Employer Service Volunteer Project

During my service project this semester, I collaborated with a classmate at my clinical facility to update
the standard of practice (SOP) documentation for treatment planning. We partnered with the dosimetry
staff and updated these documents. These resources serve as references for students and dosimetrists
during the treatment planning process and were invaluable to me during my clinical internship.
Our focus was ensuring the documents reflected the latest planning guidelines, and incorporated
additional tips and tricks we learned along the way. The SOP planning documents cover simulation
standards, typical beam arrangements, contouring, treatment planning procedures, desired isodose
distributions, and billing/paperwork considerations. Due to the dynamic nature of planning techniques
and technologies, it's vital to consistently update these documents.
This volunteer project allowed us to make a meaningful contribution to the department and provided a
comprehensive review of the clinical skills I gained during my internship. It was also a great review for
me because I had to revisit my notes for each treatment site. I was very surprised at how long this project
took. There were so many SOP documents to comb through and verify with each site lead before the
changes were made to the document.
I feel that getting involved in volunteer work within your work department is vital for personal and
professional growth, emphasizing teamwork and a proactive approach. It offers opportunities to develop
skills, broaden experiences, and contribute meaningfully beyond your regular tasks. Collaborating with
colleagues on these initiatives strengthens team dynamics and contributes to a positive workplace
atmosphere. Active participation in departmental projects not only enhances your visibility within the
organization but also underscores your dedication to shared goals and values.
Below are the SOPs we modified