Meet the Team

At Joliet Radiation Oncology there are many people involved in planning and executing your radiation treatments. We would like to take this opportunity to let you know what roll everyone will play in your care.

Radiation Oncologist

The Radiation Oncologist is the doctor who will oversee your care while undergoing radiation treatments. After reviewing all your records and tests, the radiation oncologist will determine what type of radiation is needed and how many treatments you will receive. The radiation oncologist works closely with your referring physician and will discuss your case with him or her, whether he or she is located locally or at a University Hospital. The radiation oncologist is an MD licensed as a physician and surgeon in Illinois. Our radiation oncologists have completed five years of residency in Radiation Oncology and are board-certified by the American Board of Radiology in the field of Radiation Oncology.

Medical Radiation Physicist

Medical Physicists work directly with the radiation oncologist in the treatment planning and delivery. They oversee the work of the dosimetrist and help ensure that complex treatments are properly tailored for each patient. They are responsible for making sure the equipment works properly and do safety and quality assurance checks on a regular basis. The medical physicists have doctorate or master's degrees. They have completed four years of college followed by two to four years of graduate school. They are certified by the American Board of Radiology or the American Board of Medical Physics.

Medical Dosimetrist

The dosimetrist is responsible for calculating the prescribed dose of radiation the patient receives during treatment. Working under the direction of the radiation oncologist and medical physicist, the dosimetrist selects the best plan that will deliver the prescribed radiation dose while sparing normal surrounding tissues. This plan is then reviewed with the radiation oncologist before treatment begins. Many dosimetrists start as radiation therapists, then, with very intensive training, become dosimetrists. Some are graduates of a one-to-two-year dosimetry program. The Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board certifies dosimetrists.

Radiation Therapist

The radiation therapist delivers daily radiation treatment under the doctor's prescription and supervision. They maintain daily records and do daily checks of the treatment machine to ensure it is working properly. Radiation therapists go through a two-to-four year educational program following high school or college. They must pass a special examination and must be board-certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and in Illinois must be licensed through IEMA- Illinois Division of Nuclear Safety.