Medical Dosimetry Certificate (Archive 2018-2019)
Requirements Archive 2018-2019
Certificate Requirements: 19 courses and corresponding laboratories and clinical hours, 62 credits
Core Requirements (17 courses and corresponding laboratories where applicable, 54 credits)
RAD-206 Introduction to Radiation Oncology
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Offers an introduction to the role of the radiation therapist and medical dosimetrist in a Radiation Oncology department. Through a combination of detailed lectures, discussions, role-playing, case studies, and hands-on laboratory exercises, students will be introduced to the professional and clinical aspects of their respective professions. Additional topics included radiation safety, patients rights, infection control, communication for the clinic, patient assessment, and psychosocial aspects of cancer including death and dying.
RAD-301 Clinical Radiation I
RAD/PHYS 206; Radiation Therapy & Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Studying through a systems-based approach, this course reviews anatomy and physiology while teaching medical terminology. Topics will include discussing the major cancers associated with each anatomical system and introducing the student to radiation therapy treatment techniques and procedures.
RAD-302 Clinical Radiation II
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
3.00
A continuation of RAD 301. Through the same didactic approach, students will learn all of the anatomical systems and their related medical terminology not taught in RAD 301.
RAD-L311 Medical Dosimetry Rotation I
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Under the supervision of a Certified Medical Dosimetrist, students will gain hands on treatment planning experience in a clinical setting.
RAD-L312 Medical Dosimetry Rotation II
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Under the supervision of a certified medical dosimetrist, students will gain hands on treatment planning experience in a clinical setting.
RAD-L313 Medical Dosimetry Rotation III
RAD/PHYS L312, Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Under the supervision of a Certified Medical Dosimetrist, students will gain hands on treatment planning experience in a clinical setting.
RAD-L314 Medical Dosimetry Practicum
RAD/PHYS-301 and RAD/PHYS-L311
1.00
Under the supervision of a Certified Medical Dosimetrist, students will gain hands on treatment planning experience in a clinical setting.
RAD-315 Radiation Physics I
RAD L315 concurrently; Radiation Biology, Radiation Science, Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate), or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
3.00
Content is designed to establish a thorough knowledge of the radiation physics used in radiation therapy treatments. Topics to be covered in this course include a review of basic physics (energy, mass, matter, SI units), structure of matter, types of radiations, nuclear transformations, radioactive decay, the fundamentals of x-ray generators and x-ray production, interactions of x and gamma rays with matter, absorbed dose, measurements of dose, principles of and practical use of ionization chambers and electrometers, Geiger counters and other survey meters, principles and practical use of TLDs, film, calorimetry, scintillation detectors, radiation protection and quality assurance.
RAD-L315 Radiation Physics I Lab
RAD/PHYS L315 concurrently; Radiation Biology, Radiation Science, Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate), or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Explores topics including quality assurance measurements for radiation therapy, calibration of radiation teletherapy unit using ionization chambers, measurements of dose distribution via film, measurements of dose in a phantom via TLDs, radiation protection survey of therapy installation and brachytherapy sources, and radiation biology.
RAD-317 Radiation Physics II
RAD 315; Radiation Science, Radiation Therapy and Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Expands on the concepts and theories presented in Radiation Physics I. It will provide a detailed analysis of the treatment units used in external beam radiation therapy, their beam geometry, basic dose calculations and dose distributions. Students will also learn the principles, theories, and uses of brachytherapy.
RAD-415 Dosimetry I
RAD/PHYS 315; RAD L415 concurrently; Radiation Therapy & Medical Dosimetry Students Only
3.00
Discusses the factors that influence treatment planning and govern the clinical aspects of patient treatment. Topics to be covered include treatment planning with 3-D CT and MRI beams, isodose plan descriptions, clinical applications of treatment beams and advanced dosimetric calculations. Students will also contrast new emerging technologies with conventional radiation therapy techniques (SRT, SRS, IMRT, Image Guided Therapy, Respiratory Gating).
RAD-L415 Dosimetry I Lab
RAD 415 concurrently; Radiation Therapy & Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Provides the student with the opportunity to apply clinical dosimetry principles and theories learned in the classroom to actual treatment planning situations within the clinic. Through hands-on lab exercises the student will demonstrate the use of the treatment planning instruments and interpret information they compute.
RAD-416 Radiation Biology
RAD/PHYS 315; Radiation Science, Radiation Therapy and Medical Dosimetry Students only (including Radiation Science minors)
4.00
Topics covered include: physio-chemical aspects of energy absorption, the sequence of events after irradiation occurring on the molecular, cellular and organized tissue levels, radiation response and repair of eukaryotic cells, effects of radiation quality, dose rate, environmental conditions, cell cycle kinetics, tumor and normal cell population dynamics, radiation-induced carcinogenesis and mutagenesis, tumor pathophysiology and radiobiology, and recent advances in experimental radiation oncology.
RAD-417 Dosimetry II
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
A continuation of Dosimetry I that focuses on advanced treatment planning techniques including intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), arc therapy, stereotactic treatment planning, and proton therapy. The advantages of each technique/modality over conventional 3D-treatment planning will be discussed. This will also be contrasted against the specific challenges presented by each technique such as the need for better immobilization, need for 4D CT scanning and daily IGRT (kV matching and/or CBCT).
RAD-420 Radiation Oncology & Pathology
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Students will review cancer epidemiology, etiology, detection, diagnosis and prevention, lymphatic drainage, and treatment. The pathology(s) of each cancer will be presented in detail including the rationale for each preferred modality of treatment.
RAD-422 Radiology
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
This course will begin Beginning with an introduction to radiology, students reviewing x-ray production and discussing basic radiation physics, image formation (Kv, mA) and distortion (blur, magnification), conventional processing and digital imaging. The above-mentioned radiographic imaging concepts will be presented with conventional lectures as well as with several imaging laboratories. In addition, the basic principles of each imaging modality, including mammography, CT, MRI, Nuc Med, and Ultra Sound, will be presented. With the use of departmental tours and guest lecturers, the use, benefits and limitations of each will be discussed. Building upon the information previously presented, radiographic anatomy will also be covered with an emphasis on cross sectional anatomy. Students will review basic anatomy viewed in sectional planes (axial/transverse) of the body. Using CT and MRI images, the topographic relationship between internal organs and surface anatomy will be interpreted and discussed.
RAD-435 Brachytherapy
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Topics will include, radioactive sources, calibration, instrumentation, factors affecting dose calculations, definitions of LDR, MDR and HDR, treatment planning and clinical dose calculation, implantation techniques, implant localization/verification, regulations, radiation safety, storage and QA. Detailed coverage of prostate brachytherapy including LDR and HDR will be emphasized.
RAD-450 Dosimetry Systems and Networking and Quality Assurance
Senior Status; Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Includes a general overview of computer systems and networking in the field of radiation oncology. A historical view of computers will be covered as well as the intricate uses in the medical field today. Oncology information record and verification systems, as well as radiation therapy software used for imaging, contouring, treatment planning, and patient charting applications will be covered. Data and system security will also be addressed.
RAD-476 Senior Seminar for Medical Dosimetry
Senior Status and Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
This course will be available to second year clinical students enrolled in the Medical Dosimetry program. This seminar style course will serve a number of purposes; one will be to prepare our graduating students for board certification in MDCB for Medical Dosimetry. Exam preparation will include the use of lectures, online teaching tools, mini mock exams, and a full-length mock exam. The seminar will also assist students with the preparation of their professional resumes including discussions regarding the skills necessary to make job interviews successful.
Biostatistics Requirement (1 course, 4 credits)
Choose one of the following:
BIO-273 Biostatistics
BIO 111/L111
4.00
Introduction to the statistical methods used to evaluate biological problems. Sampling, probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis tests, experimental design, analysis of variance, regression, and correlation are some of the topics offered. Software for data handling, graphics, and analysis will be used.
STATS-250 Applied Statistics
MATH 128 or higher. REMINDER: STATS 250 is a required prerequisite MKT 220, FIN 200 and ISOM 201(prerequisite for ISOM 319)
4.00
Application of statistical analysis to real-world business and economic problems. Topics include data presentation, descriptive statistics including measures of location and dispersion, introduction to probability, discrete and continuous random variables, probability distributions including binomial and normal distributions, sampling and sampling distributions, statistical inference including estimation and hypothesis testing, simple and multiple regression analysis. The use of computers is emphasized throughout the course. Normally offered each semester.
PSYCH-215 Behavioral Statistics
PSYCH 114; Restricted to majors only unless with permission of instructor.
4.00
Introduces the use of statistics as tools for description and decision-making, including hypothesis testing. Prepares students for the analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of psychological research. Offered every semester.
Ethics Requirement (1 course, 4 credits)
Choose one of the following:
PHIL-119 Ethics
4.00
A systematic introduction to the major thinkers and their positions on the main issues of ethics, such as: What is morality? What are moral values? How should we live our lives? Are there objective, universal, absolute moral standards? If so, what are they, and what is their basis? 1 term - credits. Normally offered every year.
PHIL-123 Social Ethics: The Good Life
4.00
An examination of contemporary Western society, particularly in the United States, in relation to philosophical attempts to define the "good life." Current books that exhibit a philosophical approach towards important contemporary social issues will be discussed, as well as classics in philosophy. Topics may include: civic virtue, consumerism, current events, economic justice, popular culture (film, music, television), religion and secularism, etc. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered every year.
PHIL-127 Contemporary Moral Issues
4.00
A critical examination of a number of contemporary moral issues such as: abortion, affirmative action, animal rights, capital punishment, cloning, drug legalization, environmental ethics, euthanasia, genetic engineering, gun control, pornography, same-sex marriage, suicide, war and terrorism, etc. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered every year.
PHIL-363 Bio and Medical Ethics
Prerequisite: Phil 119, or 123, or 127.
4.00
An examination of the moral problems facing health-care practitioners, their patients, and others involved with the practice of medicine in today's society. Issues include euthanasia, the ethics of medical experimentation, the use of reproductive technologies, genetic counseling and genetic engineering, truth-telling and confidentiality in doctor-patient relationships, the cost and availability of medical care. Normally offered every third year.
Required Clinical Hours:
Note: If admitted into the Medical Dosimetry program, part-time and full-time students must complete clinical requirements within three years of being admitted. Medical Dosimetry graduates may seek employment immediately following graduation and will also be eligible to apply for the Medical Dosimetry Certification Board (MDCB) Medical Dosimetry Certificate Exam.
The department reserves the right to require the withdrawal of a student from the Medical Dosimetry certificate program if, in its estimation, the probability of the student's success is doubtful. Factors such as academic performance, interest, effort, professionalism, compliance, attendance, and suitability for the field will be considered. Issues or concerns correlated with any one of these factors could result in withdrawal of the student from the program.
Students who defer entry into the program for any reason will forfeit their space in the program and will be required to reapply for the following year. A student may be dismissed from the Medical Dosimetry program if they fail to maintain the minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or if they achieve a final grade lower than "B" in any of the Medical Dosimetry (RAD) courses listed above
Medical Dosimetry Learning Goals & Objectives
Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.
| Learning Goals | Learning Objectives |
|---|---|
| Students will know/understand | Students will be able to... |
| Know critical thinking and problem-solving skills. |
|
| Know principles that demonstrate clinical competence. |
|
| Understand how to communicate in a clinical setting. |
|
| Understand the importance of professionalism, growth and development. |
|
Medical Dosimetry Courses Archive 2018-2019
RAD-206 Introduction to Radiation Oncology
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Offers an introduction to the role of the radiation therapist and medical dosimetrist in a Radiation Oncology department. Through a combination of detailed lectures, discussions, role-playing, case studies, and hands-on laboratory exercises, students will be introduced to the professional and clinical aspects of their respective professions. Additional topics included radiation safety, patients rights, infection control, communication for the clinic, patient assessment, and psychosocial aspects of cancer including death and dying.
RAD-301 Clinical Radiation I
RAD/PHYS 206; Radiation Therapy & Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Studying through a systems-based approach, this course reviews anatomy and physiology while teaching medical terminology. Topics will include discussing the major cancers associated with each anatomical system and introducing the student to radiation therapy treatment techniques and procedures.
RAD-L301 Radiation Therapy Rotation I
Radiation Therapy Students Only
3.00
Provides the necessary clinical experience to become a radiation therapist. All labs are conducted at our clinical affiliates. Under the supervision of licensed radiation therapists, the students will become increasingly proficient in the manipulation of treatment equipment, will gain a thorough understanding of radiation treatment plans, will deliver a prescribed radiation dose to cancer patients, and will acquire knowledge of all relevant aspects of patient care.
RAD-302 Clinical Radiation II
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
3.00
A continuation of RAD 301. Through the same didactic approach, students will learn all of the anatomical systems and their related medical terminology not taught in RAD 301.
RAD-L302 Radiation Therapy Rotation II
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) Students Only
1.00
Provides the necessary clinical experience to become a radiation therapist. All labs are conducted at our clinical affiliates. Under the supervision of licensed radiation therapists, the students will become increasingly proficient in the manipulation of treatment equipment, will gain a thorough understanding of radiation treatment plans, will deliver a prescribed radiation dose to cancer patients, and will acquire knowledge of all relevant aspects of patient care.
RAD-L303 Radiation Therapy Rotation III
RAD/PHYS L302; Radiation Therapy Students Only
3.00
Provides the necessary clinical experience to become a radiation therapist. All labs are conducted at our clinical affiliates. Under the supervision of licensed radiation therapists, the students will become increasingly proficient in the manipulation of treatment equipment, will gain a thorough understanding of radiation treatment plans, will deliver a prescribed radiation dose to cancer patients, and will acquire knowledge of all relevant aspects of patient care.
RAD-L304 Radiation Therapy Practicum
RAD/PHYS-301 and RAD/PHYS-L301
1.00
Provides the necessary clinical experience to become a radiation therapist. All labs are conducted at our clinical affiliates. Under the supervision of licensed radiation therapists, the students will become increasingly proficient in the manipulation of treatment equipment, will gain a thorough understanding of radiation treatment plans, will deliver a prescribed radiation dose to cancer patients, and will acquire knowledge of all relevant aspects of patient care.
RAD-L311 Medical Dosimetry Rotation I
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Under the supervision of a Certified Medical Dosimetrist, students will gain hands on treatment planning experience in a clinical setting.
RAD-L312 Medical Dosimetry Rotation II
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Under the supervision of a certified medical dosimetrist, students will gain hands on treatment planning experience in a clinical setting.
RAD-L313 Medical Dosimetry Rotation III
RAD/PHYS L312, Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Under the supervision of a Certified Medical Dosimetrist, students will gain hands on treatment planning experience in a clinical setting.
RAD-L314 Medical Dosimetry Practicum
RAD/PHYS-301 and RAD/PHYS-L311
1.00
Under the supervision of a Certified Medical Dosimetrist, students will gain hands on treatment planning experience in a clinical setting.
RAD-315 Radiation Physics I
RAD L315 concurrently; Radiation Biology, Radiation Science, Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate), or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
3.00
Content is designed to establish a thorough knowledge of the radiation physics used in radiation therapy treatments. Topics to be covered in this course include a review of basic physics (energy, mass, matter, SI units), structure of matter, types of radiations, nuclear transformations, radioactive decay, the fundamentals of x-ray generators and x-ray production, interactions of x and gamma rays with matter, absorbed dose, measurements of dose, principles of and practical use of ionization chambers and electrometers, Geiger counters and other survey meters, principles and practical use of TLDs, film, calorimetry, scintillation detectors, radiation protection and quality assurance.
RAD-L315 Radiation Physics I Lab
RAD/PHYS L315 concurrently; Radiation Biology, Radiation Science, Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate), or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Explores topics including quality assurance measurements for radiation therapy, calibration of radiation teletherapy unit using ionization chambers, measurements of dose distribution via film, measurements of dose in a phantom via TLDs, radiation protection survey of therapy installation and brachytherapy sources, and radiation biology.
RAD-317 Radiation Physics II
RAD 315; Radiation Science, Radiation Therapy and Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Expands on the concepts and theories presented in Radiation Physics I. It will provide a detailed analysis of the treatment units used in external beam radiation therapy, their beam geometry, basic dose calculations and dose distributions. Students will also learn the principles, theories, and uses of brachytherapy.
RAD-415 Dosimetry I
RAD/PHYS 315; RAD L415 concurrently; Radiation Therapy & Medical Dosimetry Students Only
3.00
Discusses the factors that influence treatment planning and govern the clinical aspects of patient treatment. Topics to be covered include treatment planning with 3-D CT and MRI beams, isodose plan descriptions, clinical applications of treatment beams and advanced dosimetric calculations. Students will also contrast new emerging technologies with conventional radiation therapy techniques (SRT, SRS, IMRT, Image Guided Therapy, Respiratory Gating).
RAD-L415 Dosimetry I Lab
RAD 415 concurrently; Radiation Therapy & Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Provides the student with the opportunity to apply clinical dosimetry principles and theories learned in the classroom to actual treatment planning situations within the clinic. Through hands-on lab exercises the student will demonstrate the use of the treatment planning instruments and interpret information they compute.
RAD-416 Radiation Biology
RAD/PHYS 315; Radiation Science, Radiation Therapy and Medical Dosimetry Students only (including Radiation Science minors)
4.00
Topics covered include: physio-chemical aspects of energy absorption, the sequence of events after irradiation occurring on the molecular, cellular and organized tissue levels, radiation response and repair of eukaryotic cells, effects of radiation quality, dose rate, environmental conditions, cell cycle kinetics, tumor and normal cell population dynamics, radiation-induced carcinogenesis and mutagenesis, tumor pathophysiology and radiobiology, and recent advances in experimental radiation oncology.
RAD-417 Dosimetry II
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
A continuation of Dosimetry I that focuses on advanced treatment planning techniques including intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), arc therapy, stereotactic treatment planning, and proton therapy. The advantages of each technique/modality over conventional 3D-treatment planning will be discussed. This will also be contrasted against the specific challenges presented by each technique such as the need for better immobilization, need for 4D CT scanning and daily IGRT (kV matching and/or CBCT).
RAD-420 Radiation Oncology & Pathology
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Students will review cancer epidemiology, etiology, detection, diagnosis and prevention, lymphatic drainage, and treatment. The pathology(s) of each cancer will be presented in detail including the rationale for each preferred modality of treatment.
RAD-422 Radiology
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
This course will begin Beginning with an introduction to radiology, students reviewing x-ray production and discussing basic radiation physics, image formation (Kv, mA) and distortion (blur, magnification), conventional processing and digital imaging. The above-mentioned radiographic imaging concepts will be presented with conventional lectures as well as with several imaging laboratories. In addition, the basic principles of each imaging modality, including mammography, CT, MRI, Nuc Med, and Ultra Sound, will be presented. With the use of departmental tours and guest lecturers, the use, benefits and limitations of each will be discussed. Building upon the information previously presented, radiographic anatomy will also be covered with an emphasis on cross sectional anatomy. Students will review basic anatomy viewed in sectional planes (axial/transverse) of the body. Using CT and MRI images, the topographic relationship between internal organs and surface anatomy will be interpreted and discussed.
RAD-435 Brachytherapy
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Topics will include, radioactive sources, calibration, instrumentation, factors affecting dose calculations, definitions of LDR, MDR and HDR, treatment planning and clinical dose calculation, implantation techniques, implant localization/verification, regulations, radiation safety, storage and QA. Detailed coverage of prostate brachytherapy including LDR and HDR will be emphasized.
RAD-450 Dosimetry Systems and Networking and Quality Assurance
Senior Status; Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Includes a general overview of computer systems and networking in the field of radiation oncology. A historical view of computers will be covered as well as the intricate uses in the medical field today. Oncology information record and verification systems, as well as radiation therapy software used for imaging, contouring, treatment planning, and patient charting applications will be covered. Data and system security will also be addressed.
RAD-470 Radiation Science Internship
Radiation Science and Radiation Therapy majors only.
1.00- 4.00
Enables opportunity for students to participate in career-related experiential internship. Assists students in preparing for Radiation Science-related career and provides exposure to potential career option. Promotes development of necessary professional skills.
RAD-471 Senior Seminar for Radiation Science
Radiation Science and Radiation Therapy students only. Senior status required.
1.00
Promotes expansion of professional development skills for Radiation Science majors. Assists students with job search, networking, and professional cover letter and resume preparation, as well as discusses techniques necessary to make job interviews successful.
RAD-475 Senior Seminar for Radiation Therapy
Senior status, Radiation Therapy Students Only
4.00
Available to senior students enrolled in the Radiation Therapy program. A seminar style course that serves many purposes; one of which will be preparing our graduating students for board certification (ARRT). Exam preparation will include the use of lectures, online teaching tools, mini mock exams, and a full-length mock exam. The seminar will also assist students with the preparation of their professional resumes including discussions regarding the skills necessary to make job interviews successful.
RAD-476 Senior Seminar for Medical Dosimetry
Senior Status and Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
This course will be available to second year clinical students enrolled in the Medical Dosimetry program. This seminar style course will serve a number of purposes; one will be to prepare our graduating students for board certification in MDCB for Medical Dosimetry. Exam preparation will include the use of lectures, online teaching tools, mini mock exams, and a full-length mock exam. The seminar will also assist students with the preparation of their professional resumes including discussions regarding the skills necessary to make job interviews successful.
PHYS-206 Introduction to Radiation Oncology
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
This course will serve an an introduction to the role of the radiation therapist and medical dosimetrist in a Radiation Oncology department. Through a combination of detailed lectures, discussions, role-playing, case studies, and hands-on laboratory exercises, students will be introduced to the professional and clinical aspects of their respective professions. Additional topics included radiation safety, patients rights, infection control, communication for the clinic, patient assessment, and psychosocial aspects of cancer including death and dying.
PHYS-301 Clinical Radiation I
PHYS 206; Radiation Therapy & Medical Dosimetry Students Only
3.00
Through a systems-based approach, this course will review anatomy and physiology while teaching medical terminology. This course will also discuss the major cancers associated with each anatomical system and introduce the student to radiation therapy treatment techniques and procedures.
PHYS-L301 Radiation Therapy Rotation I
Radiation Therapy Students Only
1.00
Provides the necessary clinical experience to become a radiation therapist. All labs are conducted at our clinical affiliates. Under the supervision of licensed radiation therapists, the students will become increasingly proficient in the manipulation of treatment equipment, will gain a thorough understanding of radiation treatment plans, will deliver a prescribed radiation dose to cancer patients, and will acquire knowledge of all relevant aspects of patient care. These labs are available only to students enrolled in the "clinical track".
PHYS-302 Clinical Radiation II
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
3.00
This course is a continuation of MS 301. Through the same didactic approach, the course will cover all of the anatomical systems and their related medical terminology NOT covered in MS 301.
PHYS-L302 Radiation Therapy Rotation II
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) Students Only
1.00
Provides the necessary clinical experience to become a radiation therapist. All labs are conducted at our clinical affiliates. Under the supervision of licensed radiation therapists, the students will become increasingly proficient in the manipulation of treatment equipment, will gain a thorough understanding of radiation treatment plans, will deliver a prescribed radiation dose to cancer patients, and will acquire knowledge of all relevant aspects of patient care. These labs are available only to students enrolled in the "clinical track".
PHYS-L303 Radiation Therapy Rotation III
PHYS L302; Radiation Therapy Students Only
1.00
Provides the necessary clinical experience to become a radiation therapist. All labs are conducted at our clinical affiliates. Under the supervision of licensed radiation therapists, the students will become increasingly proficient in the manipulation of treatment equipment, will gain a thorough understanding of radiation treatment plans, will deliver a prescribed radiation dose to cancer patients, and will acquire knowledge of all relevant aspects of patient care. These labs are available only to students enrolled in the "clinical track".
PHYS-L304 Radiation Therapy Practicum
Take PHYS-301 PHYS-L301;*Course fulfills the following: Expanded Classroom Requirement.
1.00
Student radiation therapists will spend 12 weeks (full-time, 40 hrs/wk) gaining hands on patient care experience in the department of radiation oncology at our clinical affiliates. Under constant supervision by licensed therapists, the student will be guided toward the application of theory in the real world of cancer treatment.
PHYS-L311 Medical Dosimetry Rotation I
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Under the supervision of a Certified Medical Dosimetrist, students will gain hands on treatment planning experience in a clinical setting. Two,8-hour days per week, TTH.
PHYS-L312 Medical Dosimetry Rotation II
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Under the supervision of a certified medical dosimetrist, students will gain hands on treatment planning experience in a clinical setting. Three 8-hour days per week, MWF.
PHYS-L313 Medical Dosimetry Rotation III
PHYS L312, Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
Under the supervision of a Certified Medical Dosimetrist, students will gain hands on treatment planning experience in a clinical setting. Three, 8-hour days per week, MWF.
PHYS-L314 Medical Dosimetry Practicum
Take PHYS-301 and PHYS-L311; *Course fulfills the following: Expanded Classroom Requirement.
1.00
Student dosimetrists will spend 12 weeks (full-time, 40 hrs/wk) gaining hands on treatment planning experience in the department of radiation oncology at our clinical affiliates. Under constant supervision of certified medical dosimetrists, the student will be guided toward the application of theory in the real world of cancer treatment planning.
PHYS-315 Radiation Physics I
PHYS L315 concurrently; Radiation Biology, Radiation Science, Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate), or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
3.00
Content is designed to establish a thorough knowledge of the radiation physics used in radiation therapy treatments. Topics to be covered in this course include a review of basic physics (energy, mass, matter, SI units), structure of matter, types of radiations, nuclear transformations, radioactive decay, the fundamentals of x-ray generators and x-ray production, interactions of x and gamma rays with matter, absorbed dose, measurements of dose, principles of and practical use of ionization chambers and electrometers, Geiger counters and other survey meters, principles and practical use of TLDs, film, calorimetry, scintillation detectors, radiation protection and quality assurance.
PHYS-L315 Radiation Physics I Lab
PHYS 315 concurrently
1.00
This lab will cover a broad range of experiments associated with the Department of Radiation Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Topics include: Quality assurance measurements for radiation therapy, calibration of radiation teletherapy unit using ionization chambers, measurements of dose distribution via film, measurements of dose in a phantom via TLDs, radiation protection survey of therapy installation and brachytherapy sources, and radiation biology.
PHYS-317 Radiation Physics II
PHYS 315; Radiation Science, Radiation Therapy and Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
This course is intended to expand on the concepts and theories presented in Radiation Physics I. It will provide a detailed analysis of the treatment units used in external beam radiation therapy, their beam geometry, basic dose calculations and dose distributions. This course will also cover the principles, theories, and uses of brachytherapy. This course was previously MS 412
PHYS-415 Dosimetry I
PHYS 315; PHYS L415 concurrently; Radiation Therapy & Medical Dosimetry Students Only
3.00
This course will discuss the factors that influence treatment planning and govern the clinical aspects of patient treatment. Topics to be covered include treatment planning with 3-D CT and MRI beams, isodose plan descriptions, clinical applications of treatment beams and advanced dosimetric calculations. This course will also contrast new emerging technologies with conventional radiation therapy techniques (SRT, SRS, IMRT, Image Guided Therapy, Respiratory Gating).
PHYS-L415 Dosimetry I Lab
PHYS 415 concurrently; Radiation Therapy & Medical Dosimetry Students Only
1.00
This lab will provide the student with the opportunity to apply clinical dosimetry principles and theories learned in the classroom to actual treatment planning situations within the clinic. Through hands-on lab exercises the student will demonstrate the use of the treatment planning instruments and interpret information they compute.
PHYS-417 Dosimetry II
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
This course is a continuation of Clinical Dosimetry I and will focus on advanced treatment planning techniques including intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), arc therapy, stereotactic treatment planning, and proton therapy. The advantages of each technique/modality over conventional 3D-treatment planning will be discussed. This will also be contrasted against the specific challenges presented by each technique such as the need for better immobilization, need for 4D CT scanning and daily IGRT (kV matching and/or CBCT).
PHYS-416 Radiation Biology
PHYS 315; Radiation Science, Radiation Therapy and Medical Dosimetry Students only (including Radiation Science minors)
4.00
Topics covered include: physio-chemical aspects of energy absorption, the sequence of events after irradiation occurring on the molecular, cellular and organized tissue levels, radiation response and repair of eukaryotic cells, effects of radiation quality, dose rate, environmental conditions, cell cycle kinetics, tumor and normal cell population dynamics, radiation-induced carcinogenesis and mutagenesis, tumor pathophysiology and radiobiology, and recent advances in experimental radiation oncology.
PHYS-420 Radiation Oncology & Pathology
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
This course, taught by Massachusetts General Hospital physicians will review cancer epidemiology, etiology, detection, diagnosis and prevention, lymphatic drainage, and treatment. The pathology(s) of each cancer will be presented in detail including the rationale for each preferred modality of treatment.
PHYS-422 Radiology
Radiation Therapy (Major or Certificate) or Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
This course will begin with an introduction to radiology, reviewing x-ray production and discussing basic radiation physics, image formation (Kv, mA) and distortion (blur, magnification), conventional processing and digital imaging. The above-mentioned radiographic imaging concepts will be presented with conventional lectures as well as with several imaging laboratories. In addition, the basic principles of each imaging modality, including mammography, CT, MRI, Nuc Med, and Ultra Sound, will be presented. With the use of departmental tours and guest lecturers, the use, benefits and limitations of each will be discussed. Building upon the information previously presented, radiographic anatomy will also be covered with an emphasis on cross sectional anatomy. Students will review basic anatomy viewed in sectional planes (axial/transverse) of the body. Using CT and MRI images, the topographic relationship between internal organs and surface anatomy will be interpreted and discussed.
PHYS-435 Brachytherapy
Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
Topics in this course will include, radioactive sources, calibration, instrumentation, factors affecting dose calculations, definitions of LDR, MDR and HDR, treatment planning and clinical dose calculation, implantation techniques, implant localization/verification, regulations, radiation safety, storage and QA. Detailed coverage of prostate brachytherapy including LDR and HDR will be emphasized.
PHYS-450 Dosimetry Systems and Networking and Quality Assurance
Senior Status; Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
This course is designed for the medical dosimetry student, to include a general overview of computer systems and networking in the field of radiation oncology. A historical view of computers will be covered as well as the intricate uses in the medical field today. Oncology information systems such as MOSAIC and ARIA, as well as radiation therapy software used for imaging, contouring, treatment planning, and patient charting applications will be covered. Data and system security will also be addressed.
PHYS-475 Senior Seminar for Radiation Therapy
Senior status, Radiation Therapy Students Only
4.00
This course will be available to senior students enrolled in the Radiation Therapy and Medical Dosimetry programs. This seminar style course will serve a number of purposes; one will be to prepare our graduating students for board certification in their respective disciplines (AART for Radiation Therapy and MDCB for Medical Dosimetry). Exam preparation will include the use of lectures, student teaching, online teaching tools, mini mock exams, and a full-length mock exam. The seminar will also assist students with the preparation of their professional resumes including discussions regarding the skills necessary to make job interviews successful.
PHYS-476 Senior Seminar for Medical Dosimetry
Senior Status and Medical Dosimetry Students Only
4.00
This course will be available to second year clinical students enrolled in the Medical Dosimetry program. This seminar style course will serve a number of purposes; one will be to prepare our graduating students for board certification in MDCB for Medical Dosimetry. Exam preparation will include the use of lectures, online teaching tools, mini mock exams, and a full-length mock exam. The seminar will also assist students with the preparation of their professional resumes including discussions regarding the skills necessary to make job interviews successful.
SCI-108 Introduction to Cancer Care
4.00
Introduces the top ten U.S. adult cancers, as well as the most common pediatric cancers. Topics to be covered include cancer causes, detection, and prevention. Psychosocial aspects of being diagnosed with cancer and the role nutrition plays for cancer patients will be integrated. The course will also discuss the major treatment modalities for each cancer including radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplants.