News Release

Institute of Physics: Medical schools should consider restoring the requirement for applicants to hold 'A' level or equivalent qualifications in physics

Peer-Reviewed Publication

The Lancet_DELETED

In a second Comment linked to The Lancet Physics Series, Professor Sir Peter Knight, President of the Institute of Physics, London, UK, says: "In the UK today, we have reversed the long-term decline in the number of students taking A level physics or the equivalent, with a steady year-on-year increase since 2007. We are seeing record numbers of qualified physicists entering teacher training, with the prospect—albeit some years in the future—that this country will have enough specialist physics teachers to ensure that every child has access to a high quality physics education.

"Against this background, I would ask medical schools to consider restoring the requirement for applicants to hold A level or equivalent qualifications. The Physics and Medicine series clearly demonstrates the potential to diagnose and treat increasing numbers of patients, with increasing effectiveness, using physics-based techniques. Understanding the physics that underpins these techniques would be a real advantage to medical practitioners, and to their patients."

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To contact Professor Sir Peter Knight, President of the Institute of Physics, please contact Joe Winters, Senior Press Officer. T) +44 (0) 20 7470 4815 / +44 (0) 7946 321473 E) joseph.winters@iop.org


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