The UAB Physician Assistant Studies program was founded in 1967. It is the second oldest PA program in the nation and was established only two years after the birth of the PA profession. The UAB PA program is a surgically focused program that is ranked No. 8 position in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report "Best Physician Assistant Programs" rankings.
The program provides intense didactic and clinical experiences in primary care, medicine, and surgery. It is one of few programs that offers both a cadaveric dissection experience to supplement anatomy, and a live pig lab to provide a practical, hands-on experience to strengthen the surgical component of the curriculum.
The Mission of the PA program is to attract and train culturally diverse individuals with the knowledge, skills, and judgment needed to provide competent and compassionate healthcare to all. The program faculty and students are champions of diversity and inclusivity, and our commitment to these values are at the core of who we are.
The PA program and UAB are dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, and community service. Students have an opportunity to study within the UAB Hospital system, noted to be one of the top medical centers in the U.S. Our students have opportunities to complete clinical rotations in emergency medicine, primary care, trauma, critical care, and surgery, at clinical sites located within and surrounding the Birmingham area. Graduates of our 27-month program earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree.
View information about the coordinated Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and Master in Public Health (MSPAS/MPH) dual degree program.
View our NCCPA PANCE Performance Summary Report and Student Attrition Table for the program.
For more information about the Physician Assistant Studies program, call us at 205-975-4237 or email us at
Program Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2034. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-university-of-alabama-at-birmingham/.
Professional Licensure and Certifications
The UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that will prepare them for professional certification through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). While there is a national certification exam that is offered by NCCPA, board certification does not confer state licensure. Specific licensure requirements vary by state. Please visit the Professional Licensure and Certification General Disclosures webpage for more information on state licensure requirements.
Spotlights
The Master of Science in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Sciences (NMMIS) program is the 1st program in the United States to rise to a Master's entry-level status and is the only program of its kind in the state of Alabama..
Our personalized program is dedicated to prepare the next generation of leaders in our field through clinical innovation, safety management, and research discoveries.
New Specialty Tracks
Continuing our tradition of excellence in education, we now offer three specialty tracks - we call this Nuclear Medicine +
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Imaging Specialist Track
- The Imaging Specialist Track is geared towards training the next generation of imaging and therapy leaders.
- This customized track will equip you with the didactic and clinical training in not only nuclear medicine technology but computed technology and magnetic resonance imaging.
- The Imaging Specialist track culminates in a non-thesis research spanning two semesters.
- Upon completion of the program, you will have the option to sit for board certification exams including those offered by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) for becoming a certified nuclear medicine technologist (CNMT) and a certified computed tomography technologist (NMTCB(CT)). You will also be eligible to sit for the board certification exam offered by the American Registry of Radiological Technologists (ARRT) allowing you to also become a certified nuclear medicine technologist (ARRT(N)). In addition, you will be prepared for the didactic portion required to sit for the certification exam in magnetic resonance imaging, with an option for further clinical training in the area.
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Radiation Safety Officer Track
- The Radiation Safety Officer Track is uniquely geared towards training the next generation of radiation safety leaders.
- In addition to receiving the didactic and clinical training to specialize in nuclear medicine technology, this customized track also allows you to train in nuclear medicine radiation protection in conjunction with UAB’s Health Physics program.
- The Radiation Safety Officer track culminates in a non-thesis research spanning two semesters.
- Upon completion of the program, you will have the option to sit for board certification exams including those offered by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) for becoming a certified nuclear medicine technologist (CNMT) and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for becoming a certified nuclear medicine technologist (ARRT(N)). After completion of the required post-graduation field experience, you will be eligible to sit for the exam offered by the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine recognized by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) to work as a radiation safety officer.
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Research Track
- The Research Track is uniquely designed to train the next generation of research leaders in the field of nuclear medicine technology and molecular imaging sciences.
- The track culminates in thesis research in the final semester which requires coordination with the UAB Graduate School, forming a research committee, and dissertation requirements.
- Upon completion of the program, students have the option to sit for board certification exams offered by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) for becoming a certified nuclear medicine technologist (CNMT) and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for becoming a certified nuclear medicine technologist (ARRT(N)). You will be able to work as a research scientist with specialized skills or pursue graduate studies in doctoral programs.
NOTE: You must make a decision to follow one of the three tracks before the end of your first term. You may not move between tracks once your decision is official.
Program Highlights
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3-Semester Mentored Clinical Practice
We offer a three-semester mentored clinical practice experience in the fields of medical nuclear imaging technology, computed tomography, and radionuclide therapeutic applications at one of the UAB affiliated clinical sites.
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Options for Advanced Training
In your fourth semester, you have the option for advanced training in one of many optional areas:
- Nuclear medicine technology, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (Imaging Specialist track)
- Radiation Protection (Radiation Safety Officer track)
- Thesis research (Research track)
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Options for Board Exams
Upon graduation, you have the option to sit for board exams offered by:
- American Registry of Radiologic Technologists – ARRT(N)
- Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board – NMTCB
- American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine – ABSNM.
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Options for Careers
Upon graduation, your career options include working as clinical imaging technical specialist, nuclear regulatory commission license eligible radiation safety officer, or as an independent researcher, all in the highly advanced field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging sciences.
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Access to Cutting-Edge Equipment
Our students have access to UAB’s advanced imaging and research facilities including the state-of-the-art PET/MR fusion system, one of the most powerful cyclotron at any U.S. academic medical center, as well as the various UAB core research instrument facilities including confocal imaging, electron microscopy, and flow cytometry.
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Access to Industry Experts
Program personnel include two SNMMI-TS Professional Society former and present president and president-elect individuals, one former editor-in-chief of the JNMT, credentialed and experienced eminent didactic and clinical faculty, and a research advisory board composed of renowned experts in the fields of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, and radiation research.
Specialized Degree
We are a highly specialized diagnostic and therapy degree. You will be entering a profession which utilizes radionuclides to image and treat disease in the body and is ranked among the Top 20 “Best Healthcare Jobs” according to U.S. News & World Report. Your field, which began in the 1950s as a peaceful use of radioactive material, is a premier molecular imaging tool that physicians use to diagnose, stage and treat disease.
For additional information, you can email
Careers & Patients
Check out the videos below from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. Learn about the exciting career opportunities available for graduates of the program and witness the healing power of nuclear medicine therapies - or radiopharmaceutical therapies - through the words of our patients.
Nuclear Medicine Careers
It is an exciting time to become a nuclear medicine technologist! Hear more about the different paths to a career in nuclear medicine.
Nuclear Medicine Patients
Follow three patients as they experience nuclear medicine therapies treating neuroendocrine tumors, thyroid cancer, and prostate cancer.
Professional Licensure and Certifications
Upon Graduation the student is eligible for board exam for certification with both the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB). State Licensure is variable. For up to date information on state licensure requirements and requirements by state please visit the Professional Licensure and Certification General Disclosures webpage for more information on state and territories requirements. Students completing the Radiation Safety Officer Track will be eligible to sit for the exam offered by the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine following completiong of post-graduation field experience.
Disclaimer: Eligibility to take either national certification exam in CT requires certification in nuclear medicine technology, radiography or radiation therapy first.
Program Accreditation
The NMMIS program curriculum is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT).
Post-Baccalaureate Accreditation approval is maintained through 2024 from the JRCNMT.
Graduate achievement data is an indicator of program effectiveness, demonstrating the extent to which a program achieves its goals. The current report on graduate achievement data, identified by program, is available on the JRCNMT website by clicking on the following link: Graduate Achievement Report.
Health Physics focuses on protecting human life by balancing the risks and benefits of radiation as a whole and ionizing radiation specifically.
There are only about 20 Health Physics programs at the master’s degree level in the nation and ours is the only one in the State of Alabama. At UAB, the Master of Science in Health Physics Program is in a unique position to train a new generation of health physicists that play a critical role in ensuring safety with all uses of radiation.
Our curriculum covers a wide range of Health Physics courses as well as the ability to take personalized electives specific to student’s radiation safety interest. Our students will get access to experts from around the country throughout the curriculum as well as unique experiences including the UAB Advanced Imaging Center medical cyclotron, which is one of the most powerful cyclotrons in an academic medical center in the United States.
This profession requires cross-disciplinary critical thinking and is in high demand both in the United States and globally. Our supervised practicums provide students opportunities for gaining applied real-world work experience and networking connections with professionals in the field. In addition, our professional development courses offer a unique opportunity for students to become well-rounded professionals.
Regardless of your ultimate career goals, choose excellence. Choose UAB.
What Makes the UAB Master of Science in Health Physics Program Unique
- The MS in Health Physics is the only program of its kind in Alabama.
- The program is offered in-person, virtual or hybrid.
- Proper emphasis is given on public awareness and protecting human life from ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
- Health physics requires cross-disciplinary critical thinking and UAB's curriculum is designed to foster this in their students.
- The program includes supervised practices, helping students to gain more meaningful outcomes from their internships.
- Internship and practical experience are provided in hospitals, national labs, government organizations, and within UAB.
- UAB's faculty are notable in the health physics field.
- Research opportunities are available for interested students.
- MHP 654 Laser Safety course meets CLSO eligibility requirement per the Board of Laser Safety.
Visit the BLS site for more information.
Earning a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling will help you be prepared for the high demand, rapidly evolving field of genomic medicine. A combination of classroom and clinical experiences in pediatric, prenatal, cancer, and other specialties teach you to work with patients and families who are learning about and coping with the risk genetic disease may have for themselves and their relatives.
Genetic counseling is a versatile degree that allows you to also work with companies, on research teams, and with patient advocacy groups. Located in the heart of a major medical and research center, the UAB genetic counseling program can set you apart with a dynamic curriculum tailored to your goals.
Open House and Application Workshop
The University of Alabama at Birmingham M.S. in Genetic Counseling program is offering two upcoming events for prospective students. First, an open house for general information about the UAB GC Program and, second, one-on-one sessions with faculty for students to further develop their application materials.
Certifications and Licensures
The UAB genetic counseling program is designed to lead to professional certification through the American Board of Genetic Counseling, Inc (ABGC). While there is a national certification exam offered by ABGC, board certification does not confer state licensure. Specific licensure requirements vary from state to state.
Spotlight
Taylor Dunn, UAB Genetic Counseling Class of 2021, moved from Iowa City, Iowa for her graduate degree. As part of the program, she returned to the Midwest (Kansas City, a previous offsite rotation site) for her pediatric and specialty clinical rotations. However, after graduation she decided to stay in Birmingham is now a genetic counselor and clinical supervisor in the UAB prenatal and reproductive endocrinology clinics.
Visit the Current Students Page to read about our students, and the Department of Genetics Page to read more about the clinical supervisors and care teams.
Have you ever wondered...
- How doctors diagnose diseases?
- What happens to the blood sample you give at your Doctor’s office?
- How the risk for the development of a heart attack is determined?
Welcome to the world inside the medical laboratory, a world where medical laboratory scientists and other laboratory professionals find answers to these questions and much more.
Curriculum
The Medical Laboratory Science program is committed to providing a high-quality education to prepare students with a solid educational background and a set of skills translatable to a variety of healthcare settings. Visit the UAB Graduate School catalog for the curriculum and course descriptions for this program.
Accreditation and Certification
The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Program graduates are eligible to apply for the certification examination offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC).
NAACLS
5600 N River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Phone: 773.714.8880
Fax: 773.714.8886
URL: https://www.naacls.org/
ASCP Board of Certification
33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312.541.4999
Fax: 312.541.4998
URL: https://www.ascp.org/
The Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate provides current training for professionals, who are directly or indirectly affected by biotechnology regulatory affairs. The demand for regulatory affairs knowledge is becoming increasingly more important in health care, in particular for individuals working as medical professionals, scientists, biomedical engineers, clinical researchers, entrepreneurs and quality assurance experts.
The program is also ideal for biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, who want to bring their products to the U.S. marketplace, as the certificate program covers current federal regulations.
Offered Completely Online
The Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate program is offered completely online and is covered in five courses. Most students are working professionals and we ensure students have the time needed to study and understand the coursework. The courses can be taken in a single semester, but typically, they are completed over three semesters.
Upon completion, students can apply to take various certification exams in the areas of quality assurance, regulatory affairs and/or clinical research.
Enrollment Open to Select Undergraduates
The Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs Certificate offers open enrollment to undergraduates on a case by case basis, allowing students to potentially complete a graduate certificate at the same time they earn their undergraduate degree.
Undergraduate Enrollment Requirements
- Approved on a case by case basis.
- Must have at least 60 credit hours completed.
- At least 36 credit hours must be taken at UAB.
- The certificate will not be awarded until students complete their undergraduate degree.
Interested students can request further information and submit their official application through the UAB Graduate School.
Did You Know?
- Job demand for regulatory affairs knowledge is at an all-time high.
- UAB faculty are subject matter experts with real-world experience.
- Each course focuses on preparing you for professional career and national certification exams
You Will Learn
- The philosophies and roles of the domestic and international regulatory agencies that oversee drug, biologic, medical device, and diagnostics development.
- The laws that govern the development, manufacturing and commercial distribution of drugs, biologics and medical devices.
- The analysis of how emerging developments and trends are reshaping drug development and medical device regulation.
- The biological processes and laboratory techniques utilized for the discovery, development and evaluation of therapeutic drugs.
- Major concepts under which clinical trials are designed and run.
- The roles of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Institutional Review Boards, the Code of Federal Regulations and ethical principles.
- The complexities of clinical trial initiation and the issues of site and data management.
Question for Faculty?
Our biotechnology faculty are only one click away. Email any questions to
Apply Today
Use the online Graduate School application to apply to the Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs Certificate.
Master of Science in Biotechnology
Biotechnology is the use of biology to make useful products, solve problems, and improve quality of life for all. In only one year, you can earn your Master of Science in Biotechnology degree through our in-person OR online program.
Why Biotechnology?
- From 2010-2016, 86% of our graduates went to work immediately after graduating with 80% in the life sciences industry.
- Learn to run your own biotechnology business.
- Biotech careers are versatile and can be found in almost every industry.
- Gain the Biotechnology and administrative skills that will set you apart.
- Use your Biotechnology degree as the next step in your professional or medical career.
Learn how to take your scientific ideas from bench top to business in just 365 days!
In-Person Master of Science in Biotechnology
The in-person Master of Science in Biotechnology degree curriculum is divided into categories including the principles of biotechnology, applications of biotechnology, and bench to commercialization.
Professional development is woven throughout the coursework to train you about the soft skills necessary to excel in business, lead scientific advances in healthcare, and other science disciplines.
Online Master of Science in Biotechnology
The Online Master of Science in Biotechnology is a completely virtual program (no hybrid option available) that provides students with the scientific knowledge and business development skills needed to successfully pursue their goals. The online curriculum is delivered as asynchronous, and the students have access to live class recordings. The in-person and online curricula are similar except for the lab curriculum. In-person students take three 2-credit labs. Online students do not participate in lab. Instead, they take two 3-credit courses in biochemistry and pharmacology. Please note, while there are similarities, the two programs are separate- courses designated for the online program cannot be combined with the in-person courses and vice versa. The online program class list can be found at the bottom of the Biotechnology catalogue page.
Earn your Master of Science in Biotechnology degree at your own pace!
Apply Today
Use the online Graduate School Application to apply to the in-person Master of Science in Biotechnology OR Online Master of Science in Biotechnology today!
Spotlight
Vish Patel, a 2011 graduate of the UAB Biotechnology program, has stayed involved with the program and the School of Health Professions since graduation.
For more information, read about Vish Patel, M.S. on the Meet our Alumni page.
In only one year, a Master of Science in Biotechnology degree can be yours. Learn how to take scientific ideas from bench top to business in just 365 days.
Question for Faculty?
Our biotechnology faculty are only one click away. Email any questions to
Did You Know?
- From 2010-2016 86% of our graduates went to work immediately after graduating and 80% of those are in the life science industry.
- You can learn to run your own biotechnology business.
- You can gain the Biotechnology and administrative skills that will set you apart.
- You can use your Biotechnology degree as the next step in your professional or medical career.
Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate
In addition to a Master of Science in Biotechnology, we also offer a Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate. Five courses offered totally online and completed at your own pace will help you be prepared and eligible for the Regulatory Affairs Certification test. For more information, visit the Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate page.
Apply Today
Use the online Graduate School application to apply to the MS in Biotechnology Program.
Spotlight
Vish Patel, a 2011 graduate of the UAB Biotechnology program, has stayed involved with the program and the School of Health Professions since graduation.
For more information, read about Vish Patel, M.S. on the Meet our Alumni page.
The Master of Science in Biotechnology degree will teach you how to take your scientific ideas from bench top to market. The program, which can be completed in one year, combines business and research courses and offers hands-on learning experiencing. It includes a project, allowing you to apply what you are learning in your courses to an actual idea you are developing.
Learn more about the program:
Dream it. Think it. Solve it.
Turn your research into real solutions.
Recent students in the Biotechnology program created a team to work on a new treatment for Parkinson's disease that would be easier to take and nontoxic in humans. Working together, they found that IPX-750 and IPX-760 reduced α-synuclein aggregation significantly and represent potential treatments for this dibeilitating disease. The discovery they made is now undergoing efficacy studies on marmosets at the University of Wisconsin.
- Eric Quick
Apply by May 31 for priority consideration.
Connect with Us
If you are interested in learning more about the Biotchecnology program at UAB, contact us by emailing
The School of Health Professions has scholarships available for graduate students, including those in the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences.
Most of these scholarships have specific academic requirements, and some have additional conditions that must be met in order to be awarded. Current students will need to submit an application through B-SMART to be considered for any scholarships - including university-wide scholarships.
Physician Assistant Scholarships
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Mr. & Mrs. Elbert H. Purser Endowed Scholarship
Established in 1979 and subsequently endowed in 1983 through a gift from the Elbert H. Purser Trust. Applicants must be admitted to or enrolled in the UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program and must be natives or permanent residents of the state of Alabama. Selection is made by a committee of PA program faculty and annual awards are determined based on the availability of funds.
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Bill Parker Endowed Scholarship
Established in 2018. Mr. Parker is a 1972 graduate of the Physician Assistant Studies program who worked as an orthopaedic PA for over 40 years. Applicants must be admitted to or enrolled in the UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program and will be chosen by the faculty.
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Comer Foundation Scholarship
Established in 2021. Applicants must be permanent Alabama residents who are admitted to or enrolled in the UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program and must demonstrate the following: financial need as determined by the Office of financial aid, good academic standing, and plans to live in and practice within Alabama upon completion of their studies.
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William John Gill PA-C Sponsored Scholarship
Established in 2021. Applicants must be admitted to or enrolled in the UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program and must demonstrate an interest in practicing in a rural/underserved or health professional shortage area upon completion of their studies.
Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Sciences Scholarships
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Michael Thompson Scholarship Fund
This student scholarship is awarded to a student in the Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Sciences program in honor of Dr. Michael Thompson, who a professor of Medical Physics for 27 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Health Professions.
In the Navy, a Physician Assistant (PA) plays a central role in one of the most capable health-care networks on earth. Here, you’ll have exceptional freedom to address patients’ needs and the opportunity to work hands-on with supervising physicians and surgeons, collaborating to deliver the highest standard of care.
Thompson suddenly and unexpectedly passed away on January 2, 2009 at the age of 59. He retired in 2007 from the faculty of the UAB Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Sciences program after suffering with Parkinson’s disease for 7 years. His 30 year career at UAB began in 1977 as a Radiation Safety Monitor in the Occupational Health Safety Office. He transferred to the School of Health Professions in April of 1980 and began utilizing teaching experience he obtained at Francis Marion College in Florence, South Carolina, where he taught Physics and Mathematics from 1974-1977. In May 1986, just six short years after joining the faculty, he was honored with the School of Health Professions highest faculty award, the Joseph F. Volker Outstanding Faculty Award. He received the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award in May of 1993 and twice (1995 and 1997) was a finalist for the highest faculty award given by UAB, The Ellen Gregg Ingalls / UAB National Alumni Award.
These faculty awards are a testament to Michael Thompson’s reputation as an outstanding educator. Numerous former students were led to the field of Health Physics through Professor Thompson’s efforts. He continuously promoted the field and would personally hand out application forms to students he thought had any interest in health physics. As a long-time member he would sign off on the applications and personally mail them into the society. Many former students went on from the UAB NMMIS Program to pursue a Health Physics degree at Georgia Tech with recommendations provided by Professor Thompson.
In addition to being an outstanding educator for the School of Health Professions and promoter of the field of health physics, Professor Thompson created and marketed many educational materials through the years. His Principles of Radiation Protection Video Series has been sold internationally. His most recent undertaking has been educational PowerPoint CD packages which have included topics on nuclear instrumentation, radiologic physics, radioactive decay processes, and radiation protection. In 1994, he led the effort for publication of a text book for radiography entitled “Principles of Imaging Science and Protection” from the W.B. Saunders Company.
Professor Emeritus Michael Thompson was beloved by the many students he taught over his 30-year career and will be remembered for being a kind, gentle, and generous person who gave all he could to his students to help them in the learning process. Being a talented educator and a dedicated professor devoted to life-long learning, he will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to be his students.
Additional Information
For more information about cost of attendance, scholarships, and financial aid contact the SHP Office of Student Recruitment, Engagement and Success at 205-934-4195 or by email at