New Biomedical Physics Program Developed at Fresno State

A new biomedical physics undergraduate program at California State University, Fresno offers students the opportunity to prepare for careers in quantitative neurosciences.

The special degree program in the Department of Physics was developed with a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and is one of the first such programs in the nation.

Biomedical physics is an applied branch of physics concerned with the application of the concepts and methods of physics to the diagnosis, management and treatment of human disease. It is allied with medical electronics, bioengineering and health physics. The main areas of application are treatment of cancer by ionizing radiation; imaging with x-rays, ultrasound and magnetic resonance; imaging and treatment with radioisotopes; and protection of occupational workers in radiation-related industries.

The range of specialized courses at Fresno State will include human anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy to magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of the human brain, radiation health physics, diagnostic radiology, measurement systems and instrumentation, conduct of human research and nuclear medicine and its application in neurology.

Dr. Amir Huda, assistant physics professor, who oversaw the grant and program development, said an undergraduate curriculum in the physics of neuroimaging reflects an innovative vision to attract and motivate students to pursue careers in quantitative neurosciences.

Huda said the new program aims to serve as a feeder program for graduate instruction in medical physics/neurosciences by providing a solid foundation in physics, biology and mathematics so that students can handle the challenges of an interdisciplinary program.

In addition to classroom instruction, students will participate in actual clinical training in local area medical centers, summer internships at prospective graduate schools, state-of-the-art laboratories in research institutions, and structured seminars with one-to-one interaction with the best researchers in the country.

For more information, see http://medicalphysics.csufresno.edu or contact Huda at ahuda@csufresno.edu.

Contact: Shirley Melikian Armbruster, (559) 278-2795 or (559) 593-1815