Chief Radiation Therapist

Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute (Hampton Proton) is seeking a Chief Radiation Therapist to oversee the staff therapists and imaging technologist to ensure optimal care in proton treatments delivered to the patients in the safest method while monitoring, training, and verifying proper operations of all machines, staff, and radiation sources in accordance with established guidelines and protocols.

Hampton Proton is the nation’s 8th proton therapy facility and one of the largest free-standing proton clinics in the world. The state-of-the-art treatment and research center has four gantry rooms and one fixed beam room.  Hampton Proton has been treating a variety of cancers since August 2010.

Hampton Proton uses IBA’s Proteus 235 proton therapy delivery system, MOSAIQ Oncology Information System (Elektra), Eclipse Proton Treatment Planning system (Varian) and a Philips 4D-PET/CT for simulations, and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR Ingenia 3T) by Philips. Our Proteus 235 system is equipped with IBA’s universal nozzles.  We are using Uniform Scanning, Double Scattering, and Pencil Beam Scanning treatment delivery techniques in our treatment rooms.

Reports to: The Hampton Proton Executive Director.

Direct reports: Lead Therapists, Radiation Therapists, PET/CT Technologist, MRI Technologists.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide transparent insight to the Executive Director on all aspects of safe, accurate treatment delivery within the inter-departments of the Radiation Therapy, MRI, and PET CT.
• Conduct various leadership meetings to address clinical challenges with the ability to develop strategies to optimize patient care throughput, treatment planning processes, and operational functionality.
• Lead, organize, prioritize, and work alongside other professionals to provide guidance in the comprehensive radiation oncology duties pertaining to safely operating a proton radiotherapy clinic.
• Collaboratively establish and maintain protocols of processes and operations within Radiation Therapy while cross-checking with all Medical Physics and Dosimetry activities.
• Orient and train new employees or students in various delivery setups using Uniform Scanning (US), Double Scattering (DS) and Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS).
• Manage delivery of patient care, patient schedules, and coordination of treatment related processes and providing patient education.
• Understands patient history and diagnosis, discusses procedure with patient, assures his/her understanding, and makes recommendations for treatment planning.
• Establishes proper patient position/immobilization based on input from physician, performs basic dosimetry procedures during setup, and responsible for parameter overrides.
• Accurately delivers and documents radiation treatment according to prescription while determining tolerances according to site specific diseases.
• Makes radiographs, appropriate measurements, tattoos the patient, records all treatment parameters in chart, completes digital setup pages and MOSAIQ fields as needed.
• Monitors patients for unusual reactions, events, and reports occurrences to the Radiation Oncologist and Registered Nurses.
• Supports the maintenance of proton radiotherapy quality assurance programs and the commissioning of proton therapy equipment.
• Coordinate, distribute, and report measurable outcomes and continuous process improvement efforts to maximize productivity of the department(s).
• Provide sustainability in the Center’s radiation protection activities in order to maintain the safety of HUPTI personnel and ensure compliance with local regulations.
• Support and be involved in the physics research and development projects ongoing in the institution.
• Use independent judgment and apply learned methodologies according to established policy and procedures.
• Uphold, maintain, and establish adequate protocols to ensure accurate patient treatments.
• Effectively and in a timely manner communicate productivity challenges with upper management.
• Assure the efficient operation of workflow within the department by performing other duties as assigned by the Executive Director

Qualifications: 

• Proficient use of record & verify applications, treatment/simulation delivery applications, electronic medical records software programs, & Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of Eclipse | Varian treatment planning system and MOSAIQ Oncology Information System is highly preferred.
• Demonstrate great influence, patience, competence, dependability, thoroughness.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and high-quality results oriented.
• Precise understanding of anatomy and physiology.
• Demonstrate the ability to be pro-active and have a sense of urgency.
• Complies with and supports all company/departmental policies and procedures.
• Consistently meets/exceeds a required level of leadership performance.
• Promotes collaborative relationships with an emphasis on teamwork.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal; good organizational skills; excellent interpersonal skills; positive interaction in dealing with patients.
• Successfully handles issues through conflict resolution with emotional intelligence.
• Possesses the ability to be sensitive to the patient and know when something is wrong.
• Maintain effective working relationships with patients, providers, staff and the public.
• Experience in proton radiotherapy is highly preferred, but not required. Demonstrate the ability to learn in-depth knowledge of proton therapy operations and industry trends.
• Demonstrate the ability to read and interpret documents or outputs from software computer programs.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and high-quality results oriented with the ability to meet deadlines.
• Successfully handles issues through conflict resolution, project management, and delegation.

Requirements:

• At least two (2) years of proven experience in a supervisory or relevant role overseeing employee’s training, development, and performance.  At least five (5) years’ experience in radiation therapy.
• Completed a formal radiation therapy technologist program from an accredited institution is required.
• Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences is highly preferred, but not required.
• Current ARRT R.T.(T) certification is required.
• Possess a current Virginia license as a Radiologic Technologist or eligible to be obtained within 1 month of employment.
• Be able to physically assist patients entering/exiting the treatment table, maneuver in narrow machine spaces, install compensators & apertures which require push, pull, hold, and lift up to 50 lbs. with the use of hands/fingers for fine motor skills.
• Minor weightlifting (i.e., to handle aperture, compensator, QA devices, etc. 25 – 50 lb.) required.
• Willing to work Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm with the ability to work flexible hours/days depending on patient needs and department volume.