Haley Kroeplin

DOS 773 Clinical Practicum III

Service Learning Journal

Employer Service Learning Journal – Updating Photon Medical Dosimetry Standard of Practices
at Mayo Clinic
During the fall semester, I volunteered in my clinical site’s radiation oncology
department to update the photon medical dosimetry standard of practices (SOPs). This act of
service will provide radiation therapists, future medical dosimetry students and current medical
dosimetrists an updated document that describes the standard immobilization devices used at the
time of simulation, CT scanning parameters, typical beam arrangements, contouring
considerations, treatment planning notes and helpful reminders when completing the treatment
planning paperwork for the various anatomical sites.
Over the course of five weeks, I spent my free time reviewing the current documents,
meeting with a lead radiation therapist, radiation therapy supervisors and medical dosimetrists to
discuss changes that they would like to see implemented in the updated documents and editing
the current documents with the feedback provided by the radiation oncology staff members and
recent protocol changes that occurred within the medical dosimetry department.
I am very happy to have had this experience updating the photon medical dosimetry
SOPs. This opportunity allowed me the chance to review all the photon protocols that we
currently have. This was extremely beneficial as I had not reviewed some of these since I had my
rotation through each anatomical site during my clinical internship earlier this year. Needless to
say this was a very rewarding experience for me and I hope that others, especially future medical
dosimetry students, will utilize these documents as a reference when they begin treatment
planning.