--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I entered medical physics in 1958…" description: "\"When I entered medical physics in 1958 there were fewer than 100 in the U.S. and I could see many opportunities to apply my knowledge of nuclear physic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/john-cameron-23310_nuclear-physics_when-i-entered-medical-physics-in-1958-t_534668.jpg" --- # When I entered medical physics in 1958 there were fewer… ![“When I entered medical physics in 1958 there were fewer than 100 in the U.S. and I could see many opportunities to apply my knowledge of nuclear physics.” quote by John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/john-cameron-23310_nuclear-physics_when-i-entered-medical-physics-in-1958-t_534668.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/john-cameron-23310_nuclear-physics_when-i-entered-medical-physics-in-1958-t_534668.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/john-cameron-23310_nuclear-physics_when-i-entered-medical-physics-in-1958-t_534668.jpg) > “When I entered medical physics in 1958 there were fewer than 100 in the U.S. and I could see many opportunities to apply my knowledge of nuclear physics.” [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early nuclear physics opened many career paths in medical physics, highlighting interdisciplinary opportunities. **In simple terms:** Physics to medicine creates new jobs. Key Takeaway Explore interdisciplinary fields. Themes career development science medicine Mood optimistic inquisitive Type educational professional When to use this quote - university programs - research labs - clinical applications Key Concepts interdisciplinary research technology transfer education Questions to Reflect On - What interdisciplinary fields are emerging? - How can funding support such transitions? A Different Perspective Limited funding can restrict growth of new specialties. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1958 Fewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1958-fewer-4483814/) [Fewer 100](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fewer-100-4483815/) [Medical Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical-physics-865258/) [Nuclear physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-physics/) [Physics 1958](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics-1958-4483813/) ## Related quotes > [Medical physics is an applied area of physics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/medical-physics-is-an-applied-area-of-physics/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [I have devoted much time and energy to helping medical physics in developing countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/i-have-devoted-much-time-and-energy-to-helping-medical-physics-in/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [I was the Chair of the first department of medical physics in a medical school in the U.S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/i-was-the-chair-of-the-first-department-of-medical-physics-in-a/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [The growth of technology is such that it is not possible today for a nuclear physicist to switch into medical physics without training. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/the-growth-of-technology-is-such-that-it-is-not-possible-today-for-a/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [Nuclear physics is interesting but it is unlikely to help society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/nuclear-physics-is-interesting-but-it-is-unlikely-to-help-society/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [Pablo Picasso said, "Art is the lie that tells the truth," and it's not a terribly radical statement. It's always been that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/pablo-picasso-said-art-is-the-lie-that-tells-the-truth-and-it-s-not-a/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [“Over the next 300 years, the Afro-Asian giant swallowed up all the other worlds. It consumed the Mesoamerican World in 1521, when the Spanish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/over-the-next-300-years-the-afro-asian-giant-swallowed-up-all-the/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [The scientists who made the atomic bomb are, in my sense, people with a tragic destiny. You know, there was the US race with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jay-lifton/the-scientists-who-made-the-atomic-bomb-are-in-my-sense-people-with-a/) [Robert Jay Lifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jay-lifton/) > [Although important nuclear physics work was to go on in laboratories such as ours had become - and we had to cut down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-carver/although-important-nuclear-physics-work-was-to-go-on-in-laboratories/) [John Henry Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-carver/) > [“To achieve historical creativity many other conditions must be met. For instance, you must be lucky, for to excel in some domains you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/to-achieve-historical-creativity-many-other-conditions-must-be-met/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [It's not nuclear physics. You always remember that. But if you write about sports long enough, you're constantly coming back to the point that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-callahan/it-s-not-nuclear-physics-you-always-remember-that-but-if-you-write/) [Tom Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-callahan/) > [The most important advances, the qualitative leaps, are the least predictable. Not even the best scientists predicted the impact of nuclear physics, and everyday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-most-important-advances-the-qualitative-leaps-are-the-least/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [“We were members of a research group with a great interest in nuclear physics and totally devoted to this branch of science--and ironically we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-nagai/we-were-members-of-a-research-group-with-a-great-interest-in-nuclear/) [Takashi Nagai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-nagai/) > [I think the writing of literature should give pleasure. What else should it be about? It is not nuclear physics. It actually has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-greenblatt/i-think-the-writing-of-literature-should-give-pleasure-what-else/) [Stephen Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-greenblatt/) > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/) [Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/) ## More by John Cameron > [Medical physicists work in cooperation with doctors. A few medical physicists devote their time to research and teaching. A few get involved with administrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/medical-physicists-work-in-cooperation-with-doctors-a-few-medical/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [Many Nobel Prizes are awaiting good research to understand and explain the many mysteries of our bodies, such as the basic mechanism of memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/many-nobel-prizes-are-awaiting-good-research-to-understand-and/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [I am sure that I have been much more useful to society as a medical physicist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/i-am-sure-that-i-have-been-much-more-useful-to-society-as-a-medical/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [I was the Chair of the first department of medical physics in a medical school in the U.S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/i-was-the-chair-of-the-first-department-of-medical-physics-in-a/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [I have the satisfaction of knowing I did something useful for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/i-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-i-did-something-useful-for-society/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [I would not encourage everyone to take up this profession. Not everyone is suited for any particular field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/i-would-not-encourage-everyone-to-take-up-this-profession-not/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [It is likely that we need more radiation to improve our longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/it-is-likely-that-we-need-more-radiation-to-improve-our-longevity/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [I don't display my plaques and honors. They are hidden behind a black curtain in my work room at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/i-don-t-display-my-plaques-and-honors-they-are-hidden-behind-a-black/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [We developed simple test tools to optimize imaging parameters. No company was interested in our idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/we-developed-simple-test-tools-to-optimize-imaging-parameters-no/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [If someone is interested in medicine and also in physics and they like working with people and communicate well with others, I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/if-someone-is-interested-in-medicine-and-also-in-physics-and-they/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [When I entered the field in July 1958 I believed what they told me about radiation risks. I spent much effort reducing the dose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/when-i-entered-the-field-in-july-1958-i-believed-what-they-told-me/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [Too many radiologists still believe there is a risk from a chest x-ray. Few radiologists can explain radiation to the patient in words the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/too-many-radiologists-still-believe-there-is-a-risk-from-a-chest-x/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [I am not unhappy that my contribution was not recognized. I am sure it helped my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/i-am-not-unhappy-that-my-contribution-was-not-recognized-i-am-sure-it/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [The growth of technology is such that it is not possible today for a nuclear physicist to switch into medical physics without training. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/the-growth-of-technology-is-such-that-it-is-not-possible-today-for-a/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [My main frustration is the fear of cancer from low dose radiation, even by radiologists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/my-main-frustration-is-the-fear-of-cancer-from-low-dose-radiation/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) [Explore all 26 John Cameron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) ## More Nuclear physics quotes > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/) [Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/) > [I think the writing of literature should give pleasure. What else should it be about? It is not nuclear physics. It actually has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-greenblatt/i-think-the-writing-of-literature-should-give-pleasure-what-else/) [Stephen Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-greenblatt/) > [“We were members of a research group with a great interest in nuclear physics and totally devoted to this branch of science--and ironically we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-nagai/we-were-members-of-a-research-group-with-a-great-interest-in-nuclear/) [Takashi Nagai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-nagai/) > [The most important advances, the qualitative leaps, are the least predictable. Not even the best scientists predicted the impact of nuclear physics, and everyday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-most-important-advances-the-qualitative-leaps-are-the-least/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [It's not nuclear physics. You always remember that. But if you write about sports long enough, you're constantly coming back to the point that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-callahan/it-s-not-nuclear-physics-you-always-remember-that-but-if-you-write/) [Tom Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-callahan/) > [“To achieve historical creativity many other conditions must be met. For instance, you must be lucky, for to excel in some domains you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/to-achieve-historical-creativity-many-other-conditions-must-be-met/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Although important nuclear physics work was to go on in laboratories such as ours had become - and we had to cut down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-carver/although-important-nuclear-physics-work-was-to-go-on-in-laboratories/) [John Henry Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-carver/) > [The scientists who made the atomic bomb are, in my sense, people with a tragic destiny. You know, there was the US race with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jay-lifton/the-scientists-who-made-the-atomic-bomb-are-in-my-sense-people-with-a/) [Robert Jay Lifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jay-lifton/) > [“Over the next 300 years, the Afro-Asian giant swallowed up all the other worlds. It consumed the Mesoamerican World in 1521, when the Spanish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/over-the-next-300-years-the-afro-asian-giant-swallowed-up-all-the/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Pablo Picasso said, "Art is the lie that tells the truth," and it's not a terribly radical statement. It's always been that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/pablo-picasso-said-art-is-the-lie-that-tells-the-truth-and-it-s-not-a/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [There are good reasons why we don't want everyone to learn nuclear physics, medicine or how financial markets work. Our entire modern project has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/there-are-good-reasons-why-we-don-t-want-everyone-to-learn-nuclear/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [“in the heat of unprecedented technological breakthroughs it is easy to think that we are invincible, like gods who would rule the world. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-zina-bennett/in-the-heat-of-unprecedented-technological-breakthroughs-it-is-easy/) [Hal Zina Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-zina-bennett/) > [When I was in high school, I was in a special math class. I was infatuated with physics, particularly nuclear physics, Einstein, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-was-in-a-special-math-class-i-was/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [Originally I had planned to revert to nuclear physics there, in particular the structure of the deuteron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kohn/originally-i-had-planned-to-revert-to-nuclear-physics-there-in/) [Walter Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kohn/) > [ “As chemists, we must rename \[our\] scheme and insert the symbols Ba, La, Ce in place of Ra, Ac, Th. As nuclear chemists closely… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-hahn/as-chemists-we-must-rename-our-scheme-and-insert-the-symbols-ba-la-ce/) [Otto Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-hahn/) [Browse all 39 Nuclear physics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-physics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I entered medical physics in 1958 there were fewer than 100 in the U.S. and I could see many opportunities to apply my knowledge of nuclear physics.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cameron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/when-i-entered-medical-physics-in-1958-there-were-fewer-than-100-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Nuclear physics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/when-i-entered-medical-physics-in-1958-there-were-fewer-than-100-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/john-cameron-23310_nuclear-physics_when-i-entered-medical-physics-in-1958-t_534668.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/john-cameron-23310_nuclear-physics_when-i-entered-medical-physics-in-1958-t_534668.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/john-cameron-23310_nuclear-physics_when-i-entered-medical-physics-in-1958-t_534668.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I entered medical physics in 1958 there were fewer than 100 in the U.S. and I could see many…” — John Cameron", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Cameron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I entered medical physics in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/when-i-entered-medical-physics-in-1958-there-were-fewer-than-100-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/when-i-entered-medical-physics-in-1958-there-were-fewer-than-100-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```