Preface

From the Preface to the 3rd edition of Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology, Russell Hobbie wrote

Between 1971 and 1973 I audited all the courses medical students take in their first two years at the University of Minnesota. I was amazed at the amount of physics I found in these courses and how little of it is discussed in the general physics course. I found a great discrepancy between the physics in some of the papers in the biological research literature and what I knew to be the level of understanding of most biology majors or premed students who have taken a year of physics. It was clear that an intermediate-level physics course would help these students. It would provide the physics they need and would relate it directly to the biological problems where it is useful. This book is the result...

A Good Way to Become a Medical Physicist

John Wikswo wrote a review in Physics Today of the 2nd edition of Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology (Physics Today, Volume 42, Pages 75–76, 1989). He concluded with

A good way to become a medical physicist or biophysicist is to master everything in Hobbie’s Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology.

Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology

In 1978, Russell Hobbie wrote the first edition of Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology. It became a classic in the field, and I used it as a textbook when I was a graduate student. A few years ago, Russ was getting ready to prepare the 4th edition of his book, and he asked me to be a co-author. What an honor. We had a great time working on the book, and I think you will like the results. We added a new chapter on ultrasound, and increased the number of homework problems significantly.

You can find the website for the book at https://sites.google.com/view/hobbieroth.

In the preface of our book, we write “We would appreciate receiving any corrections or suggestions for improving the book.” Let me reiterate this. If you find any mistakes, please let us know.

Thanks for your interest in our book. Contact Russ or me if you have any questions.

Brad