Columbia Imaging Physics CAMPEP Residency

The Department of Radiology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) offers a CAMPEP approved Imaging Physics Residency Program. The program utilizes the AAPM Medical Physics Residency Application Program (MP-RAP) for admission and participates in the Medical Physics National Matching Services (NMS). Accepted residents usually start around July 1st and the duration of the program is two years. The objective of the residency program is to provide clinical training to prepare graduates for a rewarding and challenging career as a medical physicist in radiological imaging physics. The program provides full-time training, under the direction of experienced diagnostic imaging physicists whose duties include patient care, acceptance testing, shielding design, QA compliance, ACR accreditation survey, medical research, and medical education. Training in diagnostic imaging modalities (general X-ray, fluoroscopy, angiography, mammography, ultrasound, CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, PET, and informatics) will be provided, along with research and teaching opportunities. Furthermore, it is desired that the graduates will able to pass the remainder of the ABR board certification after the completion of the program.

CUIMC includes more than 1,800 physicians supporting more than 2,400 certified beds. The Columbia University Imaging Physics Residency is a part of CUIMC's Department of Radiology – Physics. Currently, there are six physicists in diagnostic radiology and one in nuclear medicine, responsible for quality control (QC) testing and regulatory compliance of imaging equipment throughout the medical center. QC testing of imaging equipment includes radiography, fluoroscopy, computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine imagers, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mammography, and primary diagnostic monitors (PDM). ACR Accreditation is maintained for mammography, MRI, ultrasound and CT. Most of the equipment and facilities were recently modernized and with the prospect of additional facilities being opened, graduates will have the opportunity to experience the whole range of diagnostic medical physics activities.

Program History

The Imaging physics CAMPEP residency program was approved in 2013 and our first resident joined the program on July 1, 2014.

Admissions Standards for Incoming Residents

Residents admitted to the Imaging Physics residency program are expected to have:

• A graduate degree in medical physics from a CAMPEP-accredited graduate program in medical physics, AND
• An undergraduate or graduate degree in physics, applied physics, or one of the physical sciences with coursework that is the equivalent of a minor in physics.

OR

• A certificate in medical physics from a CAMPEP-accredited certificate program in medical physics, AND
• A doctorate degree in physics or related field.

This is to ensure that only those residents having potential to complete the program in two years will be admitted. Graduates of a medical physics certificate program will also be considered for admission if the certificate program is accredited by CAMPEP. Candidates who have successfully passed Part 1 of the ABR medical physics examination are preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

Columbia offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. The annual compensation for the residency position is $50,000. The initial appointment will be for one year, which is renewable up to a total period of two years. As a full-time associate in radiology at CUIMC, residents will be eligible to participate in the generous benefits package offered by Columbia University. Funding will also be provided to cover AAPM resident membership fees. Residents whose abstract, poster, or presentation have been accepted at national meetings and conferences will receive up to $1,000 per year in funding for travel to these meetings.

Student and Graduate Achievements

Faculty