You have probably heard that radiation is used to combat cancer, but might be wondering how exactly this works. X-rays deposit a specified dose of high energy into the cancerous tissue. This damages the cancer cells’ DNA beyond repair, causing the cells to stop dividing or die. But what about the surrounding healthy tissue? How do we minimize harm?

This is where medical physicists come in. They specialize in the interaction between radiation and the human body, and help patients get the best results from their cancer therapy. Medical physicist John Winston works to improve the health and lives of patients by protecting them from overexposure to radiation and its harmful side effects.