The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Medical Dosimetry program is seeking
clinical internship sites. The program relies on the support from the Radiation Oncology community from this area. Without
clinical sites, there is no program. Without a program, there are no formally educated graduates. The importance of formal
education is to ensure that the individuals entering the workforce received a comprehensive, quality education and are deemed
competent as an entry level medical dosimetrist. The goal of the program is to have 10-15 clinical sites
in this area. Students relocate from various parts of the country to attend school here; therefore job availability in this
region alone is not a concern. The program is recognized
as one of the top programs in the nation with students surpassing the national average board exam statistics. Adding clinical
sites will expand this top-notch program to ensure that competent, highly qualified students are entering the workforce annually.Unlike the radiation therapy program, which most of you are most familiar with, the clinical
internship sites are not responsible for the didactic curriculum instruction for the medical dosimetry program.
Students receive this component through online education. The sites are only responsible for the clinical education
(training) during the program. Because of this relationship, the site is involved in the interview process and only accepts
one student per site.
What are the benefits of being an affiliated clinical internship site? Students
actually decompress some of the medical dosimetry workload. After a student is deemed competent in specific
clinical duties, they provide additional support by completing many of the plans and procedures (under direct/indirect supervision).
The other benefit for the clinical sites is having a great selection of candidates to hire from each year at graduation.
So, how do you know if your site qualifies? Here is a list of qualification
criteria:
Staff Requirements §
Board certified medical dosimetrist, medical physicist, and radiation oncologist
Equipment§
Treatment machines of varied energies with electron capabilities§
Conventional simulator or dedicated CT for virtual simulation
Treatment Accessories § Custom
blocks or MLC, immobilization devices, wedges/compensating filters
Radiation Protection Services
External
beam (3D and IMRT) and brachytherapy planning services
Library with relevant books and journals
Facility accredited by JCAHO, ACR, or State Agency
A certified medical dosimetrist or
medical physicist is to be assigned as the clinical supervisor for the site. The site would need to select someone to perform
those duties. These duties consist of being the supervisor for the student at the site, signing off on some monthly paperwork
(electronically), and being the contact person for the program director. The program director will offer an orientation and
continue to offer support via phone, email, or in person. If you have not participated in a training program previously, the
program will assist you with questions or concerns during orientation as well as provide resources through the accreditation
agency.
The program
is designed to have students taking online didactic coursework while they are completing clinical training. The student is
in the clinic approximately 32 – 40 hours per week depending on the semester. The students must log their non-paid clinical
time and be evaluated on a monthly basis. The students are responsible for completing required competencies and observations
which requires approval by a certified medical dosimetrist or physicist. The entire clinical internship documentation is completed
through an electronic clinical management system. Automated evaluations and forms make things easier on clinical staff by
eliminating monthly hard copy paperwork to be completed.
If you have
an interest in being affiliated with the UW-La Crosse Medical Dosimetry program, please contact the program director, Nishele
Lenards, at lenards.nish@uwlax.edu or 952-270-3582. Program website: www.uwlax.edu/md
