Shifting the Medical Physics Profession Back to Research: An Innovative Cost-Neutral Remote Ph.D. Program for ABR-Certified Clinical Physicists with Master's Degrees - a Six-Year Experience
Abstract
Purpose
To report on the success of an innovative academic program which provides an educational opportunity for ABR-certified medical physicists interested in obtaining a Ph.D. degree while remaining employed, allowing them to engage more actively in research activities and pursue academic positions
Methods
Along the lines of the Medical Physics 3.0 initiative to shift the profession back towards research, an increasing number of ABR-certified practicing physicists with Master’s degrees and heavily motivated to engage in research are looking for educational opportunities to pursue a Ph.D. degree while remaining employed full-time and thus, be able to maintain financial stability and quality of life while avoiding employment gaps. Our institution opened a “Professional Ph.D. Program” for such individuals, with first students matriculated in 2020. Besides regular admission requirements, the program requires applicants to hold active ABR certification, assume full responsibility to pay all tuition and fees, and to present a letter of understanding from their employer stating that the applicant will be allowed to perform experiments using the employer’s facilities. Students are required to register as remote part-time students and are matched with a faculty member who becomes the research advisor. Completion of the degree follows regular guidelines and requirements by the graduate school and university
Results
Eleven students have been admitted to date. Employers include both large academic as well as smaller clinical institutions. Five students are in-state, the rest reside in six different states. As of the 2025-2026 academic year, four students have graduated from the program. Because students are self-funded, the program is revenue-producing and has been well received by the College and University
Conclusion
A remote Ph.D. program which provides an opportunity for clinical physicists to acquire training in research can be successfully implemented by many medical physics graduate institutions in the country,