Regulation of in-house developed radiation oncology software in Australia
Software developed within radiation oncology departments can be used to facilitate improved patient care and improve the efficiency of various clinical processes. However the risks associated with the use of such software needs to be considered, as do legal or…
Metropolitan Vickers patient treatments
The number of courses delivered on Australia’s first clinical linear accelerator, a Metropolitan Vickers “Orthotron” Series I (LA1 at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital) between 1957 and 9/9/1983 is listed below; taken from personal communication. The number of patients…
Radium treatments of lesions
The following notes for the treatment of lesions using radium (beginning 1928 in Queensland) are taken from KM Hoffman’s The History of the Queensland Cancer Trust and the Queensland Radium Institute. Radium was most frequently used for surface lesions: Most…
Advice for medical physics job interviews
I’ve frequently received requests for advice from medical physics Masters graduates that have been offered interviews for trainee positions. In an earlier post I mentioned that poor interview preparedness was the most common complaint from heads of department regarding candidates. Given the…
Megavoltage treatment introduction in Australia
Australia was one of the first nations to utilise MV radiation therapy equipment, with three among the first dozen clinical linear accelerators being installed in Australia in 1956 and 1957 (Thwaites and Tuohy, 2006). The number of MV teletherapy systems…
ROMP TEAP completion schedule
The ACPSEM Radiation Oncology Medical Physics (ROMP) Training, Education and Assessment Program (TEAP) aims to provide the training and education required to become a certified radiation oncology medical physicist. The program is designed to be completed within 3 years by a…
Advice for medical physics job seekers
The employment market for medical physics registrar positions in Australia is a competitive one. Between May and July 2016 I conducted a survey of heads of departments that had advertised for medical physics registrars recently (mostly from 2015 onwards), asking…
Past RBWH treatment systems
The tables below list treatment units at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital prior to 2003; as transcribed from handwritten equipment records. Megavoltage treatment units Prior to 2003, these units were located in Block 8B (LA1 + LA2) and Block…
Miss Helen Farran
Miss Helen Elizabeth Anne Farran (B.Sc) succeeded Miss Dorothy Wellington (described here), the first clinical physicist in Australia, at the Melbourne Hospital. In 1947 Miss Farran was one of the trainers for a one year Radiotherapy course conducted at the Melbourne…
Radiotherapy in Australia: Pre-1900
The discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895 prompted excitement around the world, including in Australia. The therapeutic application of “Röntgen rays” was explored almost immediately – here are the milestones of those early years in Australia. References Bailey…
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