Medical Dosimetrist

Yale New Haven Health • New Haven, CT

13h • Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Chief Medical Dosimetrist, this role involves developing radiation treatment plans for patients based on information provided by physicians. The Medical Dosimetrist will present treatment plans for approval, act as a liaison between physicians and therapists, and may initiate projects in areas such as formal teaching, research, in-service education, or quality assurance. The position requires adherence to YNHHS Vision, Mission, and Values: integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or an accredited radiation therapy technology program (with certification in radiation therapy technology).
• Successful completion of a dosimetry training program (or two years of on-the-job training as a substitute).
• Certification by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board.
• A minimum of five years of full-time employment as a dosimetrist.
• Medical Dosimetry Credentialing Board Certification.
• Ability to perform computerized and manual external beam and brachytherapy planning.
• Thorough knowledge of medical physics, clinical oncology, radiographic anatomy, and health physics.
• Interpersonal communication skills.
• Teaching skills.

Nice To Haves

• Degree is recommended.

Responsibilities

• Develops 2-D and 3-D external beam treatment plans, manually or using a computer, for radiation oncologist approval.
• Assists radiation oncologists in delineating target volumes and critical structures using various diagnostic studies.
• Explains treatment plans to technical staff to ensure accuracy and reproducibility of patient set-up.
• Collaborates with radiation oncologists, physicists, and therapists on new treatment techniques.
• Ensures equipment and treatment rooms are prepared and fabricates devices for patient set-up reproducibility and beam shaping.
• Reviews simulation and port films for treatment plan accuracy and calculates machine settings.
• Transfers treatment data electronically using record-and-verify systems.
• Performs in-vivo dose verifications as requested by radiation oncologists.
• Consults with radiation oncologists on radioactive implant sites, volume studies, and dose distribution, generating computerized brachytherapy plans.
• Prepares implant apparatus and maintains inventory for radioactive materials.
• Assists radiation oncologists in the operating room and GammaMed Suite with implant loading and handling of radioactive material.
• Performs health physics measurements and safety surveys.
• Documents radioactive material usage and prepares paperwork according to NRC regulations.
• Supervises documentation of final implant placement and calculates post-implant dosimetry.
• Maintains radioactive storage areas and orders supplies.
• Performs all patient interactions using standard operating procedures.
• Participates in brachytherapy conferences, presenting implant isodose distributions.
• Participates in the Yale-New Haven Hospital Regional Treatment Planning Program, performing external beam planning, implant dosimetry, and blocking for regional hospitals.
• Verifies patient meter setting calculations and maintains patient treatment records.
• Performs weekly back-up and quality assurance on computerized treatment planning data.
• Attends New Patient Conference and Chart Round Conference, responding to inquiries.
• Participates in the clinical instruction of resident physicians, technology, and dosimetry students.
• Actively participates in the interview and acceptance of students for the Dosimetry Training Program.
• Attends Physics Section Staff meetings and participates in departmental policy development.
• Ensures all job duties promote customer satisfaction and positive working relationships.
• Teaches a minimum of five formal classes or clinical labs in training programs.
• Initiates or helps develop a clinical research project resulting in publication or treatment improvement.
• Delivers four clinical presentations at New Patient conference.
• Presents four in-service education programs to departmental staff.
• Assists clinical physicists with quality assurance for computer equipment or participates in the quality assurance committee.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior