Overview: Two 30 minute talks, followed by coffee, tea and sandwiches.
All interested students and members of the public welcome.
"A Physicist's View of Nuclear
Medicine"
by Dr Michael Groth
Medical Physicist, Royal Hobart Hospital.
Abstract: From an experimental research tool using the artificial radioisotopes produced in the wartime nuclear laboratories, nuclear medicine is now an essential component of the imaging department of a major hospital. Unlike X-rays, CT and ultrasound, nuclear medicine has remained a bit of a mystery to the non-medical layperson, although most of us (or a close relative) will have a nuclear medicine procedure at some stage in our life. This talk will be a random walk through the basics of nuclear medicine, from the initial use of geiger counters to track the movement of simple radioactive chemicals in a patient, to the modern gamma and PET cameras, and the development of radioactive "cruise missiles" to destroy cancer cells. It is a story which is built on advances in physics, nuclear engineering, chemistry and genetic engineering.
Speaker profile (Dr Michael Groth): Michael Groth graduated from the University of Adelaide with a BSc (Hons.) in Physics in 1970, and a PhD from the University of Otago in 1975. He began his career in the field of geophysics, but swapped fields on becoming a medical imaging physicist at the Royal Brisbane Hospital in 1987. Dr Groth moved to Tasmania in January 1997, as a medical physicist at the W.P. Holman Clinic in Hobart. Although primarily employed in the provision of radiotherapy physics services, Dr Groth provides nuclear medicine physics advice to the Tasmanian Health services.
" Computerised Advance in Radiation
Therapy"
by Mr Bob Chappell
Chief Medical Physicist, W P Holman Clinic, Royal Hobart Hospital.
Abstract: Treatment of cancer by radiation started shortly after the discoveries by Roentgen and Becquerel. The post-war period saw a major advance - the use of the linear accelerator for clinical treatment. A linear accelerator was installed in Hobart in 1969. What has been happening since? It will be no surprise that current advances involve computation across many aspects of the treatment problem. If there is, indeed, a second major advance under way, then it is computer driven. This talk will describe the treatment problem, the current impact of computation on radiation treatment as it is delivered in Tasmania, and where we expect it to lead in the next few years.
Speaker Profile: Bob Chappell has been the chief medical physicist at the W.P Holman clinic in Hobart for over twenty years and a long term member of the AIP.