Every day for the past few years, Dr. Victor Montemayor finishes up his school day teaching students physics and goes home to begin a night of working on his medical physics book.
Dr. Montemayor and his co-author Dr. George Starkschall published their book, “Foundations of Medical Physics,” this summer. The book covers topics ranging from radiobiology, modern physics, medical imaging and radiation therapy.
“The book was written originally for undergraduate physics majors,” Dr. Montemayor said. “There was nothing introducing undergraduate physics majors to medical physics.”
Dr. Montemayor’s recent publication is a culmination of years of hard work, dedication and true passion for physics. Dr. Montemayor’s enthusiasm for his work and helping students understand his work is evident, as he has wanted to be a professor and teacher for most of his life.
“My mother says approximately when I was in first grade,” Dr. Montemayor said. “When I was asked that question I always said I wanted to be a teacher.”
Before becoming interested in the field of medical physics, Dr. Montemayor studied mathematics. After switching his major to physics and graduating, Dr. Montemayor went to graduate school to continue his studies.
“I left college and went to go to graduate school in astrophysics, and then after about a year and a half of astrophysics I switched to pure theoretical physics,” Dr. Montemayor said.
Dr. Montemayor began working on the book in 2007, but he really started to put significant work into it starting in 2014.
The typesetting for the book was done using LaTeX, a typesetting program, which was particularly time-consuming because of its steep learning curve. Dr. Montemayor used LaTeX in order to organize and explain physics background, along with other topics.
“The first three chapters are introductions to cancer and radiobiology,” Dr. Montemayor said. “And then, the chapters four through nine are physics background, mostly atomic and nuclear physics, and interactions of radiation with matter. So I was writing the chapters on all of that.”
Dr. Starkschall, along with other contributors, wrote many other chapters, such as on the topics of medical imaging and brachytherapy, a specific type of cancer treatment.
Dr. Montemayor views medical physics as an underappreciated field, because even though it is of the utmost importance, it is often overlooked.
“They considered medical physics at the time the best kept secret in physics because it was this awesome career path and no one knew about it,” Dr. Montemayor said.
In addition to his recent publication, Dr. Montemayor continues to touch the lives of his students.
“I think he definitely pushes me and all of my classmates to be the best students possible,” Simran Kamal-Bahl ‘28 said.
Dr. Montemayor’s background as a college professor at Middle Tennessee State University from 1990-2015 allows him to provide high school students with a unique and valuable academic experience.
“I think he has taught us obviously a lot of physics, but also other skills, like organization,” Kamal-Bahl said. “He is very methodical and organized, which is an important skill to learn. I’ve learned how to plan out my homework and studying better.”
In addition to his current students, it is clear that Dr. Montemayor has made a lasting impression upon his former students.
“I think Dr. Montemayor might be the most organized and methodical teacher on GA’s campus,” Vincent Zhou ‘26 said. “Every lecture, test and assignment is part of a culminating schedule, and they’re usually graded the same day.”
Looking to the future, Dr. Montemayor does not intend on conducting any additional academic research. Instead, Dr. Montemayor is planning on pursuing his love for physics through his teaching.