Post-Graduate Diploma in Medical Dosimetry

The curriculum is designed to prepare individuals to work in the care of cancer patients as Medical Dosimetrists. The curriculum provides instruction to enable the participant to become a member of the radiation oncology team. The curriculum content includes specific coursework to provide classroom and direct clinical experience to train the student in the fundamentals of medical dosimetry practice using current technology, tools and techniques. Students will participate in studies related to the role of the Medical Dosimetrist and professional ethics, radiation oncology anatomy, treatment planning, dose calculations, clinical oncology, brachytherapy, dosimetry physics, radiation protection, quality assurance and computer applications.

The Medical Dosimetry student will have the opportunity to perform clinical training at the following sites: Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals AND Mpilo General Hospital Radiotherapy centres.

The mission of the Post-Graduate Diploma Radiotherapy Dosimetry Program Zimbabwe is to provide a program of excellence in medical dosimetry that is designed to prepare qualified dosimetrists through a wide range of academic and clinical experiences using state-of-the-art technology used in for cancer treatment.

Programme Recognition for Example Professional Body (ies)

The programme is designed so that a qualified student will achieve international standards of training in Medical Dosimetry. The Allied Health Practitioners council of Zimbabwe will provide registration for the qualified Medical Dosimetrist in Zimbabwe.

Educational Aims of the Programme

• Further develop academic knowledge and skills in treatment planning, plan evaluation and quality assurance for medical dosimetry professionals.
• Introduce new innovations in oncology and radiotherapy technology and practice of Medial dosimetrist as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary professionals in their continuous professional development, to encourage critical reflection on current practice and professional roles.
• Facilitate reflection and critical appraisal on the impact the outlined topics on the clinical environment, working practice and patient management and research.
• Introduce and promote a thorough research process and to develop the skills necessary to undertake quality research which will have impact on clinical radiotherapy practice.
• To promote critical appraisal of issues involved in radiotherapy imaging, treatment planning, treatment delivery and treatment verification.

Programme Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Develop and critique treatment plans based on various international protocols and recommendations such as the International Commission for Radiological Units (ICRU 50 and 62), Quantitative Analysis of Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic (QUANTEC) recommendations.
• Demonstrate competency in a variety of treatment planning modalities using different modalities that contribute to improved performance and practice.
• Customize treatment plans to address patient-specific conditions in which standard protocol treatment plans may not be suitable.
• Evaluate the impact of current innovations in oncology and radiotherapy treatment,  treatment planning, imaging, quality assurance  and the quality of the patient experience
• Utilise a problem solving approach to redefine the existing knowledge based in development of unique and appropriate approaches to new situations
• Engage in professional discussion with regard to the use of selected research tools utilised in the current professional research base.
• Critically evaluate new innovations and theories influencing radiotherapy practice.
• Develop critical thinking vital to improving quality and safety in radiotherapy practice.
• Identify potential errors in treatment planning, treatment delivery and any other related areas which directly impact on the dose delivered to the patient.
• Gain knowledge in Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) protocols in radiotherapy departments. Quality Control aspects related to Computerised Tomography (CT) simulator, Linacs, treatment planning, routine quality assurance and issues related patient specific Quality Assuarance will be explored.
• Produce dosimetry research of high quality and impact in Radiotherapy professions.

Programme Structure and Admissions

Post graduate Diploma in Medical Dosimetry requires three (3) semesters over a period of 18 months full time study. Each academic year (part) is divided into two semesters, with each semester being fifteen weeks long including examination time. 

Entry Qualifications

• Diploma of the College of Radiographers – DCR (T), BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography or equivalent professional qualification.
• Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience.

Programme Application Requirements

• • • If applicant’s language of instruction was not English, English proficiency examination scores are required. Test of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum score required is 6.5 (overall band).
    • Three Letters of Reference
    • Prior studies in Human Anatomy and Physiology.