofessional learning is something I have enjoyed about my experience at Vanderbilt.

Shane Welsh Shane Welsh

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Learn more about the application process, prerequisites, and cost of attendance. Questions? Send us an email.