The Medical and Health Physics faculty at SDSU are:

• Prof. Usha Sinha, Ph.D.; Professor of Physics
  Director of the SDSU Medical and Health Physics Programme.
  Research interest: medical and imaging physics specializing in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and informatics.


• Prof. Patrick Papin, Ph.D.; Professor of Physics [WebCV].
  Research interest: Computational radiological physics and imaging.

The Medical and Health Physics lecturers at SDSU are:

• Dr. Steven J. Goetsch, Ph.D.; Director of Medical Physics, San Diego Gamma Knife Center Lecturer in Physics; Radiation Oncology Physics. Certified in Radiation Oncology Physics (ABMP). [WebCV]
• Dr. Eric M. Goldin, Ph.D.; Senior Health Physicist, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), Lecturer in Physics;
  Research interest: reactor health physics. Certified in Comprehensive Health Physics, ABHP, and Power Reactor Health Physics, ABHP.
• Dr. Shirish K. Jani, Ph.D.; Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla [WebCV]
• Dr. Robert S. Nelson, Ph.D.; Lecturer in Physics; Research interest: Computational radiological physics and imaging. [WebCV]
• Gordon L. Shackelford, M.S.; Lecturer in Physics;
  Research interest; radiological instrumentation, environmental monitoring.
• Mark Young, M.S.; Lecturer in Physics; research interest: [WebCV]

The Medical and Health Physics Adjunct Faculty Members at SDSU are:

• Dr. Ralph Cerbone, Ph.D.; Lecturer in Physics
  Research Interest: Radiation shielding; experimental and computational methods. [WebCV].

Medical and Health Physics Research

Our research involves both computational and experimental elements in the area of medical physics. Specifically our interest lies in the area of intravascular brachytherpy. Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death. Fluoroscopically guided angioplasty includes a variety of procedures for reopening stenosed (partially closed) arteries. More than a half million of these procedures are performed in the United States each year. Unfortunately a significant fraction of the treatments fail because the arteries restenose within a few months. Radiation therapy is being actively investigated for its ability to reduce the restenosis rate.

Our research aims at the determination of the radiation dose rates at the arterial wall and surrounding areas.
Computer modeling of the radiation transport and resulting dose distributions involve a number of radioactive sources, filters, catheter designs, and anatomical configurations. Experimental verification of our computer models is also performed. We are combining our efforts with clinical personnel from various research hospitals across the United States. Also, we are presently involved with human clinical trials leading to FDA approval.

Publications of the Medical and Health Physics group

The group organised the 2003 Health Physics Society Summer School in San Diego July 14-18, 2003

For more information, contact Usha Sinha

Previous members involved with the group

• Richard Belanger, M.S.; Consultant in health physics, Lecturer in Physics; internal radiation dosimetry. Certified in Comprehensive Health Physics, ABHP.
• Tony DiMauro; Lecturer in Physics.
• Prof. Skaidrite Krisans, Ph.D.; Professor of Biology; radiobiology, cellular and molecular biology.
• Dr. Samuel F. Liprie, P.D. (Nuc); Angiorad L.L.C., Lake Charles, LA
• Prof. James W. Neel, Ph.D.; Emeritus Professor of Biology; plant uptake and distribution of nuclear fission products.
• Paul D. Pater, M.S.; Radiation Safety Officer, Department of Environmental Health and Safety, SDSU, Lecturer in Physics; operational health physics, external dosimetry.
• Mike Russel, M.S.; Senior Health Physicist, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), Lecturer in Physics; reactor health physics. Certified in Power Reactor Health Physics, ABHP.
• Sharon Thompson, M.S.; Medical Physicist, Lieutenant Naval Reserve, Consultant in medical physics, Lecturer in Physics; medical health physics and radiation oncology.