Medical physics is a branch of physics concerned with the application of physics to medicine, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. The main areas of interest are in the treatment of cancer by ionizing radiation (radiation oncology), in diagnostic imaging with x rays, ultrasound and nuclear magnetic resonance (diagnostic radiology), in diagnostic imaging with radionuclides (nuclear medicine) and in the study of radiation hazards and radiation protection (health physics).
Medical physics courses were first offered at the UWI, Mona in 2008. In 2009, following the installation of new equipment sponsored under an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) project, the programme was expanded into a major and a minor within the Department of Physics.
UWI-Mona Department of Physics Mona offers an undergraduate major (BSc) in Medical Physics, Biomedical Radiation Sciences, a Master of Science (MSc) and a graduate diploma (Dip.) in Medical Physics and Clinical Medical Physics.
There are also numerous research opportunities in our Radioecological research Lab. The medical physics courses and research projects are designed to complement the quality of health care services offered in Jamaica. Students are exposed to state- of- the art equipment that assesses physiological measurements which includes heart rate, lead levels in blood and bone density. Current research projects seek to address local health problems such as heavy metal toxicity and radiation hazards and monitoring.
| Equipment | Description | Sampling |
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| Niton XL3t Handheld XRF Analyser | Qualitative elemental analysis of solid samples. Can detect elements with atomic number higher than that of sodium. | Soil, Dust wipes, Metal surfaces, any solid surface |
| Radon/Thoron detection system- Rad7 Detector | Quantitative Analysis of Radon 222 and Radon 220 (Thoron) levels using real-time detection and analysis of an alpha spectrum, identifying them based on their signature peaks. | Air, Soil (in-situ), Water (in-situ) and water (in-vitro) |
| ADInstruments PowerLab 15T with Human Physiology Kit |
A combination of interchangeable sensors allowing recording of 3 sensors to be done simultaneously. ECG EMG Blood pressure |
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| AccuDEXA 7100 BMD Assessment System | A system that uses DEXA to determine bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the phalanges (fingers). Can be used to determine bone fracture probability. | |
| QuarkNet Cosmic Ray Muon Detector 600 with 4 flat Scintillation Detectors (8” x 11” x ¾”) | Detection of secondary particles due to interaction of Muon beams with the atmosphere using scintillators and photomultiplier tubes. | Air |
| Canberra - Gamma Spectrometry (Research system) | System continuously measures the frequency and energy level of each gamma particle, creating a energy spectrum of incident gamma radiation. This can be used to determine the nature of the emitting source. | Soil, food, water |
| Audiometric testing system | Portable & non-portable system allows determination of hearing threshold (minimum sound intensity a person is sensitive to) for frequencies in range of 125hz-8000Hz. Using air conduction or bone conduction. |
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Radiation and Health • Evaluation of Jamaican background radiation profile • Cosmic rays |
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Environmental applications of Radon • Radon in household water and mineral springs |
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Heavy metals exposure and Health • Heavy metal effects on chronic kidney disease • Lead poisoning in children • Prenatal mercury exposure • Elemental composition of food packaging and plastic bottles |
Our 7 faculties and 12 professional schools offer more than 200 programmes to some 18,000 graduate, undergraduate and continuing studies students.
The UWI, Mona ranks first in Jamaica among accredited tertiary-level programmes. In 2012, the University was again one of Jamaica’s Top 100 Employers.
