Medical dosimetrists provide radiation therapy to cancer patients, determining the correct dose of radiation and working with doctors and patients to advise on the best treatment. They can work in cancer centers, hospitals, sales, education, and research.
Most of the time, people with medical dosimetrist jobs support oncologists by providing radiation therapy to patients. Medical dosimetrists work under the supervision of physicians or medical physicists and are not physicians themselves, although they are involved in the treatment of patients. There are dosimetrists in cancer centers and hospitals, as well as in sales. Dosimetrists also train others in the use of technology.
One of the most common medical dosimetry jobs is as a member of a cancer patient’s medical team. In cancer treatment, the dosimetrist is responsible for determining the correct dose of radiation to be administered. The dose needs to be high enough to kill the cancer without being so high that it causes severe damage to the patient’s systems. Dosimetrists work with computer programs and analyze diagnostic tests to determine the appropriate treatment for each patient. While working in this role, the dosimetrist consults with doctors and patients to advise both parties on the best treatment.
In cancer treatment, most medical dosimetry jobs are found in cancer centers and hospital oncology departments. In addition to these more permanent positions, dosimetrists can function as locum tenens. As these positions are temporary, the dosimetrist moves to a new location upon completion of each contract. This arrangement is analogous to an independent contractor position.
Some medical dosimetrist jobs focus on the equipment used in the profession. These dosimetrists may work for vendors, selling equipment used in cancer detection or analyzing test results. Dosimetrists also support hospital staff in the use of this equipment by traveling to hospitals and cancer centers to train medical professionals in the proper use of the equipment. Once the technology is deployed, a dosimetrist can continue to provide remote support to hospital staff.
Medical dosimetrist jobs can also be found in education and research. Dosimetrists can work in universities or teaching hospitals, where they are instrumental in training future dosimetrists. Like medical researchers, dosimetrists can work to develop best practices and computer programs that increase a patient’s chances of surviving cancer. They also frequently publish medical papers that inform other dosimetrists and physicians about the latest advances in their field.
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