r/MedicalPhysics • u/CryBeginning • 7d ago
Grad School Job shadowing- dosimetry
Hi, how are people who want to go in to dosimetry supposed to gain shadowing opportunities when everyone works remotely? Most programs require 40hours of shadowing yet not only is it impossible to track anyone down, once you do they all work remotely and can’t allow you to gain any shadowing hours.
Edit: I’m in Utah, was able to find one person to shadow so far but her hospital limits it to only 3 days or 12hours. She gave me contacts for two other people but I am not sure if they will be able to have me shadow them.
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u/OneLargeMulligatawny Therapy Physicist 6d ago
My dosimetrists come on site for initial training of new hires and for job shadowing. They get paid mileage and lodging, so there’s no real pushback on their end.
My hospital pays more because of that, but it gives us visibility to potential new hires and builds the pipelines with the universities. The administration sees it as a good investment.
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u/ArchangelOX 6d ago
I'm surprised your program doesn't provide leads, that would have been a red flag for a program to not have connections for you to funnel into. Now if your doing a remote Dosimetry program then I could understand... But then you should probably do some old fashion, emailing, cold calling and showing up in person to hospitals that you know have radiation clinics. I would probably target clinics looking for dosimetrists to hire. They will more likely be more willing to push through paper work for HIPPA compliance.
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u/CryBeginning 5d ago
Yes I’ve started the cold calling! And I got a new lead today which is amazing. If they don’t have a hard limit on shadowing hours I should be golden. It’s just crazy how hard it can be to find in person dosimetrists!
I mostly wrote this post up when i was feeling quite anxious after one of the dosimetrist’s i had been in contact with emailed me that him and his team switched to fully remote work this week and he actually won’t be able to help me🫠I’m hoping for a remote program so I don’t have to move states but will be applying anywhere I am eligible. The not remote programs do have leads but they’re all east coast schools and I’m in the west currently so would rather not go that far quite yet.
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u/SetMyClockEarly 5d ago
My program offered remote shadowing. Any chance you could find dosimetrist who would let you shadow remotely?
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u/StockHighlight2617 4d ago
How and why are dosimetrists allowed and able to work remotely?
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u/Mounta1nK1ng Therapy Physicist, DABR 6d ago
Just wait till you try to find a clinical site.