Medical Physicist

Job Description

Delivers safe radiation to patients through the proper quality assurance and calibration of radiation equipment and radioactive sources in Radiotherapy and Medical Imaging.

Responsibilities

• Delivers safe radiation to patients through the proper quality assurance and calibration of radiation equipment and radioactive sources.
• Issues about the provision of patient care or the volume of cases being handled.
• Observes radiation safety measures/protocols.
• Maintains the Quality Assurance (QA) program.
• Performs the QA test for linear accelerators and other radiation equipment in radiotherapy.
• Performs periodic calibrations for all therapy equipment and radioactive sources.
• Participates in the commissioning and acceptance testing of all Radiation Therapy equipment.
• Coordinates with Radiation Oncologists, other Medical Physicists and Medical Dosimetrists for the development of an optimized Radiotherapy treatment plan for individual patients.
• Assumes responsibility for the radiation safety of staff, patients and the public on the hospital premises.
• Establishes and maintains ethical working relationships and good rapport with all interrelating hospitals.
• Performs all patient-specific quality assurance tests to ensure safe delivery of radiation dose to patients.
• Participates in the radiation safety committee and participate in other safety committees.
• Addresses problems of radiation safety as they arise and makes decisions to resolve the problems.
• Ensures the radiation machines are in proper working conditions before clinical use.
• Provides radiation safety training to hospital staff and radiation workers.
• Operates and performs quality assurance in the treatment planning computer.
• Responds promptly and positively to patients, families, co-workers and all others in a respectful, courteous and confidential manner. 
• Instructs all radiation workers to apply the principles of As-Low-As-Reasonably-Achievable (ALARA) to minimize exposure to patients, staff and the public on hospital premises. 
• Maintains the log of radioactive sources and radiation equipment.
• Educates and monitors students and other health care providers.
• Maintains archival storage of digital data as appropriate.
• Demonstrates cooperation, coordination and respect among individuals/departments to provide excellent customer service (internal and external).
• Participates in continuing education and research work of the department.
• Participates in the Lean process with the centre team to ensure quality, efficient and effective production of treatment plans and integrated workflow throughout the patient treatment process.
• Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep abreast of the latest trends in the field of expertise.
• Works closely with the Radiation Oncologists for all procedural needs and requirements.
• Adheres to Medical Physics QA procedures and policies.
• Maintains current knowledge of proper Radiation equipment, treatment planning, dosimetry, radiation safety and documentation to assist in training new physics staff members (physicists and physics support staff) on the same.
• Performs and assists dosimetry staff with patient-specific radiation measurements and calculations and assists in the selection and specifications of any complex beam devices required to protect critical structures. 
• Performs quality control tests of Radiation photon and electron beam characteristics and mechanical characteristics of all radiotherapy equipment.
• Measures, analyses and enters data used for treatment planning computer software and tests new versions of software during upgrades.
• Participates in the development, transitioning and maintenance of paperless processes.
• Checks accuracy/appropriateness of computerized patient treatment plans performed by dosimetry staff and works in consultation with the physicians to achieve optimal care.
• Ensures a robust physics component of ARIA and utilizes quality check and care paths for effective staff communication.
• Establishes and maintains radiation monitoring safety badges and reporting. 
• Performs Radiation Safety Officer functions and reporting (annual, adverse incidents, etc) required by local nuclear regulatory agencies.
• Supervises the quality assurance tests in the Radiation therapy unit and maintains the documents for audit.
• Supervises the Radiation safety works in Radiation Therapy
• Performs weekly patient chart checks, as assigned, to verify accuracy.
• Responds to patients positively and politely.
• Performs other work-related duties as assigned.
• Performs the assigned duties in the absence of the Lead Medical Physicist/Director of Radiotherapy.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Radiation Physics/Medical Physics/Biophysics/Engineering Physics
• Doctor of Philosophy in Radiation Physics/Medical Physics/Biophysics/Engineering Physics preferred
• Qualified Radiation Protection Advisor preferred
• Registration of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)/American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)/American Board of Radiology (ABR)/Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM) preferred
• Dubai Health Authority (DHA) License – Medical Physics

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in a wide range of radiotherapy equipment, treatment planning and quality assurance procedures.
• Knowledge of radiation safety and current rules and regulations of the National Nuclear Regulatory Safety.
• Knowledge of technical aspects of radiation oncology and medical physicists derive computerized treatment plans and communicate these aspects to the Radiation Oncologist for plan approval and to the Radiation Therapist for plan implementation.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) standards.
• Skills in Commissioning of Linear Accelerators (LINACs) and High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy machines, Calibration of LINAC and Quality Assurance.
• Skills in Radiation Safety, Treatment planning, and dosimetry.
• Ability to use radiation measuring equipment, treatment planning computers, and recording and verifying the system.
• Ability to deal with patient complaints.
• Ability to interpret and execute treatment plans as defined in relevant treatment protocols.
• Ability to work as part of an integrated care and process team.
• Ability to speak and write in English fluently.