Piloting a Structured Observership to Prepare Medical Physics Graduate Students for Clinical Practice
Abstract
Purpose
National shortages of clinical medical physicists underscore the need for scalable, hands-on learning opportunities. We sought to pilot a structured radiation oncology observership program that enhances clinical knowledge, builds confidence, supports career planning and prepares medical physics graduate students for therapeutic medical physics residency.
Methods
The first cycle of the pilot program included four graduate students participating in an 80-hour structured observership over 2.5 months. Students shadowed 12 physics faculty and 4 residents across a range of clinical activities, including: initial chart checks, machine QA, patient specific QA, brachytherapy, MR-guided adaptive radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, proton therapy, and other general physics coverage. Surveys were administered to students to assess knowledge and confidence improvements using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from no improvement (1) to significant improvement (5). Faculty were also surveyed to gather feedback and assess impacts on clinical workflow efficiency.
Results
Survey response rates were 100% and 75% for the students and faculty, respectively. Trainee knowledge improvement scores averaged 4.2 (range: 3.3-5.0), and confidence scores averaged 3.7 (range: 2.8-4.3). Students valued open conversation with faculty, observing machine QA and clinical treatments, and opportunities for hands-on learning. Structured feedback was collected to optimize timing and observational opportunities. Of the faculty respondents, 67% reported moderate to significant on clinical workflow efficiency and 33% reported slight to no impacts on efficiency. Despite these impacts, faculty indicated students were engaged, appeared to gain strong levels of knowledge, and acknowledged the observership program as a great asset to students.
Conclusion
Establishing a structured program for students to shadow in the clinic allowed for measurable improvements in knowledge competencies and confidence in therapeutic medical physics. Future work will focus on expanding this program and evaluating its impact on residency placement and long-term career outcomes, with new cohorts trained on a quarterly basis.