Using the science and knowledge of physics in order to advance human health has a long provenance. Wilhelm Röntgen ushered-in the modern age of Medical Physics at the end of the 19th century and the breadth of the science has steadily widened since. The early advances in medical radiation revolutionized diagnostic medicine as imaging replaced fallible ears and diverse interpretations of tactile impressions as the chief method of diagnosis. Today, medical physics has progressed to therapeutic medicine with lasers replacing the scalpel and brachytherapy revolutionizing cancer treatment. The Medical Physics program at the University of Toledo is well equipped with modern state of the art technology and highly qualified academic and technical staff that bolsters training with cutting edge research in Physics.
In my academic career I have always been interested in the application of physical sciences to healthcare. Throughout my undergraduate years I was a member of the Physics Student’s Association of Ghana, where I held the position of Organizing Secretary. My curiosity in physics led me to attend many diverse conferences that exposed me to different fields of physics and their application in healthcare. I have also presented several posters at local conferences. In my poster on the Incidence of Ultraviolet-B and its Health Effects in Ghana, I studied how UVB is implicated in cancer, the degradation of vitamin A in the skin, and the damage they do to collagen fibers. While UVB may be deleterious to health, there is little that can be done to prevent the sun from emitting radiation. This first research into radiations’ effects on biology led me to explore the effects of man-made radiation on health. Towards this end I presented posters on Mobile Phone usage and its effect on Human Health and the Effects of Extremely Low Frequency waves from Power lines.
My ultimate goal is to receive my PhD in Physics wit a particular specialization in medical physics, because it will offer me the opportunity to help train others at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Teaching students has always been foundational for me because of the importance of intellectual transmissibility in the sciences. The advancements that are created must be taught to others so that life-saving treatments are spread to the masses. As a Teaching Assistant in the Physics Department of the University of Cape Coast, I received firsthand experience in training undergraduate students. Seeing pupils success was always a great pleasure and the “eureka” moment of comprehension after figuring out difficult equations is sublime.
My present position pursuing my PG in Environmental Physics, at the University of Bremen in Germany has exposed me to diverse peoples and challenged me to interact and communicate with people from the entire world. As a PhD candidate at the University of Toledo I would bring many years of dedication to the teaching of physics. Using my computer skills, I am adept at the collection and analysis of data. I am also broadly interested in many fields of physics such as Astronomy, Modeling Simulations, Fiber Optics communications, and Nanotechnology. Ideas for the advancement of health sciences may come from many diverse fields and my broad interest will be an asset to the University. By pursuing my degree with the Physics Department I would have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of collaborative research in Physics using skills that I have acquired throughout my life.
