Radiation Therapy
Manhattan College offers a Bachelor of Science degree and a Certificate Program providing training in the field of Radiation Therapy.
Radiation Therapy is a commonly used medical specialty employed in hospitals to help cure cancer in some patients or ease the pain of cancer in others. High technology equipment delivers radiation to destroy cancer cells.
A radiation therapist works with radiation oncologists (doctors), physicists, dosimetrists and others, as part of a medical team delivering the appropriate radiation (X-rays, gamma rays, electron beams, brachytherapy, etc.) to cancer patients. Their duties include preparing the patient and equipment for the delivery of the radiation, keeping accurate records of the treatment of each patient, observing radiation safety and protection procedures, involvement with treatment planning, which includes the exact location of the tumor and the optimal technique for treatment, and assisting in the computer planning of the specific treatment plan. Patient support is an integral aspect of a radiation therapy technologist's duties. The technologist must help alleviate the patient's fears, anxieties and distress about their cancer and treatment, and often work closely with nurses and social workers to minimize the emotional impact. Since many treatments are required over a period of 4 to 6 weeks the technologist develops a close rapport with his/her patient.
Radiation Therapy is an exciting, dynamic field, which has grown over the past few years. There is a tremendous demand for radiation therapy technologists. It is estimated this demand will continue at an increasing rate over the next 10 years as the baby-boom generation enters retirement. Therefore, there is, and will continue to be a need for this type of highly skilled and qualified personnel. It is a very stimulating, rewarding and satisfying profession.
Salaries in this field are excellent! Enty-level radiation therapy technologists can expect to earn at least $55,00 to $70,000 a year. Graduates of the program are initially employed as staff technologists in departments of radiation therapy in hospitals or private radiological offices.
The Radiation Therapy program at Manhattan College is affiliated with 9 hospitals in the New York City Metropolitan area including:
- Advanced Radiation Oncology Services of Rockland, PC
- Beth Israel Medical Center
- Columbia Presbyterian-East Side
- East Side Radiation Oncology, NYC, NY
- Good Samaritan Hospital
- Mary Immaculate Hospital Cancer Center
- Montefiore Medical Center
- Mount Sinai Medical Center
- New York Presbyterian-Columbia Medical Center
- St. Vincent's Comprehensive Care Center
- Westchester Medical Center.
Students enrolled in the program take 16 credits of Clinical Internship courses, amounting to about 275 days in a radiation therapy department of one of these hospitals. It is during the internship courses that the student receives hands-on experience and achieves competency as a radiation therapist.
The Bachelor of Science degree includes a 21 credit Health Care Administration concentration. This concentration has been designed to expand the role and provide a career ladder for radiation therapy technologists into radiological department administration, sales, or technical representation in the radiation therapy industry.
The Bachelor of Science degree also supplies graduates with the potential to enter graduate programs in hospital administration, public administration, business administration or public health.
The Certificate Program, which is twenty-seven months in length, is an option for students who already possess a Bachelor's degree and have completed the following prerequisite courses: English 6 Credits, Computer Science 3 Credits, Human Anatomy and Physiology 6 Credits, Pre-Calculus 3 Credits, Chemistry 3 Credits, Statistics 3 Credits, Physics 8 Credits.
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