Dosimetrist

Chesapeake Regional Healthcare; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Chesapeake Regional Healthcare in Chesapeake, VA seeks a Medical Dosimetrist to ensure safe, accurate radiation therapy by designing optimal treatment plans and coordinating with Radiation Therapists and Medical Physicists.

Responsibilities include contouring structures, image registration with CT/MRI/PET, creating DRRs and verification images, QA, and assisting in brachytherapy and research to advance patient care.

Qualifications

• High school diploma and completion of a certified Radiologic Technology Training program specialized in Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry.
• Formal training in a JCERT accredited Dosimetry program (preferred).
• 3 years as a Medical Dosimetrist in simulation, patient setup, and radiation therapy treatment planning.
• Certification by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board and ability to work in Virginia.

Responsibilities

• Design treatment plans with optimal beam geometry to deliver prescribed dose.
• Identify and contour normal and dose-limiting structures using imaging data.
• Perform image registration with CT, MRI, and PET datasets.
• Create and transfer reference images and localization markers for verification.
• Supervise or assist in simulations and tumor localization using CT/MRI.
• Plan and implement fabrication of blocks, shielding devices, and immobilization devices.
• Communicate with Radiation Therapists to implement the plan and imaging parameters.
• Perform dose calculations and document results; verify accuracy.
• Assist Medical Physicists in radiation safety and quality assurance.
• Contribute to brachytherapy procedures and clinical research; teach dosimetry.
• Stay updated on anatomy, radiobiology, and radiation safety.

Skills

Dose calculation

Radiation therapy planning

Image registration

Treatment plan QA

Teaching/mentoring

Education

High school diploma and Radiologic Technology Training

JCERT accredited Dosimetry program (preferred)

Job description

Summary

The Medical Dosimetrist is responsible for helping ensure that the Cancer Treatment Center’s Radiation Therapy patients receive accurate and safe treatment by creating optimal radiation therapy treatment plans in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Design treatment plans 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.
• Identify and contour normal and dose-limiting structures by utilizing images from one or more data sets.
• Assume proficiency in image registration with various image data sets, including CT, MRI, and PET.
• Create and transfer reference images and localization markers for potential verification and treatment delivery to include DRRs, CBCTs, and other IGRT methods.
• Supervise, or assist in simulations and tumor localization using specified imaging devices including, but not limited to, CT and MRI.
• Supervise, perform, and/or assist in the planning and implementation of the fabrication of blocks, electron cutouts, compensation filters, custom shields, wedges, and other beam modifying devices.
• Supervise, perform, and/or assist in the planning and implementation of the production of molds, casts, and other immobilization devices.
• Communicate with the Radiation Therapist(s) and assist in the implementation of the treatment plan, including the correct use of immobilization devices, compensators, wedges, field arrangements, and other treatment or imaging parameters.
• Perform calculations for the accurate delivery of the prescribed dose, documenting all pertinent information in the patient’s chart, and verifying the mathematical accuracy of all calculations by the appropriate method.
• Assist the Medical Physicists in ensuring radiation safety and protection guidelines are followed.
• Ensure appropriate treatment machine and treatment plan quality assurance standards are followed.
• Perform quality assurance on the treatment planning computers as directed and supervised by medical physicist.
• Assist in brachytherapy procedures as directed by medical physicist.
• Teach applied aspects of Medical Dosimetry to students and radiation therapists.
• Participate in clinical research, continuing education, and quality improvement processes.
• Keep abreast of current trends in anatomy, physiology, clinical oncology, radiobiology, radiation physics, and radiation safety.
• Utilize expertise in the technical aspects of radiation oncology and medical physics to develop optimal treatment plans.
• Remain knowledgeable in healthcare informatics, including the resources, devices, and methods to acquire, store, and retrieve data.
• Attend required hospital-wide orientations, meetings, and in-services.
• Demonstrate a commitment to flexible work scheduling when necessary to ensure patient care.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Reports to: Operation Manager

Supervises: None

Responsibilities: Not applicable

Qualifications

• High school diploma and completion of a certified Radiologic Technology Training program specialized in Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry.
• Formal training in a JCERT accredited Dosimetry program (preferred).
• 3 years as a Medical Dosimetrist in simulation, patient setup, and radiation therapy treatment planning.
• Certification by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board and ability to work in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.