Women in medical physics

To mark International Women's Rights Day, we set out to meet two women medical physicists who work at the Clinique de Genolier.  They have made their mark in a scientific environment that is still predominantly male.

We would like to thank Marie Fargier-Voiron and Mireille Conrad for sharing their stories and experiences with us.

Can you tell us a bit about the job of a medical physicist?

Marie Fargier-Voiron: Of course. For those new to the medical world, you could say that we're a bit like the pharmacist in the world of radiotherapy. The doctor prescribes the treatment and is also responsible for monitoring the patient, while the physicist is responsible for delivering the right amount of radiation, as well as the way in which it is delivered and the overall quality of the treatment. This includes not only providing the means to offer the best treatment to the patient, but also ensuring compliance with international recommendations and the precise calibration of the machines.

How did you choose this profession?

Marie Fargier-Voiron: That's a good question [laughs]. It's a little-known profession and there's not a very straightforward route to get into it. We often discover these professions late in our university studies, they're niche occupations. In my case, I discovered the profession of medical physicist while I was at engineering school, and I wasn't originally heading in that direction. Then I did my doctoral thesis on radiotherapy, which steered me towards this career.

Mireille Conrad: Personally, I discovered this profession when I was already in the third year of my Bachelor's degree, without really considering this path. It was by chance that I had the opportunity to do a Master's thesis at the CHUV, and as soon as I had a glimpse of this field, I was captivated. You have to be there at the right time and be a bit lucky that a training opportunity arises.

In Switzerland, there is no university course dedicated to this profession; training involves three years of clinical practice. There are still very few hospitals offering this training. I was lucky that this opportunity arose when I completed my master's thesis.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Marie Fargier-Voiron: My first placement was in microelectronics, but I soon realised that spending hours in clean rooms was boring for me, and I felt a bit isolated in that field.

What appeals to me enormously about working as a medical physicist is the collaboration with a multitude of professionals, the interaction with companies, and this technical and physical aspect. Every new system that emerges represents a new challenge for us.

What's more, I like the practical aspect of the machines; it's always fascinating to understand how they work and to be able to intervene directly on them. There's also the aspect of communication with the doctors, which requires us to be able to communicate in an appropriate language. We also have to work with technicians who are in direct contact with patients, and it's essential to be able to communicate with them in a nuanced way. Finally, there's the aspect of radiation protection legislation, which means we have to wear several hats in our job.

Mireille Conrad: I've always wanted to do something scientific. I really enjoy this very concrete aspect of my work, working on specific cases and seeing the results of our actions. Working in healthcare is also very rewarding; even after a long day, knowing that we've helped patients is a source of satisfaction for me.

Have you seen any changes over the years in the way women are valued and considered in scientific fields?

Marie Fargier-Voiron: As soon as you enter the field of health, you immediately notice an increase in the number of women, but when I was at engineering school, we were less than 10% women.

It's a very male-dominated environment, but I think you get used to it. All the same, I've noticed a change, although it's still quite generational. I still remember an experience where, during an oral exam, I found myself in front of an all-male jury, which I found mind-boggling. I think that if we want to change attitudes, it's essential to make this diversity visible and normalise it.

Mireille Conrad: I think that over time we develop a certain form of resilience. When I was at university, I often heard people say things like "but you're a bit like a bloke, you're not really a girl". I was confronted with this type of comment and behaviour from other students.

At the beginning of my training, in hospitals, I sometimes felt that I was listened to less because of my gender, but fortunately these situations are still quite rare in my opinion. After that, there were several occasions when women around me were surprised that I was doing a technical job as a physicist.

Once, when I was still a student, a friend of a woman I knew said to me "but you're pretty" when I told her I was studying physics. It made me think about her prejudices and the perception of women in technical professions.
 

What advice would you give to women who are reluctant to embark on this career?

Marie Fargier-Voiron: I think it's essential to focus on the reality of the job and not be put off by prejudices or other people's attitudes. If you're really passionate about the job, then you shouldn't hesitate to go for it. There's no reason to doubt yourself. The important thing is to stay focused on your objectives and not let other people's opinions influence you.

Mireille Conrad: If you're interested and motivated, seize the opportunity. It's important to pursue your passions and seize the opportunities that present themselves. Don't let the obstacles discourage you, and persevere in the path you're passionate about

Thank you to Mireille Conrad et Marie Fargier-Voiron  for agreeing to share their stories and experiences with us. Many thanks also to the entire physics team at the Swiss Radio-Oncology Network, who work with dedication to ensure the highest quality of care for patients. Special thanks go to Maud Jaccard, medical physicist, Nicolas Perichon, medical physicist, Sabrina Décaillet, assistant physicist, and Cédric De Marco, dosimetrist.