Dosimetrist

A medical dosimetrist is an analytical member of the radiation oncology team who works closely in collaboration with the radiation therapists medical physicists and radiation oncologists within the department. A medical dosimetrist has an overall knowledge of math physics anatomy and physiology radiobiology and knows the characteristics and clinical relevance of radiation oncology treatment machines and equipment. With their expertise medical dosimetrists design generate and measure radiation dose distributions and dose calculations while providing oversight to high level treatment procedures in both external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy. A medical dosimetrist will communicate the patients treatment plan to the radiation therapists by providing field arrangements beam modification devices and any concerns that may arise during treatment planning phase. The medical dosimetrist can contribute to quality assurance and safety is by providing technical and physics support. This support could be in radiation protection qualitative machine calibrations and/or quality assurance of the radiation oncology equipment. The medical dosimetrist is a vital member of the radiation oncology team who performs calculations for accurate delivery of the radiation oncologists prescribed dose documents pertinent information in the patient record and verifies the mathematical accuracy of all calculation. Prepare computerized plans for radiation therapy patients (EBRT and Brachytherapy) Under the direction on the chief physicist assures compliance with all radiation safety and protection regulations and requirements Participates in interdisciplinary health team conferences to assess patients and familys needs and plans patient care programs Actively participates in CQI/PI program and activities Check patients charts to assure the prescribed delivery of radiation Maintains clinical competence by attending continuing education programs Ensures proper operation and maintenance of patient management equipment Oversee the day to day operations of the dosimetry team and manages workload appropriately Triage questions from Radiation Therapists about daily treatment set-ups