Dear Alumni, Faculty, Students, Residents, and Staff,
As 2025 draws to a close, I want to express my deep gratitude to each of you for your contributions to our department’s success. This year has been one of transition and opportunity. Since May, I’ve had the honor of serving as Interim Chair and introducing our new Dean of the School of Medicine and Public Health, Dr. Ahuja, to the truly unique strengths of our department. Leading this remarkable community of faculty, staff, and learners has been a privilege, and I am thankful for the strong foundation built by those who have guided the department over the years.
Our research and education missions remain fundamentally strong and are gaining momentum, despite headwinds in the federal research funding environment. Our faculty continue to drive innovation in areas shaping the future of medicine. Theranostics has been in the national spotlight, and much of this progress builds on decades of expertise within medical physics here at the University of Wisconsin. Planning and investment in the new cyclotron facility at the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research is moving forward and will expand our capacity for radionuclide production in both variety and quantity. Radiopharmaceutical development through the WARF Therapeutics program also reached a milestone this year with a licensing agreement between WARF and SK Biopharmaceuticals that underscores the translational impact of our work.
This year also marked the launch of the Rock Mackie Lectureship in New Technology and Entrepreneurship, made possible through generous philanthropy efforts. In addition to supporting an annual speaker and leader in entrepreneurship, excess funds raised through the Mackie initiative will help sustain our Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program, ensuring that innovation remains a cornerstone of our department. The inaugural Rock Mackie Symposium will take place in the spring, complementing the annual John R. Cameron Symposium, which hosted Dr. Muyinatu Bell this fall.
Education continues to be central to our mission. In fall 2025, we welcomed 10 PhD students as well as seven students into our new Accelerated MS program, strengthening our graduate training and workforce development pipeline. PhD students now have the option of pursuing a traditional Clinical Pathway or an Interdisciplinary Pathway with coursework tailored to emerging fields of medical physics. The ASSURE undergraduate research program completed its third year and is now supported by an NIH R25 grant, and our Radiological Sciences T32 training grant was renewed through 2029. Together, these programs create a robust pipeline for recruitment and talent development that positions us to lead the field for decades to come. With over 90 students across all years, UW Medical Physics continues to be the largest PhD-producing graduate program worldwide.
From advancing research to leading national committees and earning prestigious honors, our faculty have demonstrated excellence across research, education, and clinical translation. These achievements highlight the strength of our department and the collaborative network of 30 primary faculty and 45 affiliates spanning five departments.
As we look ahead to 2026, we remain focused on driving innovation and preparing the next generation of leaders in medical physics. Thank you for being part of this journey. Your engagement and support make all the difference. On behalf of the department, I wish you a joyful holiday season and a new year filled with promise.
Warm regards,
Michael Speidel, PhD
Interim Chair, Department of Medical Physics