Medical Dosimetry (DOS)

 

College of Science and Health

Department of Health Professions

Program Director: Nishele Lenards

608.785.5071
e-mail: lenards.nish@uwlax.edu

 

www.uwlax.edu/md

 

This certificate program is designed for the certified Radiation Therapist, or an on-the-job training dosimetrist to continue his/her education in the specialized field of Medical Dosimetry. “The Medical Dosimetrist is a member of the radiation oncology team who has knowledge of the overall characteristics and clinical relevance of radiation oncology treatment machines and equipment, is cognizant of procedures commonly used in brachytherapy and has the education and expertise necessary to generate radiation dose distributions and dose calculations in collaboration with the medical physicist and radiation oncologist” (from the A.A.M.D.). Prerequisites for acceptance into the program include certification as a Radiation Therapist and/or participation in an on-the-job dosimetry training program coursework. This program utilizes web-based instruction for the didactic course work. The clinical practicum courses are taken at affiliated radiation oncology departments and are approximately 32 hours per week. The program includes four semesters and always starts in the fall semester.

 

Admission Policies

Admission policies and the application/selection process have been developed with the intention to consider each applicant’s strengths and select for admission those best qualified to meet the program’s requirements and mission.

  1. The number of students admitted to the program is dependent on the number of clinical internship sites and their student capacity.

  2. Admission to the program is on a competitive basis.

  3. Applicant must be a registered radiation therapist; and/or working “on-the-job training” in medical dosimetry.

  4. Applicant must have completed a 40-hour week of observation in medical dosimetry at a radiation oncology center.

  5. Applicants are required to have a minimal overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

  6. Applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital or parental status.

  7. Students for whom English is a second language must earn a minimum score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) within two years of application to the program.

The required courses include:

Year 1

DOS 411   Advanced Radiologic Imaging for Medical Dosimetrists                   Fall I                       1 cr

DOS 412   Simulation for Medical Dosimetrists                                            Fall I                       1 cr

DOS 413   Anatomy for Medical Dosimetrists                                              Fall I                       1 cr

DOS 414   Physics Fundamentals for Medical Dosimetrists                             Fall I                       3 cr

DOS 415   Computers & Networking in Radiation Oncology                            Fall I                       1 cr

DOS 416   Fundamentals of Radiation Safety                                             Fall I                       1 cr

 

DOS 421   Professional Issues for Medical Dosimetrists                                Spring I                   1 cr

DOS 422   Radiation Dose Calculations                                                     Spring I                   2 cr

DOS 423   Teletherapy Treatment Planning                                               Spring I                   1 cr

DOS 424   Conformal Treatment Planning                                                  Spring I                   2 cr

DOS 425   Brachytherapy for Medical Dosimetrists                                      Spring I                   2 cr

DOS 471   Clinical Practicum I                                                                 Spring I                   2 cr

                               

DOS 431   Clinical Oncology for Medical Dosimetrists                                   Summer I                 3 cr

DOS 472   Clinical Practicum II                                                                Summer I                 5 cr

 

Year 2

DOS 441   Radiobiology for Medical Dosimetrists                                          Fall II                     1 cr

DOS 442   Dosimetric Quality Assurance                                                    Fall II                     1 cr

DOS 443   Seminar in Medical Dosimetry                                                    Fall II                     2 cr

DOS 473   Clinical Practicum III                                                               Fall II                     5 cr

 

 

 

DOS       411/511                 Cr. 1

Advanced Radiologic Imaging for Medical Dosimetrists

This course reviews production of medical images with radiographic equipment as well as ultrasound, MRI and radionuclide scans. Web-based course. Prerequisite: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program. Offered Fall.

 

DOS       412/512 Cr. 1

Simulation for Medical Dosimetrists

Techniques of simulation of treatment set-ups are reviewed and advanced methods of virtual simulation are explored. Web-based course. Prerequisite: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program. Offered Fall.

 

DOS       413/513                 Cr. 1

Anatomy for Medical Dosimetrists

Anatomical structure and function which affects treatment planning processes is addressed along with identification of anatomic structures on radiographs, CT and MRI images. Web-based course. Prerequisite: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program. Offered Fall.

 

DOS       414/514                Cr. 3

Physics Fundamentals for Medical Dosimetrists

Fundamental principles of physics important to the production and use of radiation for treatment purposes are reviewed and expanded. Dose measurement utilizing a variety of methods is discussed along with the appropriate instrumentation. Calibration methods for linear accelerators are also discussed. Web-based course. Prerequisite: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program. Offered Fall.

 

DOS        415/515                Cr. 1

Computers & Networking in Radiation Oncology

This course introduces students to basic computer terminology, features of hardware, peripherals, and clinical applications in radiation oncology. Types of networking and the components involved are discussed. Specific network protocols used in healthcare, imaging, and radiation oncology will be discussed. Web-based course. Prerequisite: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program. Offered Fall.

 

DOS       416/516 Cr.1

Fundamentals of Radiation Safety

Radiation Safety measures are reviewed and updated according to federal and state mandates. Web-based course. Prerequisite: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program. Offered Fall.

 

DOS       421/521 Cr. 1

Professional Issues for Medical Dosimetrists

This course introduces the student to the professional practice of dosimetry, including scope and standards of practice, legal and ethical issues. Web-based course. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 411. Offered Spring.

 

DOS       422/522 Cr. 2

Radiation Dose Calculations

This course introduces factors that affect dose delivered in radiation treatments and how these factors are accounted for in dose calculations. Web-based course. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 411. Offered Spring.  

 

DOS       423/523                 Cr. 1

Teletherapy Treatment Planning

Methods of best treating various disease sites with single or multiple field arrangements using x-rays and/or electrons are discussed. Web-based course. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 411. Offered Spring.  

 

 DOS      424/524                 Cr. 2

Conformal Treatment Planning

Advanced planning techniques of conformal radiation therapy, including 3-dimensional treatment planning and IMRT concepts, are presented. New techniques such as IGRT, Gating and Proton Therapy will be discussed. Web-based course. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 411. Offered Spring. 

 

 DOS      425/525 Cr. 2

Brachytherapy for Medical Dosimetrists

The use of Brachytherapy in radiation therapy is addressed. Characteristics of sources utilized for treatment as well as determination of source activity and dose delivered are included. Methods and instruments utilized to apply Brachytherapy treatment planning techniques to clinical treatment situations are discussed. Web-based course. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 411. Offered Spring.

 

DOS       431/531 Cr. 3

Clinical Oncology for Medical Dosimetrists

This course covers cancer in general as well as specific disease sites, their treatment and management of patient care during treatment. Web-based course. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 471. Offered Summer.

 

DOS       441/541 Cr. 1

Radiobiology for Medical Dosimetrists

This course reviews the effect of radiation on the human body in the context of radiation treatments. It particularly focuses on factors affecting the therapeutic ratio. Web-based course. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 472. Offered Fall.

 

DOS       442/542                 Cr. 1

Dosimetric Quality Assurance

The methods and importance of periodic quality assurance procedures of treatment planning equipment and processes are covered in this course. Web-based course. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 472. Offered Fall.  

 

DOS       443/543                 Cr. 2

Seminar in Medical Dosimetry

This course offers students an opportunity to practice answering questions and solving problems as they review course material to prepare for the national medical dosimetry certification board exam. Web-based course. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 472. Offered Fall. 

 

DOS       471         Cr. 2

Dosimetry Clinical Practicum I

Students gain clinical experience in Simulation patient set-ups and imaging studies, physics and radiation safety in the clinical environment, anatomical contour segmentation, and computers and networking within the radiation oncology field. Students will begin basic calculations and treatment planning while being introduced to brachytherapy procedures. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 411. Offered Spring.

 

DOS       472         Cr. 5

Dosimetry Clinical Practicum II

Students continue to gain clinical experience at an affiliated clinical internship site by concentrating on more advanced treatment planning and Brachytherapy procedures while continuing to learn the various concepts of clinical oncology specific to patient treatments. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 471. Offered Summer.

 

DOS       473         Cr. 5

Dosimetry Clinical Practicum III

Students continue to improve their treatment planning and dosimetric skills, concentrating on advanced planning methods and quality assurance techniques. Prerequisites: acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program and DOS 472. Offered Fall.