Vanderbilt Center for Radiation Oncology
Radiation Therapy Program General Information
- Program Officials & Faculty
- Program Sponsorship
- Program Hours
- Pre-requisite Curriculum
- Program Cost
- Admissions Committee Description
- Advisory Committee Description
- Clinical Department Personnel
- Curriculum Review Committee Description
Program Officials & Faculty
| Program Director | April Tingler, B.S., R.T., (R), (T) |
| Program Clinical Coordinator | Michele Potter, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) |
| Educational Coordinator | Amanda Webb |
| Clinical Education Supervisor - Vanderbilt Center for Radiation Oncology | Rifka Williams, A.S., R.T., (R), (M), (T) |
| Clinical Education Supervisor - Maury Regional Hospital | Warren Davis, R.T., (R), (T) |
| Clinical Education Supervisor - Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center at Franklin | Jackie Midkiff R.T., (R) (T) |
| Gateway Vanderbilt Cancer Treatment Center | Sharman Johnson, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) |
| Medical Director | Dennis Hallahan, M.D. |
| Didactic Instructors |
April Tingler BSRT, (R) (T) Michele Potter, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Dennis Hallahan, M.D. Charles Coffey, Ph.D. - chief physicist Curtis McAvoy Arnold Malcolm, MD Bapsi Chak, M.D. Ben Welch III, B.A., RT(R)(T) Rifka Williams, A.S., R.T., (R), (M), (T) Guest Speakers - Physicians - Resident Physicians - Registered Nurses - Registered Dietitian - Billing Coordinator - Department Administrator |
| Clinical Instructors | |
| Vanderbilt Center for Radiation Oncology |
Michael Frensley, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Dustin Jordan, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Gary Malugin, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Zachary McAllister, B.S., R.T., (T) Christopher Stewart, B.S., R.T., (R), (T) Holly Tapp, B.S., R.T., (R), (T) Ben Welch, B.A., R.T., (R), (T) Rifka Williams, A.S., R.T., (R), (M), (T) Leigh Wynans, R.T., (R), (T) Samantha Schultz - B.S., R.T., (R), (T) Reisha Willis R.T., (R), (T) Veronica Stewart R.T., (R), (T) |
| Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center at Franklin |
Clarissa Clauss, A.S., RT(R)(T) Joshua Nicholson R.T., (R), (T) Jackie Midkiff, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Jill Pabst, R.T., (R), (T) |
| Gateway Vanderbilt Cancer Treatment Center |
Sharman Johnson, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Stephanie Phillips, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Donna Valance R.T. (R), (T) |
| Maury Regional Hospital |
Jana Andrews, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Warren Davis, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Steve McGee, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Cindy Potts, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Shelby Steele, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) Jeremy Winningham, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) E. Sue Hodge, A.S., R.T., (R), (T), C.M.D. - dosimetrist David Thomas, A.S., R.T., (R), (T), C.M.D. - dosimetrist, clinic manager Laura Butler - M.S. - medical physicist |
Program Sponsorship
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
The Vanderbilt Center for Radiation Oncology sponsors the Radiation Therapy Program by providing the following:
- Personnel Resources
- Program Director
- Clinical Coordinator
- Educational Coordinator
- Didactic Instructors - Radiation Therapists, Physicians, Physicists, Nurses, Radiobiologists
- Physical/Building Resources
- Didactic Classroom - including audio/visual equipment
- Clinical Education Settings
- Each Clinical Education Setting provides a Clinical Education Supervisor as well as an adequate number of clinical instructors to ensure a one to one therapist to student ratio.
In addition, the following physical resources are provided.
- Vanderbilt Center for Radiation Oncology
- Four linear accelerators, one simulator, one CT scanner, nursing station, dosimetry lab, mold room
- Maury Regional Hospital Cancer Center
- Two linear accelerators, one simulator, nursing station, dosimetry lab, mold room
- Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center at Franklin
- One linear accelerator, one CT simulator, nursing station, dosimetry lab, mold room
- Gateway Vanderbilt Cancer Treatment Center
- One linear accelerator, one CT simulator, nursing station, dosimetry lab, mold room
Program Hours
The Vanderbilt Center for Radiation Oncology offers a twelve month Radiation Therapy Training Program beginning the last Monday in August and finishing mid of August of the following year.
Students will be in class or clinical Monday through Friday for no more than 40 hours per week.
The didactic (classroom) component consists of over 450 hours per year.
Along with faculty who are radiation therapists, physicists, nurses, & dosimetrists, students have the opportunity to attend presentations by guest speakers from many disciplines.
Clinical hours comprise the remaining hours (approximately 1450 hours).
Pre-requisite Curriculum
Two avenues to fulfill the prerequisite:
- Graduation from an accredited program in Radiography
- Completion of the Pre-Radiation Therapy curriculum at Program affiliate, Middle Tennessee State University
| Radiography Curriculum Components | |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology | 6 hours |
| English | 3 hours |
| Algebra / College Math | 3 hours |
| Precalculus | 3 hours |
| Social Science | 3 hours |
| Radiographic Principles | 9 hours |
| Clinical/Practicum | 30 hours |
| Radiation Physics | 3 hours |
| Radiation Safety | 3 hours |
| Radiobiology | 3 hours |
| Pathophysiology | 3 hours |
| Computer Applications | 3 hours |
| The Middle Tennessee State University Curriculum includes the following: | |
| Biology | 8 hours |
| English | 6 hours |
| Composition | 3 hours |
| College Algebra/Trig (Pre-Calculus included) | 4 hours each |
| Physics | 13 hours |
| Physics Special Topics | 3 hours |
| Anatomy & Physiology | 6 hours |
| History | 6 hours |
| Statistics | 3 hours |
| Chemistry | 3 hours |
| Microbiology | 3 hours |
| Pathophysiology | 3 hours |
| Computer Science | 3 hours |
| Psychology | 3 hours |
| Completion of a Certified Nursing Assistant Course | |
| Imaging Workshop | 10 hours |
Program Cost
Tuition
Tuition for each academic year of the Program in Radiation Therapy is $5,000.00, and it is payable in full by the first day of class. Cashiers checks or money orders should be made payable to Vanderbilt Center for Radiation Oncology.
Financial Aid
Federally funded Pell grants and guaranteed student loans (Stafford subsidized, unsubsidized, PLUS and GradPLUS) are available to eligible students. Monies are not available until after approximately 60 days of enrollment, so living expense funds need be available during that time. No tuition is required for eligible financial aid students until financial aid is available. Early application for financial aid is highly recommended at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For more information about federal financial aid available at VUMC Programs in Allied Health, please see www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/alliedhealth and click on “Financial Aid”.
Activity Fee
Each student is responsible for a lab and activities fee of $500.00. This covers the cost of materials purchased for labs and expenses associated with additional activities.
Background Check Fee
All students applying to a program in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Programs in Allied Health are required to undergo a background check. The cost is $62.50 per background check. The background checks may be conducted after the student’s conditional acceptance into the program, but no earlier than 6 months prior to the beginning date of the program. Failure to “pass” the background check will result in the student being denied final acceptance to the program. A student may provide a copy of a previously completed background check if that background check will be valid at the time of entrance into the program (no older than 6 months). Revised April 2006
All fees are due by the first day of class for the academic year. If a student has documented that he/she was granted financial aid funds to be disbursed after the deadline, the student must pay in full the unpaid course fee balance within two days of financial aid check receipt.
If the entire amount of the course fee is not paid by the deadline stated, the student will be removed from the program for non-payment of course fees. Refund of the course fee would be calculated at a prorated amount. In this event, the student may petition the Admissions Committee for re-enrollment consideration the following academic year. The entire course fee would have to be paid in full prior to the start of resumed education.
Candidates accepted into the Program who have paid the course fee but decide to withdraw from the program prior to the start date will receive a full refund, less the $500.00, non-refundable, deposit and $62.50 background check fee.
Refund Policy
Students who officially withdraw from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Programs in Allied Health as stipulated in the WITHDRAWAL section may be entitled to a refund of a portion of the tuition charges paid by them. The refund policy for the Programs in Allied Health is determined as follows:
Up through the 60% point in the first payment period of each academic year (first payment period being from the first day of enrollment to the midway point of the academic year), a pro rata schedule (number of days enrolled divided by the number of days in the program’s first payment period of the academic year) is used to determine the amount of tuition the student is responsible for at the time of withdrawal. AFTER the 60% point in the first payment period of each academic year, a student is responsible for 100% of the program’s tuition costs for that academic year.
For all of our Programs in Allied Health, if a credit balance exists after student account charges are reduced in accordance with the individual refund policy stated above and after financial aid credits (if any) are reduced pro-rata as described in the following paragraph, students who withdraw are eligible to receive a refund, payable by check, within 30 days after the date of withdrawal.
When a financial aid recipient qualifies for a reduction of charges in accordance with the program's official refund policy, due to early withdrawal, need-based financial aid awarded or already credited to the student's account will be reduced or, in some cases, withdrawn. When financial aid is reduced, the student's account will be debited and the recovered aid funds will be reverted to the appropriate Allied Health Program fund accounts. Revised February 7, 2007
Admissions Committee Description
This multidisciplinary group of Allied Health professionals is charged with implementing and developing admissions criteria and selecting students for the Radiation Therapy Program.
Duties and Responsibilities
- To facilitate the continuing development of the Program's admissions criteria.
- Develop and revise standardized interviewing questions and candidate evaluation forms
- Conduct applicant interviews.
- Evaluate applicants' records and interview performance.
- Recommend students for acceptance into the Radiation Therapy Program.
Qualifications
- Interested in education and the field of Radiation Therapy.
- Be willing to fully participate in quarterly meetings from January through July.
Term
The members of this committee are appointed by the Program Director. Members are appointed on a yearly basis.
Admissions Committee Members 2004-2005
- April Tingler, B.S., R.T., (R), (T) - Program Director
- Patricia Thompson, A.S., R.T., (R), (T), C.M.D. - Medical Dosimetrist
- Michele Potter, A.S., R.T.(R), (T) - Program Clinical Coordinator
- Rifka Williams, A.S., R.T., (R), (M), (T) - Clinical Education Supervisor Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Karen Munyon, M.S., R.T., (R), (T) - Clinic Manager Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center at Franklin
- Sharman Johnson , R.T., (R), (T) - Clinical Education Supervisor, Gateway Vanderbilt Cancer Treatment Center
Admissions Committee Members 2005-2008
- April Tingler, B.S., R.T., (R), (T) - Program Director
- Karen Munyon, M.S., R.T., (R), (T) - Clinic Manager Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center at Franklin
- Sharman Johnson , R.T., (R), (T) - Clinical Education Supervisor, Gateway Vanderbilt Cancer Treatment Center
- Michele Potter, A.S., R.T.(R), (T) - Program Clinical Coordinator
- Stephanie Phillips, A.S., RT(R)(T) - Clinical Instructor - Gateway
- David Thomas, RT(R)(T), CMD - Clinical Education Supervisor – MRHS
- Patricia Thompson, A.S., R.T., (R), (T), C.M.D. - Medical Dosimetrist
- Rifka Williams, A.S., R.T., (R), (M), (T) - Clinical Education Supervisor Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Arnold Malcolm, M.D. - Medical Advisor
Advisory Committee Description
This multidisciplinary group of professionals meets and acts in an advisory capacity to the Radiation Therapy Program.
Duties and Responsibilities
- To facilitate the continuing development of the program.
- To work in conjunction with the program staff to assure that program goals and objectives are met.
- To periodically review curriculum content.
- To serve as a review and hearing board for program related concerns.
- To perform final review of program related accreditation documents.
- Annually, and as needed, review Program Master Plan, including Mission Statement, Goals, and Program Policies.
Qualifications
- Interested in education and the field of Radiation Oncology.
- Willing to fully participate in quarterly meetings.
Term
- The Program Director appoints the members of this committee each year. Members may be re-appointed.
Advisory Committee Members 2004-2005
- April Tingler, B.S., R.T., (R), (T), - Program Director
- Dennis Hallahan, M.D. - Medical Advisor
- Jack Nyiri - Department Administrator
- Patricia Thompson, A.S., R.T., (R), (T), C.M.D. - Medical Dosimetrist
- Michele Potter, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) - Program Clinical Coordinator
- Rifka Williams, R.T., (R), (M), (T) - Clinical Supervisor, Vanderbilt Center for Radiation Oncology
- To Be Named - Student Representative
- Grievance Arbitrator James Kendall - VUMC Employee Assistance Program Manager
Advisory Committee Members 2005-2008
- April Tingler, B.S., R.T., (R), (T), - Program Director
- Warren Davis, R.T., (R), (T) - Clinical Education Supervisor, Maury Regional Hospital
- Dennis Hallahan, M.D. - Medical Advisor
- Jackie Midkiff, A.S.RT(R)(T) - Clinical Education Supervisor – VICCAF
- Sharman Johnson , R.T., (R), (T) - Clinical Education Supervisor, Gateway Vanderbilt Cancer Treatment Center
- Jack Nyiri - Department Administrator
- Michele Potter, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) - Program Clinical Coordinator
- Patricia Thompson, A.S., R.T., (R), (T), C.M.D. - Medical Dosimetrist
- Rifka Williams, R.T., (R), (M), (T) - Clinical Supervisor, Vanderbilt Center for Radiation Oncology
- Chosen Student - Student Representative
- James Kendall - VUMC Employee Assistance Program Manager
- Martha Cortner - Contracts Specialist, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Manager
Clinical Department Personnel
- Clinical Education Supervisor - A Clinical Education Supervisor is responsible for the orientation, rotation scheduling, attendance, and performance evaluation process. The Supervisor is a member of the three Program Committees.
- Clinical Instructors - The students will be assigned to different areas within the clinical setting and will interact with staff therapists, nurses, physicists, and other professional in the department. These health care professionals will act as clinical instructors in addition to their specific roles within the department. The student shall perform assigned tasks to the best of his/her ability according to the instructions received. Clinical instructors will evaluate the student on a regular basis.
- Patients - The patients are the focus of all department and educational activities. They deserve the highest respect and consideration at all times. The student shall maintain a warm, friendly approach towards patients.
- Program Clinical Coordinator - The Program Clinical Coordinator is responsible for providing the clinical schedule per rotation for each student, including warm-up and nursing/dosimetry schedules. The Clinical Coordinator is also responsible for overall coordination and quality of the clinical education process. The Supervisor works with the Coordinator and Program Director to develop policies and make decisions regarding current matters of concern.
- Program Director - The Radiation Therapy Program Director is the Program Administrator for the Radiation Therapy training program. This person functions in a supervisory role for clinical and didactic instructors at the Vanderbilt Center for Radiation Oncology and all affiliated Clinical Education Settings. The Program Director must possess a thorough understanding of the rationale for radiation therapy as well as skills in patient assessment, interpersonal communication and instruction techniques.
- Program Educational Coordinator - The Program Education Coordinator is responsible for making changes to and maintaining program documents, coordination of program meetings, and aiding in the application process,. The Education Coordinator works along with the Program Director and Clinical Coordinator to coordinate program activities for educational purposes and sets up classroom schedules for didactic portion of the program.
- Radiation Oncologist - The Radiation Oncologist is a physician who has specialized in the utilization of radiation for the care of cancer patients. It is the radiation oncologist who is ultimately responsible for the care of the patient undergoing treatments. It is the responsibility of the student and staff therapists to carry out his/her directions carefully and to assist in the general care of the patient.
- Other Departmental Staff - Students will also be in contact with other professionals, administrators, clerical, and auxiliary staff. All these persons are vital to the quality and efficiency of a department. Students shall cooperate with them at all times on patient related matters.
Curriculum Review Committee Description
This multidisciplinary group of Allied Health professionals is charged with development and review of the didactic and clinical curriculum for the Radiation Therapy Program.
Duties and Responsibilities
- To Facilitate The Continuing Development of the program's didactic and clinical curriculum.
- Develop and revise course and instructor evaluation tools on a periodic basis to assure the best possible information for curriculum review.
- Review course and instructor evaluations and make recommendations as necessary.
- Evaluate any addition, deletion, or change in course and curriculum content.
- Develop a means of utilizing the information provided through the use of the evaluative tools to assure program growth and functional self and outcome assessments.
Qualifications
- Interested in education and the field of Radiation Therapy.
- Be willing to fully participate in regularly scheduled meetings.
- Currently active in Radiation Therapy Program operations.
Term
- The members of this committee are appointed by the Program Director. Members are appointed/re-appointed on a yearly basis.
Curriculum Review Committee Members 2004-2008
- April Tingler, B.S., R.T., (R), (T), - Program Director
- Laura Butler, M.S. - Physicist – Maury Regional
- Michele Potter, A.S., R.T., (R), (T) - Program Clinical Coordinator
- Patricia Thompson, R.T., (R), (T), C.M.D. - Medical Dosimetrist- Program Physics Liaison
- Ben Welch, III, B.A., R.T., (R), (T) - Clinical Instructor
- Rifka Williams, A.S., R.T., (R), (M), (T) - Clinical Education Supervisor, Vanderbilt
- Sharman Johnson , R.T., (R), (T) - Clinical Education Supervisor, Gateway Vanderbilt Cancer Treatment Center
- Jackie Midkiff, A.S. RT(R)(T) - Clinical Education Supervisor – VICCAF
- Chosen student - Student Representative
