22-S5 All the Light You Cannot See – The Science, Art and History of Medical Imaging – Mercer, John

We hear about CAT scans, PET scans and MRI scans but few people understand the underlying scientific bases for these procedures. This course will explore the science of medical imaging and examine the medical information that we can obtain for each of the techniques. We will also explore the history and meet some of the personalities that played a role in developing these techniques. We will explore radioactive decay, the production of X-rays, the response of the body to magnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation and much,  much more; all done in a user friendly and readily understandable manner. The “art” of medical imaging will explore how the physician uses this information to make medical decisions and personalize patient care. The course does not require a science background and is designed for the intellectually curious.

Instructor

John Mercer is a professor emeritus from the University of Alberta. He taught courses in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and in oncology in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and had an active research program at the Cross Cancer Institute.