Medical Dosimetry, Advanced Certificate in

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Adjunct Associate Professor Chang, Graduate Program Director, 516-463-5583

The Advanced Certificate in Medical Dosimetry is a non-degree program in collaboration with Northwell Health to provide the didactic component of the Medical Dosimetry Program. All clinical components of this program are typically completed at Northwell Health.

A medical dosimetrist is an analytical radiation oncology team member who designs, generates, and measures radiation dose distributions and dose calculations while overseeing high-level treatment procedures in external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy. To become a medical dosimetrist, a trainee needs to gain an overall knowledge of math, physics, anatomy & physiology, and radiobiology and knows the characteristics and clinical relevance of radiation oncology treatment machines and equipment.

Upon completion of the combined training at Hofstra University and Northwell Health, the graduate will be fully prepared to apply for medical dosimetrist positions offered by many radiation oncology clinics.

^{Note: Given the nature of this certificate program, its education content DOES NOT fulfill the graduate education requirements for New York State licensure in medical physics}

Admission Requirements

Applications will be jointly reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the MS in Medical Physics Program at Hofstra University and the Admissions Committee of the Medical Dosimetry Program at Northwell Health.
Applicants must present evidence of a baccalaureate or graduate degree in physics or an allied science from a wholly, regionally accredited institution
Applicants should demonstrate a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Official transcripts of degrees must be submitted. These must show evidence of satisfactory course work (grades of B or higher) in:
1. Calculus (equivalent to Hofstra University’s MATH 071-073),
2. Introductory to General Physics (equivalent to Hofstra University’s PHYS 011A, 011B, 012A, 012B), and
3. Anatomy and Physiology (equivalent to Hofstra University’s BIOL 209). Most students with a degree in physics or engineering meet these requirements.
Applicants must present evidence of observing at least 40 hours in a dosimetry clinic before applying.
Two letters of recommendation.
A statement of purpose that summarizes the candidate’s background and rationale for applying to the program.
A recent curriculum vitae.

Note:

Transfer students: Up to six (6) semester hours can be transferred. The program director will review each applicant’s situation and make a decision. If deemed appropriate, as many as six (6) semester hours with a grade of B or better from another JRCERT-accredited dosimetry program or CAMPEP-accredited medical physics program may be transferred.
The transferred credits must be for the core courses. Since six (6) semester hours correspond to two courses, at least three of this program’s five core courses must be completed.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 16

1) Prerequisite:

Bachelor of Science degree
Physics (2 semesters)
Calculus (2 semesters)
Minimum 3.0 GPA

2) Required Courses - Total Semester Hours: 16

Students failing any course with less than a “C-” grade will be required to repeat the course.

16 s.h. of course work selected from the following:

MPHY 216 - Radiobiology Semester Hours: 3
MPHY 218 - Introduction to Radiological Physics Semester Hours: 2
MPHY 220 - Radiation Protection and Radiation Safety Semester Hours: 3
MPHY 230 - Fundamentals of Imaging in Medicine I Semester Hours: 3
MPHY 240 - Radiation Therapy Physics I Semester Hours: 3
MPHY 241 - Radiation Therapy Physics II Semester Hours: 2

3) B Average or Higher

A minimum average GPA of 3.0 (a “B” letter grade) must be maintained throughout the program. Students falling below the minimum average GPA may be put on academic probation for one semester or asked to leave the program, at the discretion of the graduate program director and upon advisement of the Steering Committee.

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