Program Overview

Medical Dosimetry Program

The Medical Dosimetry program is designed to provide students with the professional skills of dose calculation, treatment design, and quality assurance through intensive education in a classroom, laboratory, and clinical setting.

Program Overview

Medical Dosimetrists are vital members of the radiation oncology team, working closely with radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiation therapists to create customized radiation treatment plans designed to target cancer while sparing normal tissue.

Program Details

• The program offers a two-year track with two educational delivery options leading to the Bachelor of Science degree.
• Face-to-Face: Classes, laboratory, and research activities are completed at MD Anderson in the Greater Houston area.
• Distance Education: Courses are taken remotely and require synchronous interactions with the Houston faculty. Laboratory, research activities, and clinical rotations are completed at affiliated clinics under the supervision of clinical staff.

Curriculum

The program's curriculum includes courses such as:

• MD 3302 Introduction to Treatment Planning I
• MD 3303 Introduction to Treatment Planning II
• MD 3304 Introduction to Clinical Medical Dosimetry
• MD 4331 Clinical Education I
• MD 4332 Clinical Education II
• MD 4333 Clinical Education III
• MD 4334 Clinical Education IV
• MD 4335 Internship in Radiation Oncology

Clinical Obligations

• Clinical education is conducted in a lab or clinical setting during the junior year and in a clinical setting during the senior year.
• Didactic education accompanies clinical education every semester.
• Students must complete the required number of clinical hours per clinical course and complete all clinical requirements successfully to earn the assigned semester credit hours for the course.

Clinical Affiliations

The program has developed affiliations with medical institutions in Texas and beyond, including:

• The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center
• City of Hope National Medical Center
• Cooper University Health Care
• MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center-Radiation Oncology
• Radiation Oncology Clinic, Stanford Cancer Center
• Scripps Health
• Texas Oncology-Presbyterian Cancer Center Dallas
• University of Mississippi M.C., Dept. of Radiation Oncology
• University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Outcome Measures-Effectiveness Data

The program's effectiveness is measured by:

• Credentialing Examination: The number of students who pass, on the first attempt, the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) certification examination.
• Job Placement: The number of graduates employed in medical dosimetry compared to the number of graduates actively seeking employment in medical dosimetry within twelve months of graduating.
• Program Completion: The number of students who complete the program within the stated program length.

Accreditation

The Medical Dosimetry program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) for a period of 8 years.

Mission and Goals

• Mission: To provide high-quality didactic and technologically advanced clinical education in Medical Dosimetry and to graduate professional practitioners who are valued by radiation oncology employers.
• Vision: To be the premier educational program in medical dosimetry by providing innovative curricular, clinical, and continuing education services.
• Goals and Student Learning Outcomes: The program has five goals, including clinical competence, critical thinking skills, professionalism, effective communication skills, and providing the community with entry-level medical dosimetrists. Each goal has specific student learning outcomes.