Dosimetrist Lead - TMCH Cancer Center

Tucson Medical Center; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Tucson Medical Center is seeking a Dosimetrist Lead for the TMCH Cancer Center to advance treatment planning and image-guided therapies. You will oversee plan development, contouring, and verification processes, collaborating with radiation oncologists and physicists to optimize patient care.

The role requires CMD certification, a Bachelor’s degree, and 3 years of dosimetry experience, with strong knowledge of X-ray based planning and QA procedures. On-site position in Tucson, AZ.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Three years of related dosimetrist experience.
• CMD certification from MDCB and BLS certification required.
• Knowledge of radiation therapy treatments and safety.

Responsibilities

• Design treatment plans with optimal beam geometry to meet prescription.
• Contour structures using CT, MRI and PET imaging.
• Create reference images and localization markers for verification.
• Supervise simulations and tumor localization with imaging devices.
• Plan fabrication of compensators, shields, wedges and devices.
• Produce moulds and immobilization devices for treatment setup.
• Coordinate with therapists on plan parameters and immobilization.
• Perform dose calculations and document in patient records.
• Assist physicist with safety checks and QA of plans/equipment.
• Operate QA on treatment planning computers under supervision.
• Support brachytherapy planning and dose calculations when needed.
• Use radiation monitoring devices and perform checks.
• Teach dosimetry concepts to students and residents.
• Participate in clinical research and continuing education.
• Contribute to quality improvement and safety initiatives.

Skills

Dosimetry

Treatment planning

Image registration

Quality assurance

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CT

MRI

PET

IGRT

Job description

Dosimetrist Lead - TMCH Cancer Center

Job Category: Allied Health | Schedule: Full time | Shift: 1 - Day Shift

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 implementationincludingboth 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 TMCH organisational and department-specific safety, confidentiality, values, policies, and standards.


• Performs related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree required.

EXPERIENCE: Three (3) year of related dosimetrist experience 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.