1. Did you always know you wanted to work in the medical field?
I’ve always been interested in the medical field – science was my favorite subject in school, and when a childhood friend passed away from cancer, it made me want to help fight cancer and make a difference. An internet search led me to a health professions program in Houston, Texas, that focused on physics and anatomy (two of my favorite subjects). Once I read about all the career pathways they offered, I found myself drawn to medical dosimetry.
2. If you could tell prospective patients one thing about proton therapy, what would it be?
Proton beams can be targeted so that the highest energy of the beam is deposited at the tumor site to kill cancer cells. Due to the nature of the proton particle – known as Bragg peak – proton therapy will not have any exit dose past the tumor. This helps prevent the dose from spilling into the normal tissue near the target! I encourage prospective patients to do their research about proton therapy, talk to their physician/care team, and advocate for themselves.
3. What is your day-to-day role like working at Texas Center for Proton Therapy?
Once a patient is
simulated, a dosimetrist will sign up to work on that patient’s plan. We import the CT scan and any additional imaging (requested by the physician) into our treatment planning software and work on creating a plan for the patient in our software. After we create the best possible treatment plan given the anatomy and tumor location, we share the treatment plan with the medical physicists, get their stamp of approval, and then with a radiation oncologist, who reviews and signs off on the plan. We may not get to interact with the patients face-to-face, but I promise we are working hard behind the scenes for them.
4. What drew you to medical dosimetry?
Dosimetry is a hidden jewel in the field of medicine! Medical dosimetrists work together with medical physicists, radiation oncologists, and radiation therapists to create custom treatment plans for every patient and help ensure that radiation treatment plans are carried out correctly. Once joining the health professions program, I found out how much more I loved the subject. It requires you to be detail oriented and efficient whenever creating treatment plans. I jokingly say that medical dosimetry was made for me, but I really am so passionate about this field and so glad I found it!
5. What has been the most impactful thing about working in the field of medicine?
Being able to help people and make a positive impact – it’s an honor to serve our patients. My heart is with each family that must go through this journey.
6. What do you like to do in your free time outside work?
Most free time nowadays is chauffeuring my kids to their multiple extracurricular activities, but I like to have a night out sometimes! I love going out for a nice dinner with my husband or watching the newest Bachelor installment with my besties. I like to indoor cycle on my Peloton and enjoy traveling (still trying to make it to Las Vegas and Hawaii)!
7. Where is your favorite place you’ve ever visited?
I am not sure if it was my favorite place or if it was one of my favorite times, but my favorite place has been going to Boca Raton, Florida, to get married to my college sweetheart, followed by going to Nassau, Bahamas, for our honeymoon.