The Medical Physics Division at Wayne State University School of Medicine's Division of Radiation Oncology is one of the premier medical physics groups in North America whose overall mission is to find novel, safer, and more accurate methods for the use of radiation for the treatment of disease.

WSU has been an international leader in modeling the biological effects of radiotherapy, research and clinical application of HDR brachytherapy, 3D conformal radiotherapy, fast neutron radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and image guided radiotherapy (IGRT). We were one of the first two centers in the world to implement the Nucletron Microselectron HDR unit, among the first radiotherapy centers to implement 3D conformal radiotherapy, an early pioneer of the virtual simulation process, and have been a worldwide leader in neutron radiotherapy. In the mid 1990's, the first Gamma Knife in the state of Michigan was installed at WSU. Over the past decade, pioneering work on radiotherapy treatment planning systems, intensity modulated radiotherapy optimization and quality assurance, image guided radiotherapy techniques, and biological optimization of radiotherapy have kept our department at the forefront of radiation oncology research and technology.

The Medical Physics division is currently focusing on the following research:

• Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT)
• Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT)
• Tomotherapy
• Radiotherapy plan complexity reduction and delivery quality assurance
• Biological optimization of radiotherapy treatment plans
• Novel radiotherapy delivery techniques
• Novel radiation detection techniques
• High Linear Energy Transfer (LET), high Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) radiotherapy techniques

The Medical Physics group provides complete physics support to the Division of Radiation Oncology, including the provision of physics teaching to the resident physicians, radiation therapists, and medical physics graduate programs as well as technical and radiation safety training for all Radiation Oncology personnel. 

Jay Burmeister, Ph.D.
Chief of Physics, Karmanos Cancer Center
Director of Medical Physics Graduate Programs
Gershenson Radiation Oncology Center
4100 John R
Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: 313-576-9624
Fax: 313-576-9625