Institute of Pharmacy (Paris)
Master of Pharmacy in Nuclear Pharmacy
Dr. Peter Geissler, MD, PhD
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Authorized Medical Physicist
Institute of Pharmacy
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Dr. Peter Geissler, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Officer and Director
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Office and Mailing Address:
Institute of Pharmacy, Paris
2, Square de Robiac
75007, Paris, France
Email: geissler@geissler-associates.com
Email: geissler@institute-pharamacy-paris.com
TEL: +33 (0)9 75 18 32 20 (France)
INTRODUCTION
The Institute of Pharmacy offers a 1-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) in Nuclear Pharmacy degree program which complies with United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Regulations Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations § 35.55 Training for an authorized nuclear pharmacist.
ACCREDITATION
The Institute of Pharmacy is accredited by the European Board of Accreditation of Continuing Education for Health Professionals. By reciprocity, the Institute of Pharmacy is accredited by the American Medical Association.
§35.55 TRAINING FOR AN AUTHORIZED NUCLEAR PHARMACIST
Except as provided in § 35.57, the licensee shall require the authorized nuclear pharmacist to be a pharmacist who—
(a) Is certified by a specialty board whose certification process has been recognized by the Commission or an Agreement State. The names of board certifications that have been recognized by the Commission or an Agreement State are posted on the NRC’s Medical Uses Licensee Toolkit web page. To have its certification process recognized, a specialty board shall require all candidates for certification to:
(1) Have graduated from a pharmacy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) (previously named the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education) or have passed the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) examination;
(2) Hold a current, active license to practice pharmacy OR hold an undergraduate degree in physics, chemistry, or biology;
(3) Provide evidence of having acquired at least 4000 hours of training/experience in nuclear pharmacy practice. Academic training may be substituted for no more than 2000 hours of the required training and experience; and
(4) Pass an examination in nuclear pharmacy administered by diplomates of the specialty board, that assesses knowledge and competency in procurement, compounding, quality assurance, dispensing, distribution, health and safety, radiation safety, provision of information and consultation, monitoring patient outcomes, research and development; or
(b)(1) Has completed 700 hours in a structured educational program consisting of both:
(i) 200 hours of classroom and laboratory training in the following areas—
(A) Radiation physics and instrumentation;
(B) Radiation protection;
(C) Mathematics pertaining to the use and measurement of radioactivity;
(D) Chemistry of byproduct material for medical use; and
(E) Radiation biology; and
(ii) Supervised practical experience in a nuclear pharmacy involving—
(A) Shipping, receiving, and performing related radiation surveys;
(B) Using and performing checks for proper operation of instruments used to determine the activity of dosages, survey meters, and, if appropriate, instruments used to measure alpha- or beta-emitting radionuclides;
(C) Calculating, assaying, and safely preparing dosages for patients or human research subjects;
(D) Using administrative controls to avoid medical events in the administration of byproduct material; and
(E) Using procedures to prevent or minimize radioactive contamination and using proper decontamination procedures; and
(2) Has obtained written attestation, signed by a preceptor authorized nuclear pharmacist, that the individual has satisfactorily completed the requirements in paragraph (b)(1) of this section and is able to independently fulfill the radiation safety-related duties as an authorized nuclear pharmacist.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
In this 200-hour lecture series, we cover the entire textbook, Nuclear Medicine Physics, published by the INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA), Vienna (2015).
LINK: https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub1617web-1294055.pdf
Nuclear Medicine Physics includes 20 chapters and covers topics relevant to nuclear medicine physics, including basic physics for nuclear medicine, radionuclide production, imaging and non-imaging detectors, quantitative nuclear medicine, internal dosimetry in clinical practice and radionuclide therapy. It provides, in the form of a syllabus, a comprehensive overview of the basic medical physics knowledge required for the practice of medical physics in modern nuclear medicine. (766 pages)
CURRICULUM
The 200 hours of classroom and laboratory training covers the following areas—
(A) Radiation physics and instrumentation;
(B) Radiation protection;
(C) Mathematics pertaining to the use and measurement of radioactivity;
(D) Chemistry of byproduct material for medical use; and
(E) Radiation biology.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
NP-1
Introduction to Nuclear Pharmacy – Licensing, ethics, legal aspects of nuclear
pharmacy.
NP-2
Radiation Safety and Regulations – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
stipulates that any individual qualified to be named as an Authorized Nuclear Pharmacist
(ANP) is also qualified to serve as the facility Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). As such,
an ANP must be familiar with radiation protection concepts, radiation regulations and
regulations specific to the practice of pharmacy. This course will review the pertinent
information specific to the practice of radiopharmacy.
NP-3
Nuclear Physics – Nuclear Physics for Radiopharmacists introduces students to nuclear
physics and the interactions of ionizing radiation with matter as applicable to
radiopharmacy.
NP-4
Nuclear Instrumentation – Instrumentation examines the theories and operating
principles of radiation detection instruments routinely used within nuclear medicine and
nuclear pharmacy.
NP-5
Radiochemistry – Nuclear properties, structure, and reactions; radioactive decay;
interaction of radiation with matter; radioactivity in the environment; nuclear applications
in chemistry.
NP-6
Radiation Biology – Radiation Biology examines the biological effects of ionizing
radiation. Physical interactions, energy deposition and chemical changes that result in cell damage will be reviewed. The effects of these interactions on mammalian cells will be the main emphasis including survival and repair, mutagenesis, and acute and late effects.
NP-7
Practicum / Supervised Nuclear Pharmacy Research – Supervised clerkship and / or
supervised nuclear pharmacy research under the preceptorship of an Authorized Medical
Physicist as required by United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulations Title
10, Code of Federal Regulations § 35.55 Training for an authorized nuclear pharmacist
and § 35.57 Training for experienced Radiation Safety Officer, teletherapy or medical
physicist, authorized medical physicist, authorized user, nuclear pharmacist, and
authorized nuclear pharmacist.
ACADEMIC CALENDER
Fall Term Winter Term Spring Term |
2026-27 Tues 6 Oct – Fri 4 Dec Tues 19 Jan – Fri 19 Mar Tues 27 Apr – Fri 18 Jun |
2027-28 Tues 5 Oct – Fri 3 Dec Tues 18 Jan – Fri 17 Mar Tues 25 Apr – Fri 16 Jun |
2028-29 Tues 3 Oct – Fri 1 Dec Tues 16 Jan – Fri 16 Mar Tues 24 Apr – Fri 15 Jun |
2029-30 Tues 2 Oct – Fri 30 Nov Tues 15 Jan – Fri 15 Mar Tues 23 Apr – Fri 14 Jun |
COURSE FORMAT
Graduate tutorial courses are offered live (synchronously) online.
ADMISSIONS
Without prejudice or preference, equal consideration is given to qualified candidates from all nations.
Twenty-four (24) candidates are admitted each year to the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) in Nuclear Pharmacy post-graduate degree program.
To be eligible for admissions, candidates must:
(i)
Apply by 15 June prior to commencement of the Master of Pharmacy in Nuclear Pharmacy degree program;
(ii)
Hold a degree (bachelors, masters, or doctorate) in a biological science or physical science from an accredited college or university;
(iii)
Demonstrate basic knowledge of chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, mathematics, biological sciences, human anatomy and physiology;
(iv)
Provide official transcripts of all prior academic institutions;
(v)
Schedule an admission interview with Dr. Geissler, Director of the Institute of Pharmacy;
(vi)
Provide highlights of transcripts of prior coursework for evaluation of possible transfer credit;
(vii)
Provide two (2) Letters of Recommendation;
(viii)
Provide a brief (250 to 500 word) Statement of Purpose;
(ix)
Submit the application and pay the application fee ($250).
ACADEMIC POLICY
Attendance
A minimum of 70% online attendance is required.
Attendance shall be monitored electronically.
Examinations
Each term, one online examination shall be administered at the close of each lecture course.
The minimum passing score is 70%.
Transcripts
The Registrar shall maintain academic records for each student, including attendance and exam scores.
Grades
Course grades shall be assigned as follows.
“A” 90% to 100%
“B” 80% to 90%
“C” 70% to 80%
“F” Less than 70%
TUITION FEES
Tuition is $3,000 for each 20-hour lecture course.
Total tuition is 6 courses x $3,000 per course = $18,000 for all lecture courses.
Supervision fee is $12,000 for the 80-hour clerkship supervision or 80-hour research supervision.
Total is $18,000 (tuition) + $12,000 (supervision) = $30,000.
Tuition fees are paid on a term-by-term basis.
Tuition fees become due and payable 30 days prior to the start of each academic term.
Supervision fees become due and payable 30 days prior to the start of clerkships / research.
Mailing and Office:
Institute of Pharmacy, Paris
2, Square de Robiac
75007 Paris, France
Mailing and Office:
Institute of Pharmacy, Paris
83e Beach Road, Belvedere
California, 94920, USA