Provide a copy of a medical dosimetrist job description from your facility (you'll need to include this with

your assignment). Analyze the job description. Is it comprehensive? Is it missing information? (Use the
lecture notes and additional research to analyze components of the job description). If you have changes to
it, be specific and tell us why.
Finally, can this job description effectively be used for an employee professional development plan (PDP)?
(this will involve additional research for PDP's; simply type "professional development plan" into Google and
you'll see some good results appear).

Dosimetrist
The medical dosimetrist is a member of the radiation oncology team who has
knowledge of the overall characteristics and clinical relevance of radiation
oncology treatment machines and equipment, is cognizant of procedures
commonly used in brachytherapy and has the education and expertise
necessary to generate radiation dose distributions and dose calculations in
collaboration with the medical physicist and radiation oncologist.

REQUIREMENTS:
- Minimum of two years of related experience.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Certification by Medical Dosimetry Certification Board (CMD) (Certified
Medical Dosimetrist) required.
- Must be able to understand the technical aspects of radiation oncology and
medical physics to derive computerized treatment plans, and communicate
these aspects to the Radiation Oncologist for plan approval, and to the
Radiation Therapist for plan implementation.
- Performs routine duties independent of supervision, but consults with the
Radiation Oncologist and Medical Physicist as required.
- Operates and performs quality assurance, under the direction of the
Medical Physicist, on the treatment planning computer.

- Has working knowledge of radiation safety and current rules and

regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
- Has the ability to interpret and execute treatment plans as defined in
relevant treatment protocols.
- Must possess mathematical skills including algebra, trigonometry, and
introductory calculus and be able to visualize objects in three-dimensional
concepts to facilitate the treatment planning process.

A comprehensive job description requires a complete job analysis to acquire as much relevant
data about the job as possible.1 The description will include descriptions of the duties,
responsibilities, qualifications and more. The dosimetrist description above is a comprehensive
description that spells out the responsibilities and requirements for the dosimetry position.
However, a much more detailed list of job functions could be included with this description. As it
stands, only a general description of the duties are covered along with more specific prerequirements. A detailed list of the actual functions performed on the job would make this listing
more comprehensive. For this reason the job description would not be very helpful for use in a
professional development plan (PDD). To create an effective PDD, job function details would be
needed to help create goals and steps in the development over time of the professional. This job
description works for general hiring purposes that will include a follow up interview to flush out
details, but is not useful for much more than this.
1. Lenards N. Operational Issues in Radiation Oncology: Human Resources. [SoftChalk]. La
Crosse, WI: UW-L Medical Dosimetry Program; 2010.