New course - Master of Medical Radiations (Nuclear Medicine)

May 15, 2007

Like many undergraduates, Perri Bakamis (pictured) was unsure about her next step following a Science degree at Monash University. She had enjoyed the anatomy and physiology units in her course and ultimately wanted a job that involved a significant amount of time working with people. “Most people have a misconception that people who study science go onto work in labs, dress in white coats and spend most of their days looking at things growing in petri dishes. I wanted to work in a team environment and help people but didn’t know what I needed to specialise in or which career options were availablel” she said.

After a visit to the Monash University careers office, Perri chose to transfer to study a degree in nuclear medicine. After three years of further study she realised this was the career for her, and Perri now works as a nuclear medicine scientist at The Cabrini Hospital.

The role of a nuclear medicine scientist is similar to that of a radiographer but where they will look at the structure of a relevant organ or system, the nuclear medicine scientist will assess the structure and function.  Changes in the function of an organ or human system can often occur before the anatomical changes, so nuclear medicine procedures will often identify changes very early in the disease or after injury, as compared to other diagnostic tests. The tests are not invasive.  It is with the use of unsealed radioactive substances known as ‘radiopharmaceuticles’ that are able to diagnose and treat disease.

Although part of the job involves some lab work and therapeutic studies, the majority of work involves diagnostic scans. Nuclear Medicine scientists work as part of a team within the nuclear medicine department alongside other health care professionals and medical colleagues to diagnose and treat patients; Perri insists this is what she loves about the role of a nuclear medicine scientist: “No two days are the same and my work is very rewarding, and I feel I am really making a difference in the management of the patient.” she said.
 
Monash University has introduced a new Masters of Medical Radiations (Nuclear Medicine) degree for 2007. The course is a two years off-campus course over six consecutive semesters. A total of 57 weeks is spent in clinical practice and distance learning is supported by printed and interactive materials.  This course is a first for nuclear medicine science education in Australia.

Australian practitioners are highly regarded internationally and numerous opportunities exist for employment in the UK, USA and Canada as well as in developing countries. Opportunities also exist for practitioners to work in education, business management, clinical and scientific research, industry, veterinary nuclear medicine, and with government and other regulatory bodies.

Nuclear medicine practitioners need to be comfortable and adaptable to new technologies, self-motivated, empathetic to patients, enquiring and organised. The development of advanced image processing techniques, new radiopharmaceuticals and the use of innovative cancer-targeting and cancer-killing agents means that there is and will continue to be a high demand for nuclear medicine scientists to work in both public and private nuclear medicine practices in Australia.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer this new course in nuclear medicine. It is a branch of medicine that is exciting and expanding and the course has been developed in close collaboration with the Victorian nuclear medicine profession. Students who undertake the course will make positive contributions to the wellbeing of the community.” said Liz Parkinson, co-ordinator for the Master of Medical Radiations (Nuclear Medicine) course.

Victorian and interstate applicants must apply directly to the Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences at Monash University to undertake the Master of Medical Radiations (Nuclear Medicine) course.
For more information contact radiationsciences@med.monash.edu.au