Radiating success: Undergraduates experience real-world applications

Recently, the University of Birmingham and colleagues from imaging joined forces to provide a unique learning experience for physics undergraduates. The event, held at the nuclear medicine department at City Hospital, gave undergraduate students the opportunity to see gamma cameras in operation, learn about specialist anonymised studies and learn about some of the career opportunities available in medical physics and nuclear medicine.

The students had the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals in these fields and to ask questions about the work they do. They were able to understand the real-world applications of physics and how it affects people's lives, as well as gain an insight into the day-to-day workings of the NHS.

Sharing her experience of the event, Senior Clinical Scientist Amelia Perry said, “This event was not only beneficial for the students, but it was also a great opportunity for us to share our knowledge and experiences with the next generation of scientists. The students were able to learn about the latest developments in the field and understand the importance of their work in healthcare. This was an incredible opportunity for the students to see the cutting-edge technology used in radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, and radiation protection.

“The students were also shown some anonymised clinical images of some patient studies in nuclear medicine and given an insight into the processing and analysis required to report these results. They were really enthusiastic to see the huge range of patient anatomy and physiology it’s possible to observe using nuclear medicine. We also showed some quality control images to demonstrate the effect of changing settings on the gamma camera when acquiring a patient study.

“We followed up with a Q&A about some of the jobs available in nuclear medicine, and the three physicists in the department explained

Imaging

their respective paths to working in nuclear medicine. Several students showed an interest in applying for the national training scheme to become a nuclear medicine physicist, and the role of the nuclear medicine technologist was discussed as an alternative for those who were interested in a more hands-on, patient-facing role.

“Overall, the event was a great example of collaboration between the university and our department, and we look forward to future opportunities to work together to provide unique learning experiences for future students and to help train the next generation of clinical scientists. With the success of this event, it's clear that the future of healthcare is in good hands with these bright and ambitious physics undergraduates.”