Thomas Martin, PhD, DABR, was scheduled to present a seminar titled Physics Against Cancer: The Science and Technology of Radiation Therapy on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, according to a September 11 announcement from the Department of Physics & Astronomy.
The seminar was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Tracy Hall Science Center in Room 102. During the presentation, Martin planned to introduce the field of therapeutic medical physics and discuss how fundamental principles of radiation physics are used to safely and effectively kill cancer cells. The discussion was intended to cover how photons and charged particles interact in matter to produce biological effects for cancer treatment.
The presentation was set to provide an overview of the radiation oncology program at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute. This includes technologies such as linear accelerators, image-guided radiation therapy, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. At the institute, advanced technologies including medical linear accelerators, proton therapy cyclotrons, and radioactive isotopes are used to treat various types of cancer, allowing clinicians to target tumors while minimizing dose to surrounding healthy tissues.
Martin also planned to discuss the educational pathway for becoming a medical physicist. The seminar was intended to share examples of current clinical research to demonstrate how physicists contribute to technology development, innovation in cancer treatment, and patient care.
