The goal of this program is to ensure residents entering clinical physics in these disciplines are equipped with the skills required to be successful as a team player and subject matter experts in medical imaging and/or nuclear medicine to contribute to the overall health of patients and staff.

In alignment with the PHSA's Purpose, Vision, and Values, and CAMPEP training requirements, the program has the following objectives:

1. Understand the role of a medical physicist specialized in either diagnostic or nuclear medicine specialty to provide clinical and technical services to improve health care outcomes of patients, while ensuring both staff and patient safety.
   
   
2. Understand past, current, and new technologies that enable diagnosis of illness and injury to improve health care outcomes.
   
   
3. Equip residents with tools to evaluate and implement new technologies that will improve health care outcomes safely and reliably.
   
   
4. Understand the role of medical physicists to provide support to clinicians, nursing, or technical staff to improve both patient and staff safety, as well as improve patient outcomes.
   
   
5. Critically evaluate scientific literature and provide recommendations for improving clinical practice through implementation.
   
   
6. Equip residents with knowledge, communication, and technical skills to ethically engage with other health care professionals to improve health care outcomes, or the purchase of new imaging equipment.
   
   
7. Instil technical skills to evaluate and monitor new imaging technologies, including the ability to develop new quality assurance or quality control programs.
   
   
8. Instil the need for lifelong learning to develop new techniques that utilize new technology for the betterment of patient outcomes, the program has received accreditation in 2021 by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs (CAMPEP). This is a two-year program structured training program based on the guidelines from AAPM Report 90 and will provide the clinical experience necessary to write and obtain certification by the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) and the American Board of Radiology (ABR) certification exams in either diagnostic medical physics or nuclear medical physics.
   

Acceptance to the medical physics residency program is competitive. Candidates from CAMPEP-accredited graduate programs are considered an asset. Students from non-CAMPEP-accredited graduate programs will require a credential review and may require course bridging.

To qualify for a residency position you must:

• Hold a master's or Ph.D. (preferred) degree in medical physics, physics, engineering (with upper-year physics courses), or related sciences.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have graduated from a CAMPEP-accredited program.
• Be able to legally work in Canada.
• Be able to drive in BC and have access to a personal vehicle.
• Be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Candidates are expected to adhere to the professional code of ethics developed by the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM).
  

New resident positions will be posted each spring on the PHSA website, as well as on the Canadian Organization of Physicists in Medicine (COMP) career site.

1. Residency position posted.
2. Applicants must submit their CV with a cover letter and copy of transcripts on www.phsa.ca/careers. Official transcripts are required upon successful application.
• If more than one stream is offered (e.g., both medical imaging and nuclear medicine), the candidate must state which stream they are applying for. In this case, multiple applications will be accepted if the cover letter and CV are directed to the position.
3. The program steering committee reviews applications and shortlists candidates.
4. Interviews will be scheduled with at least two members of the program steering committee.
   
5. The successful new resident will start before the end of August.

For more information or general inquiries, please contact the program's administrative assistant, as posted on the CAMPEP website. Please do not contact program staff directly.

Is this program CAMPEP accredited?

This is a CAMPEP-accredited program. The diagnostic imaging stream was accredited in 2021 and the nuclear medicine stream was provisionally accredited in 2021. 

How many residents have graduated from this program?

Since 2010, seven physicists have obtained certification through this program (either CCPM or ABR).

How long is the program?

The program is two years long, the minimum requirement for certification.

When is the start date?

Residency typically starts in the first full week of July and must start by the end of August to be board-eligible.

Can I start in a different month?

It may be possible; however, the start date has been selected so residents can obtain sufficient experience to write the American Board Exams. Two years of minimum clinical experience is required for this.

What does the program cover?

Review an example of the program outline (PDF).

Who do I contact for more information?

Please visit the CAMPEP program site for contact information.

This table (PDF) contains information related to program graduates, and where are they working now.

PHSA offers a competitive salary and benefits package that are governed by the province of B.C.

This table (PDF) contains information related to program recruitment and post-training outcome.