1. MEDICAL PHYSICS TRAINING IN THE PHILIPPINES
IAEA/RCA National Project Coordinators' Meeting to Review the Status of Medical Physics in the Region
Dhaka, Bangladesh May 2008
MEDICAL PHYSICS TRAINING IN THE PHILIPPINES
LILIAN V. RODRIGUEZ, MSc
Dept. of Radiotherapy,
Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center

2. The Philippines
Land area : 300,000 km2
Population: 90M

3. The Philippines 7100 islands 3 major group of islands
Language-Filipino
170 dialects

4. Historical Background
1963 : Philippine General Hospital acquired Cobalt 60 unit
Dr. Cook, British medical physicist, trained Luciano Niguidula, on site for 6 months on calibration and radiation treatment planning
1969 : Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (now Philippine Nuclear Research Institute) sent Eulinia M. Valdezco for MSc Medical Physics course in UK
1974 : Radiation Health Service (now Bureau of Health Devices and Technology or BHDT) was established.
1975 : Dr. Celia T. Anatalio , Director, started hiring Physics graduates (Carmen Filamor, Arturo Sy, Agnette Peralta, Romeo Sope) and sending them for on the job training in Australia and New Zealand
A.P.Peralta

5. Historical Background
1978: Philippine government submitted to International Atomic Energy Agency project proposal for technical assistance in “Establishing an MS Medical Physics Course in the Philippines”, a joint project of :
Radiation Health Service, National Cancer Control Center, DOH
Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, DOST and
University of Santo Tomas (UST) Graduate School
(total project cost from 1980 to 1992: US$287,598)
: Philippine Government sent 5 Filipinos for MSc Medical Physics Courses in UK and US
1981: MS Applied Physics Major in Medical Physics Course established at UST Graduate School – Ms. Agnette Peralta, later on became the Course Coordinator
A.P.Peralta

6. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND (continued)
First Batch of Graduates of the IAEA supported MS Applied Physics Major in Medical Physics: Marlon Raul Tecson, Bayani San Juan, Rosita Uy, Aida Lobriquito, Monica Bacaling and Edgar Estoesta
Philippine Organization of Medical Physicists (POMP) established and became International Organization for Medical Physics member (IOMP)
POMP became member of Asia-Oceania Federation of Organizations of Medical Physics
2001 POMP became member of South East Asian Federation of Organizations of Medical Physics (SEAFOMP)
A.P.Peralta

7. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND (continued)
2002 The Philippines included in new IAEA project “Strengthening Medical Physics through Education and Training” in East Asia and the Pacific
Master in Medical Physics Course (2nd masteral course) established at UST Graduate School
nd MOA for Medical Physics signed: DOH, DOST, UST and UST Hospital
th SEACOMP Congress held at UST Graduate School
A.P.Peralta

8. Medical Physics Course
Taken from Vision Magazine, 2000
The University of Santo Tomas (1611) Graduate School (1931)

9. Medical Physics Course
IAEA support ( )
Experts (Drs. David Hawkes, Lars Eric Larsson, Bengt Bjarngard, Guy Simmons, Malcolm Cottral, David Goodenough etc.)
Books
Dosemeters and test tools
Phantoms (water phantoms and Rando phantom)
3 PC computers

10. Course Program Overview
The Master of Science in Applied Physics major in Medical Physics (MSc) and Master in Medical Physics (MMP) are two year graduate degree programs
The course is intended to meet the need for qualified medical physicists in hospital departments especially in radiotherapy, diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine; the national regulatory agencies with responsibilities in radiation protection and the research and academic institutions

11. Admission Requirements
BS Physics, Applied Physics, Physics for Teachers
BS Engineering or other Sciences with at least 12 units in Physics (up to Modern Physics), 21 units of Mathematics (covering Algebra, Trigonometry, Differential and Integral Calculus, Differential Equations and Vector Analysis)
General average of at least 2.0, 85% or B
Complete accomplished application and referral forms

12. First Semester (13 units) Introduction to Life Sciences (MedPhy 603) 3
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS GRADUATE SCHOOL
MEDICAL PHYSICS GRADUATE PROGRAM :
CURRENT CURRICULUM
FIRST YEAR:
First Semester (13 units)
Introduction to Life Sciences (MedPhy 603) 3
Radiation Physics (MedPhy 602)
Physics of Diagnostic Radiology (MedPhy 704) 3
Radiation Protection and Radiobiology I (MedPhy 701) 3
Practicum in Diagnostic Radiology 1

13. UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS GRADUATE SCHOOL
MEDICAL PHYSICS GRADUATE PROGRAM :
CURRENT CURRICULUM
FIRST YEAR:
Second Semester (11 units)
Radiation Dosimetry (MedPhy 703) Radiation Protection and Radiobiology II (MedPhy 702) Physics of Nuclear Medicine (MedPhy 705) Physics of Ultrasound (MedPhy 707) Practicum in Nuclear Medicine

14. Biostatistics (MedPhy 601) 3
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS GRADUATE SCHOOL
MEDICAL PHYSICS GRADUATE PROGRAM :
CURRENT CURRICULUM
Summer (6 units)
Biostatistics (MedPhy 601)
St. Thomas on Critical Thinking (GS 500)

15. Second Year: First Semester (8 units)
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS GRADUATE SCHOOL
MS Applied Physics Major in MEDICAL PHYSICS GRADUATE PROGRAM :
CURRENT CURRICULUM
Second Year:
First Semester (8 units)
Physics of Radiation Therapy (MedPhy 706)
Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (MedPhy 708)
Research Methodology with Instrumentation (GS 501) 3

16. COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS Second Year: Second Semester (7 units)
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS GRADUATE SCHOOL
MS Applied Physics Major in MEDICAL PHYSICS GRADUATE PROGRAM :
CURRENT CURRICULUM
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS
Second Year:
Second Semester (7 units)
Thesis Writing I (Research Proposal )
Thesis Writing II (Research Colloqium)
Thesis Writing III (Oral defense)
Practicum in Radiotherapy
Total No. of Units (45)

17. Second Year: First Semester (11 units)
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS GRADUATE SCHOOL
MASTER MEDICAL PHYSICS GRADUATE PROGRAM :
CURRENT CURRICULUM
Second Year:
First Semester (11 units)
Physics of Radiation Therapy (MedPhy 706)
Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (MedPhy 708)
Research Methodology with Instrumentation (GS 501) 3
Special Topics in Medical Physics (MedPhy 709)

18. Second Year: Second Semester (7 units)
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS GRADUATE SCHOOL
MASTER MEDICAL PHYSICS GRADUATE PROGRAM :
CURRENT CURRICULUM
Second Year:
Second Semester (7 units)
Practicum in Radiation Therapy
Imaging in Medicine
Graduate Seminar
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS
TOTAL NUMBER of UNITS (48)

19. Training Courses in Radiotherapy, Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
1992 – One month course in Medical Imaging conducted by Dr. Goodenough (WHO) held at DOH-BHDT, Manila
1996- Regional Training Course on QA in Radiation Therapy Dosimetry, conducted by Dr. Ben Mijnheer, et. al. Danarra Hotel, Q.C.
1997 – Three week course on Advanced Course in Quality Control in Diagnostic conducted by Dr. Joel Gray (WHO) held at DOH-BHDT
1999- Advances in Nuclear Medicine Training Course (IAEA) conducted by Dr. Guy Simmons held at PNRI, Quezon City
2000- IAEA Seminar Workshop on Radiotherapy Safety conducted by Dr. Pedro Ortiz, et. al. held at PNRI, Quezon City
B.SanJuan

20. Training Courses in Radiotherapy, Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
2002 – IAEA/RCA Workshop on Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine conducted by Dr. Madan Rehani, et. al. held at PNRI, Quezon City
2003
Quality Assurance and Radiation Protection in Interventional Radiology, CT and Mammography equipment conducted by Dr. John Vetter (WHO)
Physics and Quality Assurance of MRI by Dr. John Felmlee (WHO)
B.SanJuan

21. Training Courses in Radiotherapy, Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
2005
Advances in Quality Assurance in Diagnostic Radiology conducted by Dr. John Vetter (WHO)
Regional Course & Workshop on Current Practices & Advances in Radiation Therapy Physics, sponsored by AAPM, IOMP and POMP and conducted by Prof. Khan, Drs. Niroomand, Shah et.al), Manila
QA/QC of External Beam Teletherapy Machines conducted by POMP held at MROC, Q.C.
Meeting-Workshop on Doses in Diagnostic Procedures in Nuclear Medicine conducted by DOH, POMP, PNRI and PSNM, at PHC, Quezon City

22. Training Courses in Radiotherapy, Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
2006
National Training Course in Radiation Protection for Interventional Cardiology conducted by Dr. Louie Wagner (IAEA)
Current Standards and Future Trends in Radiation Oncology sponsored by PROS, ASTRO and IAEA conducted by Dr. Palta, et.al., Manila Hotel
National Training Workshop on Radiotherapy Dosimetry TRS 398 conducted by POMP and National SSDLs held at JRRMMC and Medical City, MM.
Radiation Protection in Lasers, UV, Infrared light applications conducted by Dr. David Causer held at BHDT

23. Current Status 1990- present Programs
Medical Physics is a self- supporting program
Programs
MSc Applied Physics Major in Medical Physics (with Thesis)
20 graduates
Master Medical Physics (Non-Thesis)
15 graduates

24. Filipino Medical Physicists Work
Medical Institutions
Regulatory Bodies
Academe/Others
MSc
MMP
At least 24 units taken 4 8 27 9  9 2  3
 10
Total 39
Total 22
Total 15
* 7 MSc Medical Physics graduates of the Program are now working as Medical Physicists in USA, Australia, S.Arabia
A.P. Peralta

25. FACILITIES and EQUIPMENT
24 Radiotherapy facilities*
7 government owned
4 in MM
3 in the provinces
17 private owned
10 in MM
7 in the Provinces
* Additional private facility soon to operate

26. External Beam Teletherapy Equipment
9 Cobalt 60 machines
20 linear accelerators*
15 dual mode
5 single mode
1 Gammaknife
*additional 1 operational soon

27. Brachytherapy Facilities
10 HDR remote afterloader machines
6 Manual afterloading system
2 Permanent seed implant
LDR
HDR
PSI 5 1 8 1 1

28. FACILITIES and EQUIPMENT
153 Mammography
4 government owned
149 private owned
120 CT Scan Machines
14 government
106 privately owned
18 MRI
2 Government
16 Private
19 Gamma Cameras
8 government owned
11 privately owned
PET/CT and Cyclotron
1 privately owned

29. Bureau of Health Devices and Technology, Department of Health
Regulates linear accelerators, simulators, x-ray machines, CT scanners, etc.
Issues Administrative Orders (AO)
Requires full time Medical Physicists with experience for facilities with linear accelerator

30. Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology
Regulates Cobalt-60 machines, brachytherapy facilities, etc.
Issues Code of PNRI Regulations (CPR)
Requires part time Medical Physicists with experience for Cobalt 60 machines and brachytherapy facilities

31. Problems/issues regarding Medical Physics Education
Problem/Issue
In the beginning, too few students
Solutions
Career talks given to graduating Physics students
DOH awarded scholarship to employees to pursue Medical Physics (now also DOST)
Regulations required Medical Physicists, hospitals sponsored their employees to enroll in the program

32. Problems/issues regarding Medical Physics Education
Problem/Issue
Employed Medical Physics students have difficulty finishing their degree because of work load responsibilities
Solutions
Master in Medical Physics a non-thesis course was offered in 2004

33. Problems/issues regarding Medical Physics Education
Problem/Issue
Expensive books
Limited facilities for practicum (most facilities are in private hospitals where access is restricted)
Limited opportunities to attend international conferences, training
Brain drain

34. Future Plans
Participate in the RCA/IAEA Clinical Radiation Oncology Medical Physics Residency Program
Establish a certification scheme for Filipino Medical Physicists

35. Thank YOU for listening!

36. Acknowledgement Miss Agnette P. Peralta,
Director, BHDT, Department of Health
Mr. Bayani San Juan,
Chief, Medical Physics Division, BHDT,
Mrs. Eulinia M. Valdezco,
Chief, Nuclear Regulations, Licensing and Safeguards Division,
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute,
Department of Science and Technology