Graduation Ceremony, Master in Medical Physics

The Master of Advanced Studies in Medical Physics (MMP) is a two-year advanced training programme run jointly by the ICTP and the University of Trieste, and co-funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Every year, some 20 students, most of whom come from developing countries, graduate from the programme having gained the advanced theoretical and clinical training needed to be recognised as clinical medical physicists in their home countries.

On Friday 13 December a cohort of new graduates will receive their degrees at a ceremony that will take place at ICTP and online. At the event, representatives of the programme’s main partners will give their remarks and congratulate the students who have successfully gone through two years of advanced training. The event will also mark the 10- year anniversary of the programme.

Launched in 2014, the MMP has so far opened the way to a successful career path for nearly 200 physicists from 72 countries spanning 5 different continents. Of these, approximately  48% are from Africa, 22% from Asia, 21% from Latin America, 8% from Europe, 1% Oceania; more than 30% are women. This year 17 students who started the programme in 2022 will graduate. They come from 13 different countries, spanning Africa, Central America, Asia and Europe. A record 41% of this year’s graduates are women.

The 2024 graduation ceremony and 10th anniversary celebrations of the master will be an occasion to highlight the success of the MMP, which is evident in the career trajectories of its graduates. The vast majority of MMP alumni have returned to their home countries, where they are now making valuable contributions to the healthcare system, particularly in oncology. By applying their skills in radiation therapy, imaging, and dosimetry, these professionals are helping to improve the quality of medical services for patients, especially those with cancer, in regions that are underserved. The programme thus contributes to tackling the critical worldwide shortage of both clinical and academic professionals in medical physics, highlighted by several international organizations, including the IAEA.

Such positive outcome is possible thanks to the many partners that contribute to the success of the programme. In addition to the IAEA, the MMP is also supported by the International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP), the European Federation of Organizations in Medical Physics (EFOMP), and the Italian Association of Medical Physics (AIFM). These collaborations ensure that the students are given access to advanced clinical training in some of the 26 hospitals across Italy where they can carry out the six-month internship that constitutes a key part of the master.

You can find out more about the ceremony on the event webpage.

To follow the event online: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYrcu2uqTosEtyOQMXJ6EJnC0b3WiuuV4yn