Enhancing the role of physics in radiology

Of the several specialties comprising medicine, radiology is perhaps the most closely linked to the principles and methods of physics. Starting with Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, who founded radiology little more than half a century ago (12), physicists have continued to contribute to the development of what has evolved into contemporary radiology and its subspecialties, diagnostic and therapeutic radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiobiology. Progress in radiology continues to depend on physics, probably even more today, in view of some of the profound advances characterizing modern physics. It is our contention that significant opportunities exist for enhancing the contributions and the productivity of medical physicists. These include improving pre-medical preparation in physics and mathematics, enriching the teaching program in physics for radiology residents, upgrading medical physics itself, and ameliorating the climate in which physicists function in our medical centers. a. Physics and Mathematics as P...