DOS 541: Radiobiology for Medical Dosimetry
Course description
This course covers in depth the biological effects of ionizing radiation on the body. It discusses the various types of radiation and how they interact with the human body in general. The course also covers the effects of radiation at a cellular level, particularly how each type of cell in the body and various bodily systems will react when exposed to certain levels of ionizing radiation.
Assessment
Students were guided by weekly lectures, reading materials and discussion prompts. Beginning each week with new material, students would have a discussion based on the topic and their knowledge of the topic would be assessed with a quiz.
Course discussions
Every week was lead with a thought-provoking, lecture related discussion topic to reflect on and post a response accompanied by peer-reviewed journal articles that support the student’s thoughts and ideas. Below are my discussion posts and their topics:
Week 1: Course Expectations
Week 2: Article Interpretation
Week 3: QUANTEC
Self reflection
At the end of each class students are asked to reflect on the class and how it affected their education and growth.
The new knowledge and skills I gained during this course was a little of a refresher from radiation therapy school with a more in depth look at how radiation reacts with the various cells of the body. How different types of radiation will affect the body differently and different types of cells will be affected differently by the same type of radiation.
The new knowledge and skills will benefit me by having a better understanding of how the organs and tissues in the path of the beam I am placing will react so that I can better chose beam angles that will not pass through more radiosensitive organs if not necessary.
I struggle with all the abbreviations. Everything in radiation oncology seems to be chopped down into 2-3 letters and sometimes, I just cannot keep up and I have to stop and really think about what I am working on and what those letters should mean.
I feel pretty good about the effects of radiation to the whole body and to the various systems of the body and the consequences that can arise post radiation exposure.
Other reflective thoughts- This course is a little different than most of our courses so far. It picks apart the body at the cellular level and really explains what is happening to the body when it comes into contact with ionizing radiation. I found it to be a very interesting class