Job Description
SUMMARY:
The medical dosimetrist is a member of the radiation oncology team who has knowledge of the overall characteristics and clinical relevance of radiation oncology in the management of cancer or other disease processes, with special expertise in radiation therapy treatment planning.
Medical dosimetrists develop, optimize, and monitor patient treatment plans and provide oversight to high level treatment procedures. Accurate calculations are required for all treatment plan implementation including both external and brachytherapy.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Designs a treatment plan by means of computer and/or manual computation with optimal beam geometry to deliver a prescribed radiation dose and spare critical structures in accordance with the radiation oncologist's prescription.
- Identifies and contours normal and dose-limiting structures by utilizing images from one or more data sets. Assumes proficiency in image registration with various image data sets to include CT, MRI and PET.
- Creates and transfer reference images and localization markers for portal verification and treatment delivery to include DRRs, CBCTs and other IGRT methods, as specified.
- Supervises, performs, or assists in simulations and tumor localization using specified imaging devices including, but not limited to CT, MRI, and PET.
- Supervises, performs, or assists in the planning and implementation of the fabrication of compensation filters, custom shields, wedges, and other beam modifying devices.
- Supervises, performs, or assists in the planning and implementation of the production of moulds, casts, and other immobilization devices.
- Communicates with the radiation therapist(s) and assumes an advisory role in the implementation of the treatment plan including: the correct use of immobilization devices, compensators, wedges, field arrangement, and other treatment or imaging parameters.
- Performs calculations for the accurate delivery of the prescribed dose, document all pertinent information in the patient record, and verify the mathematical accuracy of all calculations by an approved method.
- Provides assistance and technical support to the medical physicist, in radiation safety and protection, qualitative machine calibrations, quality assurance of treatment plans and radiation oncology equipment.
- Operates and performs quality assurance, under the direction of the Medical Physicist, on the treatment planning computer(s).
- Supervises, performs, or assists in the application of specific methods of patient and/or beam dosimetry as directed by the Medical Physicist.
- Assists in brachytherapy procedures by performing treatment planning and dose calculations. May perform or assist in the receiving, loading, and shipping of radioactive materials.
- Utilize radiation monitoring devices to measure radioactivity and perform assays.
- Teach applied aspects of medical dosimetry to students, radiation therapists and residents.
- Participates in clinical research.
- Participates in continuing education.
- Participates in quality improvement processes.
- Adheres to TMC organizational and department-specific safety, confidentiality, values, policies and standards.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree required.
EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of related dosimetrist experience preferred, but not required.
LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION: Current CMD certification from the Medical Dosimetry Certification Board (MDCB) and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
· Knowledge technical aspects of radiation therapy treatments
· Knowledgeable in the areas of anatomy, physiology, clinical oncology, radiobiology, radiation physics, and radiation safety.
· Expertise in the technical aspects of radiation oncology and medical physics to develop optimal treatment plans which include multi-modality (MR, PET) imaging for use in rigid and deformable registration, respiratory gating, and daily assessment of CBCT for dose tracking and possible treatment adaptation.
· Knowledgeable in health care informatics-including the resources, devices, and methods to acquire, store and retrieve data. Tools include computers and software such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as clinical guidelines, current medical terminology, information, and communication systems.
· Possess good communication and interpersonal skills to facilitate the exchange of information with patients, family members, the radiation oncology treatment team as well as outside entities.
· Has high level critical thinking and problem-solving skills, to include the ability to make quick evaluation and decisions for on-line adaptive responsibilities.
· Works independently, but in collaboration with the Radiation Oncologist and Medical Physicist.
· Has working knowledge of radiation safety principles and practices as well as current rules and regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other regulatory agencies.
· Has the ability to interpret criteria and develop treatment plans as defined by relevant treatment protocols.
· Has mathematical skills including algebra, trigonometry, and introductory calculus.
· Knowledgeable in conducting clinical research including collecting data, implementing a study, and writing papers for publication.
· General understanding of scripting across various programing languages.