“Brachytherapy methods based on three-dimensional imaging” - What does that mean? I do not know! But, in our, elite, let me I emphasize that - elite armwrestling environment, we can always ask such questions. Who can answer this one? Judyta!

She recently started doing a doctorate. She joined our sport in 2006, first as a competitor and then as a referee (category A). In the EAF she is a person who evaluates the work of referees. It seems that Judyta will become an international referee this year.

When I learned about it unofficially, I realized that I have to inform everyone! We are a small, elite group and any success of each and every one of us, whether academic or personal - is a source of great pride for all of us.

Over to Judyta:

Three years ago I graduated from the Adam Mickiewicz University – I got a degree in Medical Physics - interdisciplinary studies, where classes are held at two different departments: the Department of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University and the Medical University. I got one diploma - I am a physicist by education, but with a specialization aimed at the use of methods and laws of physics in medicine. A graduate in medical physics can work for companies that create new medical technologies, can deal with specialized tests on already existing equipment, or can work in an organization using ionizing radiation as I do.

4 years ago I started working in the Oncology Center at the Radiotherapy Ward. Physicists’ task here is to create treatment plans for patients suffering from cancer. In a nutshell, we select and model the radiation beam so that the tumor got a sufficiently high dose of radiation, whereas the surrounding healthy tissues got the least portion of radiation.

I have worked at the Department of Brachytherapy for two years and a half. Brachytherapy is a slightly different form of radiation therapy, where radiation is not produced in the accelerator, but a radioactive source - iridium 192 is used instead. The coordinator of the department is Professor, who is also the head of one of the Departments of the Medical University. It was he who suggested that I should write a PhD thesis under his supervision. I was lucky because I did not have to look for a professor who would agree to be my supervisor. In such circumstances, and taking into account the fact that there’s much research material available in the hospital, it would be foolish of me not to take such an opportunity.

My thesis will be devoted to brachytherapy, namely to the analysis of parameters of new methods of brachytherapy dosimetry based on three-dimensional imaging, and comparison with standard 2D treatment. I won’t go into details as it would be incomprehensible to laymen.

Thanks for the clarification and we all wish you luck with your academic career and sports!

PeSzy (MA)