Radiation Oncology Professions

The field of radiation oncology, also known as radiation therapy, involves using radiation to treat cancer in patients. In addition to the radiation oncologist, a physician overseeing the treatment of each cancer patient, there other allied health disciplines that typically compose the team, such as medical physicists, medical dosimetrists, and radiation therapists. A brief summary of each profession is provided below, along with a link to more information and current job opportunities.

Medical Physicist

As the name implies, medical physicists use the principles of physics to ensure complex radiation treatments are tailored to each patient. Additional services include medical equipment performance assessments, quality control for imaging systems, radiation facility design, and the monitoring and mitigation of radiation risks. To learn more, click here to view current medical physicist jobs.

Medical Dosimetrist

Medical dosimetrists develop treatment plans for cancer patients using a combination of math, physics, anatomy, radiobiology, and medical equipment. Dosimetrists often employ software to help calculate and keep track of the factors involved in the treatment plan. If you would like to learn more, click here to view current medical dosimetrist jobs.

Radiation Therapist

Radiation therapists administer the daily radiation treatments to patients under the prescription and general supervision of a radiation oncologist. Therapists work one-on-one with cancer patients to explain procedures, locate treatment areas, and protect them from radiation overexposure. Click here to learn more and view current radiation therapist jobs.