Radiation Therapy Program (Minnesota)
Program description
Mayo School of Health Sciences at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., offers a 12-month Radiation Therapy Program. The one-year Radiation Therapy Program provides the high-quality didactic and clinical experiences needed to create a well-rounded and competent entry-level radiation therapist.
The Radiation Therapy Program integrates new treatment procedures, such as image guidance radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and radiosurgery, with well-established conventional treatments. You will learn about the most advanced delivery tools and techniques.
The Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic treats approximately 2,500 patients each year. Of those, 1,800 are new patients. This large medical practice allows you to gain experience with many tumor types and treatment techniques.
Mission statement
The mission of the Radiation Therapy Program is to educate and prepare students through high-quality academic and clinical experiences to become competent certified radiation therapists who provide outstanding care to all patients.
The mission of the Radiation Therapy Program derives from Mayo Clinic's standing as one of the leading international health care organizations and its existence as a prominent top-ranking radiation oncology department.
Program goals
To uphold its mission, the Radiation Therapy Program holds the following goals and learning outcomes:
Students will provide clinically competent care to patients.
Learning outcomes:
- Students will position patient and linear accelerator for treatment according to setup instructions.
- Students will activate linear accelerator to deliver prescribed dose.
- Students will construct appropriate positioning devices and position patients for simulation.
- Students will operate CT simulator and obtain appropriate CT images for planning.
Students will demonstrate critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Learning outcomes:
- Students will recognize discrepancies in patient setup.
- Students will analyze pre-treatment images and adjust as necessary.
- Students will independently create and develop a treatment plan.
Students will display effective communication skills.
Learning outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate effective oral communication skills.
- Students will demonstrate written communication skills.
Students will demonstrate professional work standards.
Learning outcomes:
- Students will exhibit professional attitudes and behaviors.
- Students will summarize importance of professional development and growth.
The program will meet the needs of its students and the health care organizations it serves.
Learning outcomes:
- Students will successfully complete the program.
- Graduates will pass the board exam on the first attempt.
- Graduates will become employed within six months of graduation.
- Graduates will be satisfied with the program and education received (overall job knowledge and overall satisfaction).
- Employers will be satisfied with the quality of our graduates (overall knowledge and overall satisfaction).
- Students will understand the responsibilities of all health care workers to contribute to the health and welfare of society.
Gainful employment disclosure report
The Department of Education requires disclosure of student debt and employment information to assist students in making informed decisions prior to enrolling in this education program.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a commission member of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program effectiveness data
| Year |
Program completion rate |
Board exam pass rate (1st attempt) |
5-year average board exam pass rate |
Job placement rate within 6 months of graduation |
5-year average job placement rate within 6 months of graduation |
| 2010 |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
96.7% |
| 2011 |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
96.7% |
| 2012 |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
96.7% |
Program effectiveness data is also available through the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Facilities
Mayo Clinic's Department of Radiation Oncology has exceptional patient care facilities with advanced therapy equipment, which includes linear accelerators with dual asymmetric jaws, multileaf collimators, KV imagers with cone beam CT capabilities, electronic portal imaging, View Station and ARIA treatment verification software.
The Rochester, Minn., facility includes six linear accelerators, three CT simulators, one fluoroscopic simulator, an integrated brachytherapy unit, a hyperthermia unit, a dedicated linear accelerator intraoperative therapy suite, a Leksell Gamma Knife, and Eclipse 3-D and IMRT-capable planning systems.
The Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester, Minn., includes an extensive outpatient complex, Saint Marys Hospital, Rochester Methodist Hospital, and substantial research and education facilities.
This Mayo Clinic site is among the largest, most advanced medical centers in the world.
Graduation and certification
To successfully complete the program, you must meet these requirements:
- A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale
- Successful completion of didactic course work and all clinical competencies
- Be in good standing with all program policies
Upon successful completion of the Radiation Therapy Program, you will receive a certificate of completion from Mayo School of Health Sciences.
Graduates may apply to take the national registry examination administered by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Hours
For the majority of the program, your learning schedule will include eight-hour days, five days a week. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
During the last six months of the program, you will participate in morning quality-assurance procedures on the linear accelerators and simulator one day a week. The scheduled hours on this day will be 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Class size
Each year, Mayo School of Health Sciences admits five to eight students to its Radiation Therapy Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. This ensures you will receive a comprehensive educational experience with one-on-one instruction.
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