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Accredited Clinical Schools

School of Radiation Therapy

The Northwestern Memorial School of Radiation Therapy prepares students for the clinical, theoretical, technical and psychological aspects of a career in Radiation Therapy. The 14-month training begins in July and is limited to five to eight students per year.

This is a full-time program; students are expected to be here from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Students will be off six regular holidays per year:

  • New Year's Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas

The program begins in early-mid July and ends the last week of August of the following year.

Learning how to deliver compassionate and quality patient care is emphasized. In Northwestern Memorial's state-of-the-art facility, students are taught with the most advanced technological and diagnostic equipment available, including:

  • Varian Trilogy treatment unit
  • Elekta linear accelerators with multi-leaf collimators and IMRT
  • Elekta Simulator
  • Philips CT Simulator
  • BSD Hyperthermia Unit
  • Nucletron High Dose Rate Unit
  • Elekta Gamma Knife
  • Treatment Planning Units (Nucletron Plato and Phillips ADAC)
  • IMPAC electronic chart management system
  • AXESSE

Our experienced instructional staff includes:

  • Board-certified Radiation Oncologists
  • Resident Physicians
  • ARRT registered Radiation Therapists
  • Medical Physicists
  • Medical Dosimetrists
  • Registered Nurses
  • Administrative and support staff

Hospital Mission Statement

Northwestern Memorial Hospital, our sponsor institution, has a guiding philosophy of being a regional hospital of choice that is recognized as having the most satisfied patients, best possible clinical quality and outcomes, and the best physicians and staff. We constantly strive to improve the quality of the care in our community. Core values that are allowing us to achieve these goals, and support the mission of the NMSRT are:

  • Integrity
    We adhere to an uncompromising code of ethics that emphasizes complete honesty and sincerity. Through our words and actions, we earn the complete trust of our patients and their families, our community, and our coworkers. We do the right thing.

  • Patients First
    We put the patient first in all we do. Caring for the individual patient and his or her family is the heart of our mission and our philosophy.

  • Excellence
    We continuously strive for excellence. We are always learning and improving our skills, programs and services.

  • Teamwork
    We achieve our mission and goals through the collective and coordinated efforts of our staff. We use our diverse talents, backgrounds, ideas and experiences to benefit patients and create solutions. We value team success over personal success.

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the School of Radiation Therapy is to graduate healthcare professionals who are competent radiation therapists through quality academic and clinical experiences.

Program Goals

In order to fulfill our mission, we have adapted the following goals:

  • Students will obtain a clinically and didactically relevant education in order to meet entry-level expectations.

    • Students will possess the necessary technical skills.

  • Students will demonstrate effective communication skills in order to function effectively as entry-level radiation therapists.

    • Students will demonstrate effective written communication skills.
    • Students will demonstrate effective oral communication skills.

  • Students will develop problem solving and critical thinking skills in order to function effectively as entry level radiation therapists.

    • Students will analyze patient setup for accuracy.
    • Students/graduates will demonstrate problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

  • Students will understand the importance of professional development.

    • Students will demonstrate awareness of continuing education requirements and professional organizations.
    • Students will develop a career plan for five years post-graduation.
    • Students will assess the importance of professionalism.
    • Students will demonstrate professional ethics and integrity in the clinical environment.

  • The program will provide the community and healthcare organizations with entry-level radiation therapists.

    • Graduates will pass the ARRT national certification examination on the first attempt.
    • Graduates seeking employment in radiation therapy will be employed within 6 months of graduation. 
    • Students will complete the program in 14 months.
    • Program will graduate qualified entry level radiation therapists.
The Radiation Therapy program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Radiologic Technology. 

 

They are located at:
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606
312-704-5300 

Outcome Data – Student Graduation Rate

Class

Students
Accepted

 Students
Graduated		 Graduation
Rate
2004 5 3 60%
2005 6 6 100%
2006 7 5 71.4%
2007 8 7 87.5%
2008 5 4 80%
2009 7 5 85.7%
2010 5 4 80%
2011 5 4 80%
2012 5 4 80%

 Outcome Data – ARRT Certification Pass Rates

Class
 Students Took Registry  Students Passed Registry % Pass Rate on 1st Attempt % Pass Rate on 2nd Attempt
2004 2 2 100  
2005 6 6 83 100
2006 5 5 100  
2007 6 6 100  
2008 4 4 100  
2009 6 6 100  
2010 4 4 100  
2011 4 4 100  
2012 4 4 100  

Contact

School of Radiation Therapy
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Galter LC 178
251 East Huron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312-926-6609

 
Last UpdateNovember 12, 2012
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