Mohawk College Newsroom

Mohawk and McMaster to unveil new radiation therapy simulator at IAHS today

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:07:47 -0500

Medical Radiation Sciences students practice delivering radiation therapy treatments on the Varian Acuity Simulator at the Mohawk-McMaster Institute of Applied Health Sciences.

HAMILTON (Nov. 21, 2012) – More than 140 medical radiation sciences students will get real-world, hands-on learning on a new medical radiation therapy simulator that officially opens today at the Mohawk-McMaster Institute for Applied Health Sciences.

The Varian Acuity Simulator was recently purchased for students in the collaborative Mohawk-McMaster Medical Radiation Sciences Program at the Institute of Applied Health Sciences at McMaster University. Varian supplied and installed the machine for a third of its $1.2 million cost.

For students learning to plan and deliver radiation therapy treatments the Varian Acuity Simulator is as close as they can possibly get to the real thing. The only thing the simulator doesn’t do is deliver the dose of radiation needed to kill cancer cells.

Before the simulator arrived, students would attend labs and practice setting up treatments using a Radiation Therapy machine at the Juravinski Cancer Centre. The simulator gives the program more flexibility while providing hands-on experience with technology similar to that used by cancer clinics today.

QUOTES:

Mohawk Quote:

“Mohawk and McMaster have a unique relationship that has benefited thousands of students,” said Mohawk College President Rob MacIsaac. “The Varian Acuity Simulator is another example of how this partnership is building a successful future for our students. We are also grateful to Varian for providing the simulator at a significantly reduced price. We see this as both an investment in our program and vote of confidence in what we do here at the Institute.”

McMaster Quote:

“This advanced medical training technology is a direct result of a strong partnership between McMaster and Mohawk,” says McMaster President and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane. “The Varian Acuity Simulator bolsters the Mohawk-McMaster Medical Radiation Sciences Program, and represents another way we provide world-class experiential learning opportunities to students.”

QUICK FACTS:

The Varian Acuity Simulator has mechanical capabilities similar to the Varian Radiation Therapy machines used in operating cancer clinics throughout Ontario.

In addition to the Varian Acuity Simulator, the Medical Radiation Sciences Simulation Labs also have sonography and radiography labs, a radiation therapy treatment planning lab and a CT Scanner.

All of the labs associated with the collaborative Medical Radiation Sciences program are designed to mimic the clinical environment.

Students enrolled in Medical Radiation Sciences choose one of three streams: sonography, radiography and radiation therapy.

The collaborative Mohawk-McMaster Medical Radiation Sciences Program is accredited by the Canadian Medical Association.

Mohawk College serves 15,000 full-time and apprenticeship students and 42,000 continuing education registrants annually. In the annual province-wide survey of college students, Mohawk was ranked number one of Ontario’s large colleges in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

McMaster University, one of four Canadian universities listed among the Top 100 universities in the world, is renowned for its innovation in both learning and discovery. It has a student population of 23,000, and more than 156,000 alumni in 140 countries.

REMINDER: Learn how to supercharge your education at one of Mohawk's upcoming Make Your Mark sessions

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 10:22:05 -0400

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvCE6J1_zuI]

Medical Radiation Sciences student honoured with membership in Golden Key Society

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:10:00 -0500

Salman Arif, a Level 3 Medical Radiation Sciences student has been honoured with membership in the prestigious Golden Key Society.

The recognition means Salman joins an elite group of students from around the world who were chosen for their individual accomplishments, personal interest and support of academic excellence.

Before coming to Mohawk for Medical Radiation Sciences, Salman attended the University of Toronto where he completed an Honours Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Human Biology with minors in Psychology and Zoology.

“Academically it has been a long road for me and I am grateful for the course it has taken so far,” says Salman. “McMaster and Mohawk have served to be my new home where I am continually pushing myself to the limits and facing new challenges.”

With plans to become a Medical Radiation Therapist, Salman says he is driven by his desire to improve the quality of life of others and to maximize his potential as a healthcare professional. Being inducted into the Golden Key Society is motivation to pursue further excellence in his studies, he says.

And his parents are pretty proud of the accomplishment too.

“They still speak of that night to me today with such happiness and pride.”

Salman says he shares his accomplishments with those close to him, especially his three younger siblings.

“My intent is to be their role model and encourage academic discipline and dedication,” he says. “Nothing is impossible if you put your mind and effort to it. Be ambitious, aim high and strive hard...the rest is fate.”

Golden Key is the world's premier honour society, with a combined membership base of more than 1.6 million students in more than 350 chapters worldwide, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

The Society recognizes and encourages scholastic achievement and excellence among college and university students from all academic disciplines. Membership is by invitation only. To be considered students must be in the top 15 percent of their respective faculty.

This year, the McMaster Chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society inducted 673 new student members and five new Honourary Members at the Induction Ceremony, which was held in November.