WAYS TO OPTIMIZE THE TEACHING OF MEDICAL PHYSICS

Abstract

The article examines current approaches to optimizing the teaching of Medical and Biological Physics in higher medical education institutions with the aim of improving the quality of training of future physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. The main challenges associated with students’ understanding of the physical foundations of biological processes and the operating principles of modern medical equipment are analyzed. These challenges are often related to the complexity of physical concepts and the insufficient awareness of their practical significance for future professional activities. The necessity of improving the content and teaching methodology of the discipline through the integration of fundamental physics education with clinically oriented examples and interdisciplinary connections is substantiated. A comprehensive approach to the modernization of the Medical Physics curriculum is proposed. It involves the incorporation of historical aspects of the development of physics in medicine, elements of the philosophy of science, examples of contemporary scientific achievements, and the results of research conducted by academic staff members. Particular attention is paid to the need for a deeper understanding of the physical principles underlying the operation of diagnostic and therapeutic medical equipment, including X-ray, ultrasound, laser, tomographic, and other medical systems that constitute an integral part of modern clinical practice. The study highlights the potential effectiveness of pedagogical approaches based on the principles implemented in the well-known lectures of Richard Feynman, namely focusing on the physical essence of phenomena, explaining complex processes in accessible language, using vivid analogies from everyday life, building a logical sequence of presentation from basic concepts to contemporary scientific ideas, and developing a holistic understanding of physics as an integrated system of knowledge. It is demonstrated that the combination of these approaches contributes to the development of critical thinking, enhances students’ motivation for learning, improves their understanding of the biophysical mechanisms underlying human body functioning, and promotes the formation of professional competencies among future healthcare specialists. It is concluded that the comprehensive integration of fundamental physical knowledge, medical and biological applications, and modern educational technologies is an important prerequisite for increasing the effectiveness of teaching Medical Physics in higher medical education institutions