Curriculum
Student experiences
The Radiation Therapy Program is designed to provide you with experience in all areas of radiation oncology. Courses take place in a specific sequence, progressively building on your expertise as you advance through the program. Academic coursework is coordinated with clinical rotations to optimize the learning experiences.
Classroom learning
This program is a full-time program. You will spend an average of 16-20 hours a week in classroom lecture (didactic) instruction, with the remaining time in clinical training and rotations. You are responsible for purchasing navy blue scrub uniforms to wear during all clinical rotations.
Clinical training
You’ll begin observing and working with patients as soon as the second week of the program. Two clinical labs on the treatment units are completed the first two Saturdays in September as part of orientation. During your clinical education, you’ll observe and participate in special treatment techniques, including:
- Deep inspiration breath hold
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy
- Adaptive radiation therapy
- Total body irradiation
- Proton beam therapy
- Brachytherapy
On-site rotations
During monthly rotations, under the supervision of qualified radiation therapists and in collaboration with several members of the health care team, you have learning opportunities in all aspects of radiation oncology, simulation, treatment, and dosimetry.
Off-site rotations
All students participate in off-site rotations to Mayo Clinic Health System locations in Mankato, Minnesota; Northfield, Minnesota; and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Students may also elect to rotate to the radiation oncology facility in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Each student will be assigned to two or three different regional sites over the course of the program for a four-week period.
The off-site rotations provide students with experience at a smaller, non-academic cancer center. Students will have the opportunity to see different treatment techniques and equipment, and to enhance their ability to adapt to a new center’s routine in preparation for employment.
Students are responsible for driving to these sites each week for three days per week in the fall semester and weekly during the second and third semesters. While it is your responsibility to commute to these sites, Mayo Clinic provides assistance with travel and housing during the second and third semesters. During the second and third semesters, you receive didactic coursework via Zoom. It is recommended that each student have his or her own laptop computer to complete homework assignments while off-site.
Professional liability
Mayo Clinic provides professional liability insurance for learners in relation to their radiation therapy program educational activities.
The coolest experience I had in this program was watching people finish treatment and "ringing the bell." There is such a sense of community and support that is hard to explain. For the patient, it is a moment of victory in the battle with cancer. It is truly a joyous occasion in a very tight-knit community.
Kirsten Wilcox, RTT, R.T.(R)
2019 graduate who now works in Montana.
Facilities
Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, includes an extensive outpatient complex, Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester, and substantial research and education facilities. This Mayo Clinic site is among the largest, most advanced medical centers in the world.
Mayo Clinic's Department of Radiation Oncology has exceptional patient care facilities with advanced therapy equipment, which includes:
- Four Varian TrueBeam linear accelerators with Station ARIA treatment verification software
- Two Varian Ethos
- Four Siemens CT simulators
- Proton therapy
- An integrated brachytherapy unit
- An Xstrahl orthovoltage unit
- A dedicated linear accelerator intraoperative therapy suite
- A Leksell Gamma Knife
In addition, Mayo Clinic Radiation Oncology has a proton beam therapy treatment program that includes four treatment rooms equipped with intensity modulated pencil beam scanning, two CT simulators, and an MRI unit. Students have two rotations through the proton center, allowing them to gain experience with this newest treatment modality. Our students also participate in a three-week dosimetry rotation and gain experience doing treatment planning utilizing Eclipse planning system.
Hours and schedule
For the majority of the program, your learning schedule includes eight-hour days, five days a week, Monday through Friday. During the fall semester, classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Fridays from 1-5 p.m. Clinical rotations are held all day on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and on Friday mornings. Clinical rotation start time may vary based on the site location. The La Crosse rotation begins at 7:30 a.m.
During the second and third semesters, hours are 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. Classes are conducted on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Clinical rotations will be conducted on Monday, Wednesday, Friday afternoon, and all day Tuesday and Thursday. There are also two clinical QA labs conducted on a Saturday morning in February and March. Students will participate in morning quality assurance procedures one day per week from April through July. The hours for QA days will be 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Rotations through our Proton Center will vary per semester and may be held from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.
Course sequence
The Radiation Therapy Program requires completion of three semesters of courses, which totals 45 upper division credits. All courses are taught in Rochester, Minnesota, using a combination of face-to-face and virtual delivery.
Fall semester (September to December)
Course number | Course name | Credits |
---|---|---|
RTT 3501 | Introduction to Radiation Therapy | 2 |
RTT 3521 | Patient Care in Radiation Oncology | 2 |
RTT 3561 | Cross-Sectional Anatomy | 3 |
RTT 3541 | Pathology | 2 |
RTT 3551 | Radiation Oncology Physics | 4 |
RTT 3596 | Clinical Practicum I | 4 |
Total credits | 17 |
Spring semester (January to May)
Course number | Course name | Credits |
---|---|---|
RTT 3581 | Principles and Practices of Radiation Therapy I | 4 |
RTT 4511 | Dosimetry and Treatment Planning | 4 |
RTT 3701 | Advanced Radiobiology and Radiation Protection | 2 |
RTT 3601 | Clinical Quality Assurance and Computer Applications | 1 |
RTT 3696 | Clinical Practicum II | 6 |
Total credits | 17 |
Summer semester (June to August)
Course number | Course name | Credits |
---|---|---|
RTT 4581 | Principles and Practices of Radiation Therapy II | 3 |
RTT 4611 | Operational Issues in Radiation Therapy | 1 |
RTT 4601 | Research Project | 1 |
RTT 4596 | Clinical Practicum III | 6 |
- | Board Exam Review | 0 |
Total credits | 11 |
Academic breaks
The program is not in session during:
- Thanksgiving (Wednesday through Friday)
- Christmas (1.5 weeks)
- Spring break (one week — typically the second week of March)
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Graduation (August)
See the full 2023-2024 academic calendar and the 2024-2025 draft academic calendar.
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 classroom (didactic) coursework 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 Clinic School of Health Sciences.
Graduates may apply to take the national registry examination administered by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Grading and evaluation
All coursework must be completed with a grade of a C or above. The grading scale is below. As you move through the Radiation Therapy Program's clinical rotations, you will be evaluated in each clinical area by the supervising therapists and the clinical preceptors. A competency-based evaluation system and performance appraisal forms are used to evaluate clinical performance.
Grading scale
Didactic and clinical course work is graded on an A to F scale. Grade points of A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, and F = 0 for each credit hour earned will be assigned on the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences transcript.
Percentage achieved | Course grade |
---|---|
93-100 | A |
90-92 | A- |
87-89 | B+ |
83-86 | B |
80-82 | B- |
77-79 | C+ |
73-76 | C |
70-72 | C- |
<70 | F |
Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences uses evaluative tools that include: Written examination, oral presentation, demonstration of skills, and faculty reviews. Failure to meet or maintain the academic or clinical standards may necessitate remedial work of subject matter, as well as possible evaluation for probation or dismissal.
Mayo Clinic's system of evaluation provides students and faculty with a comprehensive look at individual performance. This allows faculty and administrative staff to direct students who are experiencing academic difficulty to the appropriate support resources, including tutoring programs and counseling opportunities.
Meet the faculty
The Radiation Therapy Program is coordinated and taught by the clinical, scientific, and technical staff of Mayo Clinic. These include radiation therapists, dosimetrists, nurses, physicians, and physicists from the Department of Radiation Oncology. You have direct access to these individuals throughout your education program, giving you the opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners in radiation oncology.
Leila Bussman-Yeakel, RTT
Leila Bussman-Yeakel, RTT
Program Director
Leila Bussman-Yeakel is a graduate of Swedish American Hospital’s Radiography and Radiation Therapy Programs. She obtained a bachelor’s degree from University of St. Francis and received her master's degree in adult education from the University of Minnesota.
Ms. Bussman-Yeakel’s teaching responsibilities include: Introduction to Radiation Therapy, Pathology, Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy, Operational Issues, Radiobiology, and Board Exam Review. She has been a contributor to the Washington and Leaver textbook on Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy on GI Malignancies and Merrill’s Atlas of Radiographic Positions and Radiographic Procedures’ chapter on Radiation Oncology. In addition, she serves as a Site Visitor and Team Chair for the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Courtney Vinsand, RTT
Courtney Vinsand, RTT
Clinical Coordinator
Courtney Vinsand recently joined the Radiation Therapy Program as the program’s first clinical coordinator to support the growth of our program to 15 students. She joined Mayo Clinic in 2015 after graduating from our Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Radiation Therapy Program. Courtney has worked in the Proton Therapy Department since graduating and was a lead proton therapist prior to joining the program faculty.
Courtney has a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Briar Cliff University. She provides didactic instruction and coordinates clinical education.
Jodi Buchholtz, RTT
Jodi Buchholtz, RTT
Clinical Preceptor
Jodi Buchholtz joined the Radiation Therapy Program in 2001 as clinical preceptor. She joined Mayo Clinic after graduating from the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Radiation Therapy Program in 1989.
Ms. Buchholtz obtained her Bachelor of Science in radiologic sciences from Ohio State University. She provides clinical instruction and evaluation of students’ clinical performance and competency exams throughout the program.
Emily Burnett, RTT
Emily Burnett, RTT
Clinical Preceptor
Emily joined the Radiation Therapy Program as a clinical preceptor in 2023. She has been employed at Mayo Clinic since graduating from the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Radiation Therapy Program in 2006.
Emily obtained her Bachelor of Applied Science degree in radiation therapy from the University of Minnesota. She completed the Radiography Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester before attending our radiation therapy program. Emily conducts several clinical labs in CT Simulation and treatment set-ups. She provides clinical instruction and evaluation of students’ clinical performance and competency exams throughout the program.
Amanda Giffey, RTT
Amanda Giffey, RTT
Clinical Preceptor
Amanda joined the Radiation Therapy Program as a clinical preceptor in 2023. She has been employed at Mayo Clinic since graduating from the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Radiation Therapy Program in 2007.
Amanda obtained her Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Radiation Therapy from the University of Minnesota. She completed her degree in radiography at St. Luke’s College in Sioux City, IA, before attending Mayo’s Radiation Therapy Program. Amanda conducts several clinical labs in CT simulation and treatment set-ups. She provides clinical instruction and evaluation of students’ clinical performance and competency exams throughout the program.
Omar El Sherif, Ph.D.
Omar El Sherif, Ph.D.
Physics Faculty
Dr. Omar El Sherif joined the Radiation Therapy Program faculty in 2020 as a physics instructor. In addition to teaching, Dr. El Sherif assists with the coordination of all physics instruction for the program. He received his master’s and Ph.D. in Medical Biophysics from the University of Western Ontario. He completed his Medical Physics Residency at Mayo Clinic in 2019 and accepted a position at Mayo Clinic in Rochester in Proton Therapy.
Janelle Braun, RRPT
Janelle Braun, RRPT
Health Physics Associate, Radiation Protection Technologist
Janelle Braun joined the Radiation Therapy Program faculty in 1999 as a Radiation Protection instructor. Ms. Braun received her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Hamline University and became a registered radiation protection technologist in 1989.
Ms. Braun develops and coordinates instruction for the Radiation Protection and Safety curriculum for the Radiation Therapy and Nuclear Medicine programs.