Radiation Safety Specialist SR, X-Ray

UT Southwestern Medical Center • Dallas, TX

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Ensures employee health and safety standards are met in all areas of the organization. Ensures the safe use of radioactive materials, radiation-producing machines, and lasers through licensure, registration, and compliance with accepted environmental, health, and safety standards. Maintains knowledge/expertise on existing/proposed changes in radiation and laser safety regulations; interprets and applies relevant laws and regulations. The Radiation Safety Program provides radiation safety services to UT Southwestern Medical Center, Texas Behavioral Health Center, University Hospitals, Parkland Health and its associated clinics, and Children's Health and its associated clinics. The Senior Radiation Safety Specialist will assist in the development and maintenance of a comprehensive radiation safety program, including developing and providing radiation safety trainings, performing audits to ensure regulatory compliance, and maintaining records as required per regulatory standards. The Senior Radiation Safety Specialist position is part of our Registration Program (radiation-producing machines). Our Registration Program oversees the compliance for over 400 radiation machines (including MR units) and monitors the occupational exposure for over 2,500 participants. The Registration Program covers our advanced radiation oncology accelerators (one PET LINAC and two MR LINACs), new PET MR for nuclear medicine research, and our 7T MRI and other research MR units at the Advanced Imaging Research Center.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in safety related field or Master's Degree in safety related field.
• 3 years directly related experience with Bachelor's degree or 1 year directly related experience with Master's degree.
• Pertinent Military experience or relevant certifications may be considered for some of the required experience.

Responsibilities

• Designs, develops, implements, and oversees the organization's radiation and laser safety programs and procedures to safeguard employees and surrounding communities meet regulatory requirements.
• Serves as staff lead for the maintenance of the MR safety database and fluoroscopy investigation database, laser maintenance activities, RAM bioassay program, and RAM sealed sources program.
• Performs surveys of laboratories and facilities (i.e., clinical and research lasers, RAM research labs, clinical RAM use, renewal and termination surveys of radiation use locations, radiation-producing machines including linear accelerators and mammography) to ensure adherence to safety regulation and procedures.
• Operates portable radiation and contamination survey instruments, as well as radiological counting instruments.
• Operates dose calibrator to perform required quality assurance testing.
• Performs staff liaison duties in support of various UT Southwestern committees to include the Clinical Laser Safety Committee, Subcommittee for Human Use of Radiation in Research, Radiation Protocol Committees (both for Interventional Fluoroscopy and Computed Tomography), and MR Safety Committees (both for UT Southwestern and Parkland Health).
• Provides radiation and laser safety support to clinical services, which includes performing radiation safety preparations for clinical radiopharmaceutical therapies (i.e., thyroid ablations, MIBG therapies), monitoring and instructing medical patients receiving radiation exposure to radioactive substances during clinical procedures, supporting physicians and clinical staff during the clinical use of lasers, and supporting research and clinical groups during the procurement of laser-related items.
• Plans, develops, and conducts training programs related to radiation, laser, and MR hazards.
• Delivers in-lab training for Authorized Users, lab contacts, and users, particularly for hospital staff, academic classes or specialty training.
• Provides technical guidance, assistance, and training to radiation safety specialist, as needed.
• Prepares for and responds to emergencies including hazardous materials incidents and emergency situations involving radiation and laser.
• Prepares reports of findings and submits recommendations.
• Participates in emergency drills including fire drills.
• Acts as the secondary back-up for the staff member responsible for the radioactive materials ordering and receipt program, radioactive materials shipping and receiving to include appropriate DOT and IATA expertise, and radioactive waste shipping and disposal.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100%25 coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer

What This Job Offers

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