Chief Dosimetrist

Day (United States of America)

Chief Dosimetrist

The Chief Dosimetrist fulfills all clinical dosimetry responsibilities in addition to leading the daily operations of the dosimetry group in radiation therapy. The Chief will work closely with the Physicians and Chief Physicist to ensure safe and efficient processes and procedures for radiation treatment planning. The Chief dosimetrist will assist with implementing new treatment techniques and planning processes. The Chief Dosimetrist assists in producing patient treatment plans from the Radiation Oncologist's prescription, designs contours, compensators, and blocks necessary for treatment plans. Assists Physicist with major machine checks and calibrations. Performs quality assurance testing on planning system.

EDUCATION and CERTIFICATION:       

Minimum Bachelor's degree in Radiological Science from an accredited Medical Dosimetry Program. MDCB Certified in Medical Dosimetry.                                                   

RELATED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Training and familiarity with computer systems including but not limited to RayStation treatment planning programs, Velocity software, Varian/ARIA EMR software, BrainLab Radiosurgery, and/or Oncentra HDR treatment planning.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Must have working knowledge of radiation physics, anatomy, oncology, pathology, and radiation safety. Has the education and expertise necessary to generate radiation dose distributions and dose calculations in collaboration with the Medical Physicist and Radiation Oncologist. Must be skilled in the operation of radiation treatment planning computers.  Has the ability to operate independently.  Has the ability to cope with and diffuse stress respectfully and professionally.  Must work well in a team and with other department team members.  Must communicate effectively with all physicians, team members, therapists and other staff members. Must be well organized and willing to share ideas and information with others. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES:

The Chief would have duties (in addition to medical dosimetry duties):

• Improving organizational efficiency by developing better workflow processes
• Collaborate and work with radiation oncologists, physicists, dosimetrists, and the chief radiation therapist to improve treatment techniques
• Supervise daily operation of treatment planning performed by staff dosimetry personnel
• Lead dosimetry department educational meetings
• Lead dosimetry development and implementation of procedures and policies
• Provide input to leadership regarding performance of the medical dosimetry staff
• Represent dosimetry group at department meetings
• Assists staff dosimetrists in planning and treatment design, when needed
• Manage, coordinate, and schedule daily activities of the medical dosimetry staff
• Ensure adherence to quality assurance procedure pertaining to the medical dosimetry section
• Support activities of dosimetry group, including personnel coverage
• Building an excellent communication chain with Chief therapist, Nurses, and Physicists
• In-service for radiation therapists to provide efficiency in Dosimetry and treatment experience for patients
• Go on site visits, attend seminars and hospital meetings, as needed
• Mentors new staff dosimetrists as needed

Medical Dosimetry Duties

• Design a treatment plan by means of computer and /or manual computation that will deliver a prescribed radiation dose and field placement technique in accordance with the Radiation Oncologist's prescription to a defined tumor volume.

• Prepares contours to outline critical organ structures for planning purposes.         

• Design treatment field blocks, bolus, and electron compensators as needed.

• Computes dosage for prescribed treatment.  Verifies mathematical accuracy of all calculation

• Performs Quality Assurance testing on planning system.

• Assists in the treatment planning of HDR Brachytherapy and/or BrainLab cases with MD, and Physicist, when needed.

                        

• Communicates activities to team members, updating ARIA and/or tracking spreadsheets or tables,

• Maintains dosimetry records in patient electronic charts and other records of the physics department under the direction of the Chief Physicist and Chief Dosimetrist.

• Discuss the patient’s written directive and treatment planning options with the Radiation Oncologist.

• Utilize various imaging sources in