Academic Courses > DOS 543
DOS 543 - Seminar in Medical Dosimetry
Course Description
This class was both a grand review and a chance to dive a bit deeper into radiobiology topics. The review process took the form of three mock CMD board exams. We had two chances at every mock exam; one with no preparation, and once again after studying our wrong answers to find out where we still have weaknesses and blind spots. There were only two discussion topics.
Assessment
I was thrilled that a class like this was part of the curriculum. Over the last few months, I have been wondering about how much of the early material I may have already forgotten, and this class was the perfect way to highlight exactly what I still remember and what cobwebs I need to brush off.The discussion posts were also quite interesting. I learned more about time dose fractionation and the effects of changing the pace of irradiation. Working through the math also helped to demystify α/β ratios a bit more. They still seem a bit arbitrary to me, but I now have a better sense of why they are useful as prediction tools. The other topic was biologically based treatment planning, in which the response of tissues to dose is considered in the optimization and not just the physical dose distribution. I found this topic to be quite fascinating.
Discussions
Reflections
At the conclusion of each course, students are asked to reflect on what they have learned about the material and about themselves. The reflection is guided by five questions:
The new knowledge and skills I gained during this course were...
This class was primarily a review class, but it did provide a chance to delve further into radiobiology topics with discussions on time dose fractionation and biologically-based treatment planning systems. Perhaps the most valuable thing I learned was what material I have had trouble retaining over the course of this 18 month program.
The new knowledge and skills will benefit me by...
Knowledge of the gaps in my memory will help me prepare for board exams better. Even better, the mock exams that we took can be taken again and again over the coming months to make sure that I still remember everything over the next 8 months.
I struggle with...
Apparently I have forgotten quite a bit of what I knew about nuclear medicine tracers, manual brachytherapy calculations, and the calculations used for converting exposure in air to dose in tissue.
I feel pretty good about...
I feel like there is a very good chance that I will pass my board exams on my first try. On all three mock exams, I received a passing score without any preparation.
Other reflective thoughts...
This was an extremely valuable class. The mock exams have helped me realize that a four hour exam is not something that should inspire panic. I know this material, and I just need to sit down and get it done.
The new knowledge and skills I gained during this course were...
This class was primarily a review class, but it did provide a chance to delve further into radiobiology topics with discussions on time dose fractionation and biologically-based treatment planning systems. Perhaps the most valuable thing I learned was what material I have had trouble retaining over the course of this 18 month program.
The new knowledge and skills will benefit me by...
Knowledge of the gaps in my memory will help me prepare for board exams better. Even better, the mock exams that we took can be taken again and again over the coming months to make sure that I still remember everything over the next 8 months.
I struggle with...
Apparently I have forgotten quite a bit of what I knew about nuclear medicine tracers, manual brachytherapy calculations, and the calculations used for converting exposure in air to dose in tissue.
I feel pretty good about...
I feel like there is a very good chance that I will pass my board exams on my first try. On all three mock exams, I received a passing score without any preparation.
Other reflective thoughts...
This was an extremely valuable class. The mock exams have helped me realize that a four hour exam is not something that should inspire panic. I know this material, and I just need to sit down and get it done.
Academic Courses > DOS 543
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Published December 6, 2015
Fourth Semester, 12 Months into Internship |