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Medical Dosimetry (DOS)
College of Science and Allied Health
Department of Health Professions
Program Director: Nishele Lenards
(608)785-8470
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 the program include certification as a radiation therapist and/or participating in an on-the-job dosimetry training program with acceptance into the medical dosimetry program. 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. Track 1 is for certified radiation therapists; track 2 is for certified radiation therapists or persons with a bachelor’s degree participating in on-the-job training programs. The program includes three semesters and always starts in the fall semester.

Medical Dosimetry Certificate (23-32 credits) Required Courses 

Fall semester (9-12 credits)
                 DOS 310 Advanced Radiologic Imaging for Medical Dosimetrists    1
                 DOS 320 Simulation for Medical Dosimetrists    1
                 DOS 330 Anatomy for Medical Dosimetrists    1
                 DOS 340 Fundamentals of Radiation Safety for Medical Dosimetrists    1
                 DOS 350    Physics Fundamentals for Medical Dosimetrists    2
                 DOS 360 Introduction to Dose Calculations     1
                 DOS 370 Introduction to Teletherapy Treatment Planning          2
                 DOS 470 Dosimetry Clinical Practicum I (Track 1 only)  3

Spring semester (9-12 credits)
DOS 380 Fundamentals of Clinical Oncology for Medical Dosimetrists    2
DOS 390 Radiobiology for Medical Dosimetrists    1
DOS 400 Brachytherapy for Medical Dosimetrists    2
DOS 410 Conformal Treatment Planning          2
DOS 420 Conformal treatment Planning          2
DOS 480 Dosimetry Clinical Practicum II (Track 1 only)  3

Summer session (5-8 credits)
DOS 430 Brachytherapy Treatment Planning          2
DOS 440 Dosimetric Quality Assurance         1
DOS 450 Professional Issues for Medical Dosimetrists    1
DOS 460    Seminar in Medical Dosimetry       1
DOS 490 Dosimetry Clinical Practicum III (Track 1 only)  3 

DOS   310   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 Sem I.
 

DOS   320   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 Sem I. 

DOS 330     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 Sem I. 

DOS 340     Cr. 1
Fundamentals of Radiation Safety for Medical Dosimetrists
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 Sem I. 

DOS   350   Cr. 2
Physics Fundamentals for Medical Dosimetrists
Fundamental principles of physics important to the production and use of radiation for treatment purposes are reviewed and expanded. Web-based course. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program. Offered Sem I. 

DOS   360   Cr. 1
Introduction to Dose Calculations
This course introduces factors that affect dose delivered in radiation treatments and how these factors are accounted for in dose calculations. Prerequisites: Certified radiation therapist and/or on the job training dosimetrist. Acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program. Offered Sem I. 

DOS   370   Cr. 2
Introduction to Teletherapy Treatment Planning
Methods of best treating various disease sites with single or multiple field arrangments using x-rays and/or electrons are discussed. Web-based course. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Medical Dosimetry Certificate Program. Offered Sem I. 

DOS   380   Cr. 2
Fundamentals of 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. Prerequisite: DOS 330. Offered Sem II.  

DOS   390   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. Prerequisite: DOS 330. Offered Sem II. 

DOS   400   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. Web-based course. Prerequiste: DOS 350. Offered Sem II.     . 

DOS 410     Cr. 2
Conformal Treatment Planning
Advanced planning techniques of conformal radiation therapy, including 3-dimensional treatment planning and IMRT concepts, are presented. Web-based course. Prerequisite: DOS 370. Offered Sem II. 

DOS 420     Cr. 2
Dosimetry and Instrumentation in Radiation Oncology
Dose measurement utilizing a variety of methods is discussed along with appropriate instrumentation. Calibration methods for linear accelerators are also discussed. Web-based course. Prerequisite: DOS 350. Offered Sem II. 

DOS 430     Cr. 2
Brachytherapy Treatment Planning
Methods and instruments utilized to apply brachytherapy treatment planning techniques to clinical treatment situations are discussed. Web-based course. Prerequisite: DOS 400. Offered summer session. 

DOS 440     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. Prerequisite: DOS 420. Offered summer session. 

DOS 450     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. Prerequisite: DOS 470, DOS 480. Offered summer session.    

DOS 460     Cr. 1
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 certification exam. Web-based course. Prerequisite: DOS 310 – 420; track I—DOS 470, DOS 480. Offered summer session. Pass/Fail grading. 

DOS 470     Cr. 3
Dosimetry Clinical Practicum I
Students gain clinical experience in dose calculation and treatment planning methods for standard radiation therapy teletherapy treatments at an affiliated clinical site. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Track 1 medical dosimetry certificate program. Offered Sem I. 

DOS 480     Cr. 3
Dosimetry Clinical Practicum II
Students continue to develop clinical skills at a clinical affiliate, concentrating on more advanced treatment planning and brachytherapy procedures. Prerequisite: DOS 470. Offered Sem II. 

DOS 490     Cr. 3
Dosimetry Clinical Practicum III
Students continue to improve their treatment planning and dosimetric skills, concentrating on advanced planning methods and quality assurance techniques. Prerequisites: DOS 470, DOS 480. Offered summer 

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