The position is located in the Radiology Oncology Service, which is a division of Surgery/Specialty service line at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. The service is responsible for the delivery of radiation treatments to patients with a wide variety of malignant diagnoses. Radiation Therapy refers to the use of ionizing radiation in the treatment of cancer. Radiation treatment kills the cells mainly by damage to the DNA, but is not specific for malignant cells Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. Medical Dosimetrists must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education. Effective January 1, 2017, candidates are required to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree and graduate from a medical dosimetry program of at least 12 months in duration. The medical dosimetry program must be accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. JRCERT is the accrediting agency for the medical dosimetry programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Exception. Candidates who graduated prior to January 1, 2017, are considered to have met the basic education requirement provided they meet all Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) requirements and are in good standing. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Foreign equivalency evaluation from The Foundation for International Services, Inc. or the International Education Research Foundation is required. Foreign equivalency documentation from any other organization will not be considered. Certification. All applicants must be certified in medical dosimetry by the MDCB. Certified Medical Dosimetry (CMD) is the recognized credential for Medical Dosimetrists. NOTE: CMDs who perform therapeutic radiologic technologist duties must also possess ARRT(T) certification. NOTE: The Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981, P.L. 97- 35 requires persons who administer Therapeutic Radiological procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R. § 75. They must have completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and be accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or be a Radiation Therapist certified in medical dosimetry. Exception for non-certified Medical Dosimetrists Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for Medical Dosimetrist certification may be given a *temporary* appointment as a graduate TRT Non-certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified Medical Dosimetrist at or above the full performance level. Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. Temporary appointments of non-certified Medical Dosimetrists may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Medical Dosimetrist, GS-09. Employees at this grade level serve as entry level Medical Dosimetrists in a developmental level position Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. The basic requirements include Education and Certification/Eligibility for Certification. Medical Dosimetrist, GS-10. This is a developmental position. Employees at this level are substantially independently function as staff Medical Dosimetrists and are able to carry out most procedures as Medical Dosimetrists under general supervision. Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: Skill in computer treatment planning to design patient treatment plans with awareness to dose limitations to critical structures following the prescription outlined by the radiation oncologist. Ability to perform control procedures for radiation therapy including weekly chart checks for data accuracy and completion and quality assurance procedures on the treatment planning computer(s). Ability to assist in the preparation and design of custom molds, boluses, templates, and compensating devices. Ability to assist in computer tomography (CT) scans for tumor localization in radiation treatment planning to perform accurate patient contours for transfer to treatment planning devices Medical Dosimetrist, GS-11. Medical Dosimetrists at this level are at the full performance level and are fully functional and carry out their assigned task independently in all areas of medical dosimetry Experience. At this level, candidates must have at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position to be filled and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to provide services as a staff dosimetrist. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: Knowledge of radiation safety practices, including reporting discrepancies and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, quality standards, accrediting agencies, policies, and standard operating procedures. Skill at importing diagnostic imaging studies from multiple media types and image fusion using CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET CT) for complex treatment planning. Skill in using computer treatment software to develop an accurate deliverable complex plan such as 3D conformal, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, Volumetric Arc Therapy and stereotactic techniques, dose limitation to critical structures, Record and Verify software, and quality assurance (QA) methods following the directive outlined by the radiation oncologist. Ability to effectively communicate all aspects of the directive and treatment planning process with the radiation oncology team to solve complex clinical treatment challenges. Ability to delineate and accurately contour critical structures and tumor volumes used to develop a deliverable treatment plan through an in-depth knowledge of cross-sectional anatomy and all diagnostic imaging modalities. Ability to provide input or assist with the use or necessity of ancillary treatment devices, patient immobilization techniques and other patient positioning techniques as needed for simulation or treatment. Ability to apply new developments, planning techniques, and technology in the field of radiation therapy such, as but not limited to, treatment planning system QA. Preferred Experience: Certification by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. ["Major Duties: Guides the orientation of new therapist and dosimetrist staff, assuring that all competencies are met. Assists the Radiation Oncologist brachytherapy specialist during the OR procedure, and facilitates brachytherapy care across services. Responsible for the evaluation, planning and treatment and care of cancer patients. Works with the Radiation Oncologist in assessing the priority of each patient, determine the need for additional diagnostic tests and coordinating the dosimetric planning with patient simulation and treatment. Serves as a member of the simulation team, which collects specific patient anatomical and tumor site data and coordinates that data with the physician's radiation therapy prescription and any treatment plans that have been previously prepared. Prepares radiation treatment plans of simple to extreme complexity involving the use of external beam, electron beam, rotational beam, radioactive seed implants, tissue compensators, wedges, complex blocking, two and three dimensional treatment plans. Works with physician prescriptions, anatomical data, computerized tomographic studies and magnetic resonance imaging studies, bone scans and diagnostic x-rays. Maintains operational knowledge of linear accelerators, simulators and treatment planning computers. Design, fabricate and conduct quality assurance testing on required radiation beam shielding blocks, tissue compensators, tissue boluses, body molds, and other therapy beam modifiers. Allows for the presence/use of any of these modifiers in the individual beam calculations taking into account any transmission or attention factors. Responsible for the correct implementation of the finished and accepted treatment plan and must ensure that correct values for monitor units; distance, energy, field size, and other vital treatment factors are utilized Serves as a resource and consultant to other dosimetry and radiation therapist staff. Participates in radiation therapy treatment protocols and other research studies. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Administrative days. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being."]

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