Radiation Therapy Technology
The Radiation Oncology Department at Massachusetts General Hospital offers an extensive Radiation Therapy training program. At Mass General students interact directly with pioneers in the field of cancer research and care.
The Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology works in collaboration with Suffolk University and the University of Vermont to educate and provide clinical training for students working toward degrees in radiation therapy and medical biophysics degrees.
Suffolk University Medical Science Program
University of Vermont Radiation Therapy Program
Students learn the art and importance of teamwork while working with all the groups within the specialty of radiation oncology, including radiation oncologists, oncology nurses, medical dosimetrists and physicists. The extensive list of treatment options allows students to obtain broad experience while on assignment here. Our broad list of treatments includes:
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy
- Intraoperative radiation therapy
- Proton beam therapy
- Brachytherapy
- Stereotactic radiotherapy and radiosurgery
Massachusetts General Hospital additionally provides their students with experience in state of the art technology including:
- Ultrasound use in setting up prostate patients
- IGRT (Image-guided radiation therapy)
- Vision RT
The program is highly selective with a limited number of internship opportunities available per academic year. Students integrate classroom theory with patient care by completing over 1300 clinical contact hours. Because Mass General offers such unique and/or advanced treatment modalities, our students gain experience treating common as well as extremely rare cancers. The collective goal is to ensure patients receive the best possible medical care with the best possible outcomes. By the end of the internship, many of the students remain employed at the hospital or they are placed in other academic centers throughout the United States.
Suffolk University provides an opportunity to train as a radiation therapist in a four-year bachelor’s degree or a two-year post-baccalaureate certificate program.
Program Overview
Students are accepted into our training program in the junior year of their program at Suffolk University. These candidates must have a minimum 2.8 GPA to be interviewed for the available openings. In addition to an interview, students will complete on the day of the interview a math assessment exam, and a writing sample. If accepted into the clinical track, they will begin to prepare for their clinical internship in the fall semester, following the interview.
Radiation Biology Clinical TrackJunior YearChemistry I and II with associated labs
Cell Biology
Introduction to Clinical Radiation
Radiation Physics I with Lab
Clinical Radiation I with lab (consisting of 2, 8 hour days per week in the clinic)
Radiation Physics II
Senior Year
Summer practicum: 11.5 weeks of full time clinical hours (May to August)
Clinical Radiation II and lab ( 3, 8 hr days in the clinic)
Oncology and Pathology (team taught by HMS residents)
Radiology for Radiation Therapy
Biostatistics
Clinical III and lab (3, 8 hr days per week)
Clinical Dosimetry
Radiation Biology
Senior Seminar
To apply for the Suffolk University Medical Sciences Program, contact:
Gina Passmore M.S., R.T. (T)
Radiation Sciences Program Director
Suffolk University
41 Temple Street
Boston, MA 02114
Telephone: 617-305-1995
Fax: 617-367-5063
Email: gpassmore@suffolk.edu
To apply for the University of Vermont Radiation Therapy Program, contact:
UVM Admissions Office
Prospect Street
Burlington, VT 05401
Telephone: 802-656-3370
Fax: 802-656-8611
Email: admissions@uvm.edu
James and Ruth Clark Center for Radiation Oncology
Cox BuildingLower Level
100 Blossom Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-726-8650
Fax: 617-724-2019
Email: InformationRadOnc@Partners.org
Public Transportation Access: yes James and Ruth Clark Center for Radiation Oncology Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center
Disabled Access: yes
Cox Building, Lower Level
100 Blossom Street
Boston, MA 02114
Telephone: 617-726-8650
Fax: 617-724-2019
e-mail: InformationRadOnc@partners.org
30 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
Telephone: 617-726-0923 or 617-724-1680
Fax: 617-726-6498
e-mail: InformationRadOnc@partners.org
Education and training at Mass General 
Learn how Massachusetts General Hospital continues to teach and inspire generations of health care professionals.
