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CHIEF DOSIMETRIST
Job Title: CHIEF DOSIMETRIST
Job Code: 5037
FLSA: E
Job Level: J1
Revised Date: 09/01/2023
Supervisory Responsibility: Yes
General Description of the Job Class
A member of the radiation therapy treatment planning team who is thoroughly familiar with the physical and geometric characteristics of the radiation equipment and radioactive sources commonly employed, and has the training and expertise necessary to measure and generate radiation dose distributions and calculations for adult and pediatric patients under the direction of the Radiation Therapy Physicist and the Radiation Oncologist. Require supervisory responsibilities associated with other members of the dosimetry staff.
Duties and Responsibilities of this Level
Major Supervisory Duties
Coordinate the dosimetry work flow at Duke and affiliated institutions.
Schedule work time for Dosimetrists, Special Procedures Technologists and Mould Room Technician.
Maintain records of continuing education activity for dosimetry personnel.
Maintain and update policies and procedures manuals for dosimetry.
Ensure compliance with department, hospital, and state policies and procedures.
Conduct performance appraisal for dosimetry personnel. Maintain quality assurance in routine treatment planning and treatment checks.
Supervise dosimetry staff. Maintain accurate billing procedures.
Supervise monthly film badge exchange.
Major Dosimetry Duties
Following the dose prescription specified by the radiation oncologist, plan a treatment technique by means of computer and/or manual computations that will deliver a prescribed dose to a defined tumor volume.
Coordinate treatment simulations and tumor localizations, including Computer Tomography for radiation therapy treatment planning.
Supervise or assist in planning and the fabrication of compensating filters, custom shields, wedges, and other beam modifying devices.
Supervise or assist in the planning or the production of cradles, head holders, compensators, and other immobilization devices. Supervise the technology staff in the implementation of the treatment plan (correct use of immobilization devices, compensators, wedges, field arrangement, and other treatment parameters). Perform dosage calculations in the patient's radiation therapy chart and verify the mathematical accuracy of all calculations.
Provide technical assistance to the therapeutic radiological physicist when requested in radiation protection, qualitative and quantitative machine calibrations, and quality assurance of the radiation therapy equipment.
Assist the physician in special clinical problems, retreatments, etc.
Assist in intracavitary and interstitial sealed sources procedures and in the subsequent manual and/or computer calculations of the dose distributions of these procedures. Instruct other dosimetry staff on the proper implant procedures.
Teach applied aspects of dosimetry to students, residents, and new employees, as assigned.
May be involved in clinical research for the development and implementation of new techniques. Keep current on new treatment planning techniques, devices, and methods.
Required Qualifications at this Level
Education
Certified Medical Dosimetrist (C.M.D.) licensure and a 2-4 year degree i.e. A.S. or B.S. plus experience requirements below.
Experience
Five years of experience in medical dosimetry, previous managerial experience preferred.
Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification
Certified Medical Dosimetrist (C.M.D.)
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Working knowledge of basic radiation safety.
Must work with Radiation Safety Officer(s) to ensure that policies are followed.
Must be able to understand the technical aspects of radiation therapy treatments and communicate these aspects to the radiation oncologist and the radiation therapy technologist.
Duties for the most part are carried out independently, but must be able to consult with the Radiation Oncologist and Physicist as required.
Must be able to understand the technical aspects of radiation therapy treatments and communicate these aspects to the Radiation Oncologist and the radiation Therapy Technologist.
Must be able to operate and perform quality assurance on the treatment planning computer.
Distinguishing Characteristics of this Level
N/A
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
