ABSTRACT
The field of Medical Physics is a global enterprise with nearly 30,000 medical physicists employed worldwide. However, there are significant disparities in the workforce across different nations, with per capita numbers varying by more than a factor of 50. These disparities stem from a variety of complex factors, including national wealth, healthcare infrastructure, education and training opportunities, recognition of the profession as Medical Physicists, and disparities in resources and technology. This chapter introduces Global Medical Physics considerations including background and terminology, and touches on issues described in more detail later in the book. Although there is no single or straightforward solution to addressing these global professional and workforce imbalances, increased coordination, collaboration, and partnerships among organizations and specialists across different income contexts could help mitigate these challenges. Such efforts would foster more efficient knowledge exchange, enhance the training of professionals, and ultimately improve patient care.
