Students Get Hands-on Experience
At Springhill Medical Center

Students in Dr. Judith Wilson’s “Radiation, Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy” class have been getting real-world experience this semester. Every other Tuesday, small groups of students spend time with Dr. Kenneth Ellingwood, Radiation Oncologist at Springhill Medical Center and President of Radiation Therapy-Oncology Inc., and his staff learning about the development of treatment plans for cancer patients and observing radiation treatment procedures.

“They’re there to listen and watch while I do consultations. We show students the type of equipment we use, the complex computers used for the planning of radiation treatment,” said Ellingwood.

Among the equipment students have observed is the hybrid PET/CT scanner, which allows a cancerous area to be pinpointed precisely. Ellingwood explained that PET, positron emission tomography, provides information about the molecular activity of cells and tumors.

“What students saw is called conformal or intensity modulated radiation therapy. It involves how to concentrate a dose of radiation where the cancer is to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue. It’s very accurate and very precise,” he said.

Wilson, assistant professor of chemistry at UM, said that the students are delighted to be able to follow the explanations given by Ellingwood and his staff concerning topics of radiation and radioactivity dealt with in the BIO, CH, ES and NU497 class.

Ellingwood said, “I thought at their level it would be beneficial to see how the basic science courses they’re taking are getting integrated into patient care. Physics and chemistry are shaking hands with the patient.”

He continued, “Sometimes students lose momentum over their years in college, but when you come to a clinic like this you see the direct application of computer science, engineering, math and physics; that’s the purpose of their visit.”

Members of the class this semester are Walter Beard, Amy Blackman, Sandy Brunson, Jennifer Dove, Bobby Heaton, Samantha Jennings, David Nix, Alex Peter, Anthony Tarver and Margot Wallace.