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Medical Dosimetrists

  • Bright Outlook
  • Rapid Growth

Generate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team.

What you’d do

  • Design the arrangement of radiation fields to reduce exposure to critical patient structures, such as organs, using computers, manuals, and guides.
  • Plan the use of beam modifying devices, such as compensators, shields, and wedge filters, to ensure safe and effective delivery of radiation treatment.
  • Identify and outline bodily structures, using imaging procedures, such as x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or positron emission tomography.
  • Calculate the delivery of radiation treatment, such as the amount or extent of radiation per session, based on the prescribed course of radiation therapy.
  • Calculate, or verify calculations of, prescribed radiation doses.
  • Develop radiation treatment plans in consultation with members of the radiation oncology team.
  • Supervise or perform simulations for tumor localizations, using imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or positron emission tomography scans.
  • Create and transfer reference images and localization markers for treatment delivery, using image-guided radiation therapy.

Skills that matter

  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Complex Problem Solving

How to get there

Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree

Also called

  • CMD (Certified Medical Dosimetrist)
  • Dosimetrist
  • Medical Dosimetrist
  • Medical Physicist
  • Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist
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