Medical Physicists at PTW

I got into medical physics indirectly. While I was at school, I decided that I would like to do something related to medical technology. So that's what I did. I studied medical technology where I felt most comfortable in physics. That's why I followed up with a master's degree in medical physics after completing my bachelor's degree in medical technology. I stuck with this field and furthered my education with a doctorate.

Since mid-2024, I have held a position in a new area for PTW – ‘Customer Success Management’. I am the head of this department and in the process of building it up. In customer success management, we aim to support customers proactively after they have purchased products and solutions from PTW. For example, we provide support with installation, commissioning, and clinical deployment. The aim is to enable our customers to use PTW solutions in daily clinical practice as quickly as possible. This means I have very close contact with customers, but also with the customer environment (in discussions with third-party suppliers) and provide support with technical and physical issues.

The close contact I have with customers is super exciting. Conversations and discussions take place on an equal level from medical physicist to medical physicist. I can contribute both the company’s and my own expertise, so that the customers who use our products benefit greatly.

I have worked in the clinic both in research and in practice. In the clinic, work is influenced by many parameters due to ongoing operations. There are also many tight deadlines, for example, when work has to be carried out on a device that is used all day to treat patients. In addition, problems are usually short and urgent. If an accelerator breaks down, you have to be quick and act fast because patients are involved. In industry, the problems and issues are often more long-term. This can have both pros and cons. However, what I see as a clear advantage is the greater freedom in industry. Whereas I had to follow fixed routines and guidelines in clinical practice, I can organize my work in industry more individually and can better contribute my own ideas. In my previous position as a product manager, products were developed based on my proposals, which I am now able to support for customers.

I wanted to leave the clinic and get into the industry. And when you work as a medical physicist, PTW is very well-known and has an excellent reputation. Most of the products you know and use are made by PTW. What I appreciate at PTW are the flat hierarchies and the direct communication paths. I have contact with many departments in the company. The interactions are very friendly, uncomplicated and informal. I am also given a great amount of flexibility. I have few restrictions in terms of my working hours. And remote work means I can usually choose where I work. That suits me and my family very well.

In my opinion, training is very important, regardless of whether you plan to work in a clinic or in the industry later. You should take enough time for your training. You may have the chance to finish quickly and take on responsibility immediately, but I would recommend taking the time for comprehensive education. This gives you a sound foundation on which to build on later. You should also try to remain flexible. Especially in the clinic, but also in industry, you can quickly end up in a rut. This can be prevented by remaining open to new challenges and ideas.