Radiation Therapist

A Radiation Therapist is an experienced, degree-qualified professional who takes on a more advanced role in the radiation therapy team. While they may still be involved in delivering treatment, their work goes beyond operating the machine. They play an active part in planning how the radiation is delivered, calculating doses, and making sure the entire treatment course runs safely and accurately for each patient.

They also guide and supervise junior technologists and students, making them an important link between the technical and clinical sides of the department.

What They Do

At this level, the focus shifts from purely delivering treatment to being involved in designing it. A Senior Radiation Therapist works closely with the Radiation Oncologist and Medical Physicist to map out exactly where the radiation needs to go and how much is needed. They use CT Simulation, a specialised scanning process, to create a detailed image of the patient’s body so the team can target the tumour precisely while protecting surrounding healthy tissue.

Throughout a patient’s treatment, which can run over several weeks, they monitor how the patient is responding and help manage any side effects that arise. They also use advanced imaging technology known as Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) to verify that each treatment is hitting the right spot before and during delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborating with Radiation Oncologists and Medical Physicists to design accurate treatment plans
• Performing CT Simulation to map the treatment area within the patient’s body
• Monitoring patients throughout their full course of treatment and managing side effects
• Reviewing treatment accuracy using advanced imaging (IGRT)
• Supervising junior Radiation Therapy Technologists and students

Skills and Personal Attributes

This role requires a higher level of clinical knowledge and critical thinking than entry-level positions. You need to be comfortable working with complex data and imaging, making judgement calls, and communicating findings clearly to other members of the clinical team. Leadership and mentoring skills matter too, since supervising others is a regular part of the job.

A genuine commitment to patient wellbeing is essential, as you will be following patients closely over weeks of treatment and need to notice and respond to changes in their condition.

Qualifications Required

This role is typically held by someone with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Radiation Therapy or Radiography, or a Technologist who has gained significant experience and pursued advanced certification. Registration with the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) is required to practise legally in Zambia.

Where They Work

Senior Radiation Therapists in Zambia are currently based primarily at the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) in Lusaka. As cancer care infrastructure develops across the country, this role is expected to become available at other regional and private facilities in the future.

Job Sector(s)

• Healthcare Facilities
• Industrial / Manufacturing