Balancing Crisis & Care: Life as a Medical Physicist with William Breeden
July 1, 2025
In this episode of Frame by Frame: Rethink Imaging, host Chris St John is joined by Dr. William Breeden, a veteran radiation physicist with over 23 years at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Together, they unpack the high-stakes, behind-the-scenes world of medical physics, from managing crisis situations in trauma centers to maintaining equipment performance across imaging modalities.
Whether you’re in healthcare leadership, imaging operations, or just curious about the systems that keep patients safe, this episode offers a rare look at the crucial role physicists play in the daily operations of hospitals.
In this episode of Frame by Frame: Rethink Imaging, host Chris St John speaks with Dr. William Breeden, a board-certified radiation physicist whose decades of experience span nuclear medicine, diagnostic medical physics, and clinical consulting.
Together, they delve into the often-unseen world of medical physics. From rapid-response crisis management during trauma events to rigorous quality control protocols across CT, MRI, X-ray, PET, and nuclear medicine. Dr. Breeden discusses how physicists are not only technical experts but also trusted collaborators across departments, helping shape policy, maintain compliance, and support clinical excellence.
The conversation also touches on regulatory challenges, the emotional toll of constant vigilance in healthcare environments, and how the role of a medical physicist is evolving in today’s complex hospital ecosystems.
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What You'll Learn:
- How medical physicists support trauma response and urgent imaging needs in high-pressure hospital settings
- Why quality assurance in imaging equipment is central to patient safety and operational efficiency
- How to balance evolving regulatory standards with real-time clinical demands
- The impact of burnout and mental load on medical imaging professionals
- Why technologists, physicians, and administrators rely on physicists for insight and decision-making
- How medical physicists contribute to radiation safety, imaging protocol optimization, and problem-solving
- The shift from hands-on equipment work to systems thinking in modern medical physics
Chapters:
[00:00] Intro: Welcome to Frame by Frame Rethink Imaging
[02:27] From Chemistry to Medical Physics: Dr. Breeden's Journey
[07:10] The Unpredictable Life of a Medical Physicist
[08:51] Inside Equipment Testing and Quality Control
[14:28] Managing Crisis Response in Medical Imaging
[19:43] Patient Safety: The Top Priority
[22:00] The Challenges of Traveling Physics Work
[27:02] Building Relationships Across Healthcare Teams
[32:52] Three Big Questions in Medical Imaging
[34:51] Final Thoughts: The Future of Medical Physics
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