Born and raised in Cape Coast, Ghana, Dr. Mark Pokoo-Aikins is a certified Medical Physicist. He began his educational journey at St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast, before earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 2008. In 2012, he completed his Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in Medical Physics at the University of Ghana.
Dr. Pokoo-Aikins further honed his expertise by completing his clinical internship programme in Medical Physics at the National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Department, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, and the SGMC Cancer Centre in Ghana in 2013. He subsequently pursued and completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Physics at the University of Cape Coast in 2019. His PhD thesis focused on portal imaging dosimetry in radiotherapy, a groundbreaking research area that earned him the Dean’s Award of Excellence at the University of Cape Coast for producing an outstanding thesis.
Academic and Professional Leadership
Following his PhD, Dr. Pokoo-Aikins accepted the role of Programme Coordinator at the Medical Physics Department of the University of Ghana, where he has served as the primary liaison officer for the Medical Physics programme for over four years. Occasionally, he has also taken up the role of Acting Head of the Department. He is a lecturer in the department, supervising several MPhil students, and has reviewed numerous manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Since 2012, Dr. Pokoo-Aikins has worked as a research scientist at the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC). His responsibilities there include conducting research at various radiotherapy and diagnostic centres in Ghana, performing radiation safety assessments, and conducting acceptance testing and commissioning of new imaging equipment. Through this work, he ensures proper calibration and optimizes the performance of equipment for clinical use.
Research and Contributions
Dr. Pokoo-Aikins’ research interests lie in X-ray dosimetry, optimization of radiotherapy treatment planning and delivery, and quality assurance methods and standards in radiotherapy and medical imaging. He has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed journals and conference papers.
In 2017, he was part of Ghana’s Quatro team, which conducted a national medical physics audit programme for radiotherapy practices in Ghana. He is currently a part of the Quadril team, responsible for the national quality assurance (QA) audit programme for diagnostic radiology practices in Ghana.
In 2019–2020, he was awarded a fellowship by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for training in quality assurance of radiotherapy and diagnostic X-ray procedures at André Vésale Hospital in Belgium.
International Roles and Recognition
In March 2021, Dr. Pokoo-Aikins assumed the role of facilitator for the IAEA’s project “RAF6053 – Clinical Training for Medical Physicists in Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine” in Ghana. The project focuses on improving the safety and effectiveness of nuclear medicine and diagnostic radiology services across Africa through dose optimization and the development of appropriate quality assurance programmes.
In July 2021, he accepted a position with the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) as Ghana’s representative for the Medical Exposure Survey.
Dr. Pokoo-Aikins is a council member of the International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP), currently serves as a member of IOMP’s Web Sub Committee, and is also a member of several professional organizations, including the Federation of African Medical Physics Organizations (FAMPO), the Ghana Society for Medical Physics (GSMP), the Ghana Association for Radiation Protection (GARP), and the Ghana Nuclear Society (GNS).
Awards and Achievements
In 2024, Dr. Pokoo-Aikins was recognized with two prestigious awards: the Overall Best Worker Award at the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. These awards highlighted his exceptional performance, professionalism, and contributions to organizational success.
Personal Interests
Dr. Pokoo-Aikins has a lifelong passion for Information Technology (IT) and its applications in medical physics. Through his dedication to research, teaching, and leadership, he has made significant contributions to the advancement of medical physics in Ghana and beyond. His commitment to quality assurance, patient safety, and optimization in radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging continues to shape the field and inspire the next generation of medical physicists.