Certified Medical Dosimetrist

Stanford Health Care•Palo Alto, CA

3d•$82 - $108•Hybrid

About The Position

The Certified Medical Dosimetrist is a fully qualified, full-proficiency career-level member of the radiation oncology treatment team. Under the general supervision of the Chief Dosimetrist, Clinical Chief Physicist, and Director-Radiation Oncology Operations, the dosimetrist develops optimal radiation treatment plans for cancer patients under the direction of the radiation oncologist. Plans are designed to maximize dose to the tumor while minimizing dose to normal organs and other critical structures, taking into account tumor pathology, volume, and dose-limiting anatomy. Treatment plans are developed using computer equipment and technology or manual computation, and may include radioactive elements used during interstitial brachytherapy procedures. The dosimetrist performs calculations to support accurate delivery of the prescribed radiation dose, verifies their mathematical accuracy, and documents relevant information in patient records. The role works closely with radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiation therapists to plan and implement treatment, including advising on patient immobilization, setup reproducibility, devices, and field arrangements. The position also supports patient care, radiation safety, quality assurance, education, clinical research, and quality improvement. The primary schedule is onsite, with remote days permitted as operational needs allow.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university.
Either employment as a Senior Dosimetrist (a discontinued job title) with Stanford Health Care as of 08/31/14, or an education, training, and experience combination that satisfies the Chief Dosimetrist and Director of Radiation Oncology that the candidate meets current Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board eligibility criteria to sit for the CMD certification examination within two years of appointment.
CMD - Certified Medical Dosimetrist certification.
Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, clinical oncology, tumor pathology, radiobiology, radiation physics, and radiation safety.
Knowledge of medical dosimetry techniques and procedures.
Knowledge of technical aspects of radiation oncology and medical physics, and ability to develop optimal treatment plans and communicate them to radiation oncologists for approval and radiation therapists for implementation.
Knowledge of healthcare informatics, including resources, devices, and methods to acquire, store, and retrieve data.
Proficiency with personal computers and business software applications, including treatment-planning applications.
Good communication and interpersonal skills to exchange information with patients, family members, the radiation oncology treatment team, and outside entities.
High-level critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ability to operate treatment-planning systems and perform quality assurance on them.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and consult radiation oncologists and medical physicists as needed.
Knowledge of radiation safety principles and practices, including current Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other regulatory-agency rules and regulations.
Ability to interpret criteria and develop treatment plans under relevant treatment protocols.
Mathematical skills including algebra, trigonometry, and introductory calculus.
Ability to visualize objects in three dimensions to support treatment planning.

Responsibilities

Design optimized patient treatment plans using computer and/or manual computation, selecting beam geometry to deliver prescribed radiation doses while sparing critical structures in accordance with the radiation oncologist’s prescription.
Identify and contour normal and dose-limiting structures using images from one or more data sets, including registering CT, MRI, and PET images.
Create and transfer reference images and localization markers for portal verification and treatment delivery, including DRRs, CBCTs, and other IGRT methods.
Supervise, perform, or assist with simulations and tumor localization using imaging devices such as CT, MRI, and PET.
Supervise, perform, or assist in planning and implementing compensation filters, custom shields, wedges, and other beam-modifying devices.
Supervise, perform, or assist in planning and implementing moulds, casts, and other immobilization devices.
Advise radiation therapists on implementation of treatment plans, including use of immobilization devices, compensators, wedges, field arrangements, and treatment or imaging parameters.
Calculate the accurate delivery of prescribed doses, document pertinent information in patient records, and verify calculation accuracy using an approved method.
Provide technical support to the Medical Physicist in radiation safety and protection, qualitative machine calibrations, and quality assurance of treatment plans and radiation oncology equipment.
Operate treatment-planning computers and perform quality assurance on them under the direction of the Chief Dosimetrist.
Supervise, perform, or assist with specific methods of patient and/or beam dosimetry as directed by the Chief Dosimetrist.
Assist with brachytherapy procedures through treatment planning and dose calculations; may assist with receiving, loading, and shipping radioactive materials.
Use radiation monitoring devices to measure radioactivity and perform assays.
Teach applied medical dosimetry to students, radiation therapists, and residents.
Assist with or provide technical or physics support to the medical physicist, including radiation protection, equipment calibrations, and radiation quality management and quality assurance practices.
Participate in clinical research, continuing education, and quality improvement processes.
Perform other related and incidental duties as needed or assigned.