A global perspective in contemporary medical physics

This paper aims to outline the current status, major development directions, and challenges faced in the field of global medical physics, with a focus on education, certification, and technology. Based on the organizational structure of the International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP), the paper explores the different characteristics and challenges of medical physics development in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and Africa from a regional perspective. These regions represent different stages of global medical physics development and highlight the importance of regional-based international cooperation in advancing medical physics. While these regions face unique issues, they also share the common goal of improving medical practices through the advancement of medical physics. In countries with matured medical physics development, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan are representative. The United States trains highly specialized medical physicists through rigorous education systems, clinical residency programs, and certification processes, ensuring the safety and precision of clinical practice. The integration of research and clinical applications in the United States enables the country to remain at the forefront of technological innovations in medical physics. The United Kingdom has played an important role in the development of radiotherapy technology. Despite challenges such as equipment and human resource shortages, it is actively expanding training programs to meet healthcare demands. Moreover, the United Kingdom has focused on making radiotherapy treatments more efficient and accessible, adapting to evolving patient needs and technological advancements. Japan demonstrates a leadership role in technology within the Asia region, vigorously promoting certification systems and establishing professional status. Japan's commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology with clinical practice has placed it in a leadership position, particularly in the fields of diagnostic imaging and charged particle radiation therapy. As a rapidly developing country, China has made significant progress in the field of medical physics. It is actively enhancing the medical physics education system, strengthening international cooperation, advancing discipline construction, and accelerating talent cultivation. China's investment in research and development, as well as its emphasis on cross-disciplinary collaboration, has fueled rapid advancements in the field. Although there is still ample room for improvement in educational standardization and resource allocation, China is continuously narrowing the gap through reform and innovation. The country is also making strides in developing its advanced medical technologies and is increasingly becoming a key player in the global medical physics landscape. By comparing the practical experiences of different regions and countries, this paper aims to deepen the understanding of the global development trends and future challenges in medical physics, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration and knowledge sharing. The study underscores how each region's unique challenges-whether economic, technological, or educational-can be addressed through collaborative initiatives that foster mutual learning and advancement. By optimizing educational resources, promoting advanced technology, and enhancing standardization, countries can accelerate the narrowing of development gaps, collectively meet the growing global demand for high-quality healthcare services, and promote the sustainable development of medical physics. Such efforts will ensure that medical physics continues to evolve in line with the needs of an increasingly interconnected and globalized healthcare environment.

Duke Scholars

Author Jing Cai Radiation Oncology