Staff Radiopharmacist - Center for Advanced Biomedical Imaging / Per Diem
- Requisition #: 171973
- Department: Ctr for Adv Biomedical Imaging
- Location: Houston, TX
- Posted Date: 12/5/2024
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research, and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees, and the public.
SUMMARY
The position requires the ability to successfully manage the dispensing, compounding and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals. Ensures safe and reliable unit dose dispensing of both FDA-approved and investigational radiotracer imaging agents in compliance with FDA, United States Pharmacopeia, Texas Department of State Health Services Radiation Control Program and Texas State Board of Pharmacy rules and regulations. When on-sight, provides daily supervision for the CRF Nuclear Medicine Technician (NMT).
Per Diem Hourly Rate: $80 (not negotiable)
JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
1. Radioisotope Handling and Dispensing
· Applies principles and practices of pharmacy and radiochemistry to prepare and dispenses unit doses of radioactive pharmaceuticals used for patient diagnosis and therapy.
· Receives radiopharmaceutical prescription from physician and reviews prescription to determine suitability of radiopharmaceutical for intended use.
· Utilizes knowledge of radiopharmaceutical preparation and principles of drug biodistribution to verify that specified radioactive substances and reagents will give desired results in examination or treatment procedures.
· Calculates volume of radioactive pharmaceutical required to provide patient with desired level of radioactivity at prescribed time, according to established rates of radioisotope decay.
· Follows all radiopharmacy procedures, extemporaneously compounds radiopharmaceuticals and non-radioactive drugs not available from commercial sources to prepare various investigational radiopharmaceuticals.
· Provides complex radiolabeling services (including radiolabeling of peptides for diagnostic and therapeutic applications).
· Dispatches radiopharmaceutical materials to external purchasers in compliance with the requirements for lawful transport of radioactive materials by air or road.
· Assays prepared radiopharmaceuticals, using measuring and analysis instruments and equipment, such as ionization chamber, pulse-height analyzer, and radioisotope dose calibrator, to verify rate of drug disintegration and to ensure that patient receives required dose.
· Works collaboratively with the Director of the CRF, various researchers and staff radiochemists to produce and provide cGMP-grade novel PET tracers for clinical and research studies.
· Attends site initiation and/or investigator orientation meetings for clinical trials in which the CRF is involved.
2. Documentation and Recordkeeping
· Maintains compliance with the established regulations for radiopharmacy operation, including, but not limited to:
- Texas Department of Health Services Radiation Control Program
- US Pharmacopeia
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Texas Board of Pharmacy (BOP)
- Drug inventory, drug accountability, dispensing and inventory control.
- The prescription drug ordering process including prescription generation and traceability.
- Pharmacy dispensing and dispensed drug final verification checks.
- MD Anderson internal pharmacy guidelines
· Performs weekly and monthly Quality Assurance procedures.
· Assists with Out of Specification (OOS) event investigations and proposes subsequent plan of action.
· Works with the Director to document all radiopharmaceutical product complaints received by the CRF. Assists with any investigation(s) as directed by Director.
· Actively participates during inspections by the Texas BOP, FDA, or other regulatory agencies.
3. Radiopharmacy Safety
· Monitors assigned area for environmental deficiencies such as lighting/electrical needs or breech of exit/entrance. Notifies Director of occurrences.
· Ensures that radiopharmaceutical personnel wear appropriate personnel protective equipment (PPE) when working in hazardous controlled areas.
· Ensures that the radiopharmacy is clean, organized, and safe for personnel.
· Limits access only to those by qualified/required personnel.
· Works to ensure minimal radiation exposure and compliance with the "As Low as Reasonably Achievable" (ALARA) principle.
· Responsible for ensuring radiation detection equipment is worn by personnel working in the Radiopharmacy.
· Performs/documents daily dosimeter checks.
· Ensures/supervises radioactive/biohazard waste segregation and disposal and completion of related documentation.
· Ensures appropriate storage and handling of radiation detecting equipment.
· Actively participates during inspections by the Texas BOP, FDA, or other regulatory agencies.
4. Human Resource Oversight
· Leads by example in behavior and work ethic. Provides advice to achieve positive outcomes for patient and staff issues/concerns.
· Organizes, co-ordinates and/or appropriately delegates daily activities to the NMT to ensure appropriate resource allocation and to meet the needs of CABI Customers.
· Monitors area workflow to assure that all jobs are performed in a timely manner.
· Provides daily supervision for the NMT.
· Provides input to Director on the NMT annual performance evaluation.
· As needed, provides training to the NMT to integrate new procedures into daily practices.
5. Other Duties as Assigned
REQUIREMENTS
Education Required: Bachelor's Degree Pharmacy
Education Preferred: PharmD
Certification: Required: Must obtain license to practice pharmacy in the State of Texas by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy within 90 days of date of entry into job.
Preferred Certification: Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP)
Experience Required: Two Years of experience as a Nuclear Pharmacist
Preferred Experience: Five years of experience as a Nuclear Pharmacist to include one year of experience with cGMP regulations for the manufacturing of PET radiopharmaceuticals.
Onsite Presence: Is Required
It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html
Additional Information
#LI-Onsite
The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research, and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees, and the public.
SUMMARY
The position requires the ability to successfully manage the dispensing, compounding and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals. Ensures safe and reliable unit dose dispensing of both FDA-approved and investigational radiotracer imaging agents in compliance with FDA, United States Pharmacopeia, Texas Department of State Health Services Radiation Control Program and Texas State Board of Pharmacy rules and regulations. When on-sight, provides daily supervision for the CRF Nuclear Medicine Technician (NMT).
Per Diem Hourly Rate: $80 (not negotiable)
JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
1. Radioisotope Handling and Dispensing
· Applies principles and practices of pharmacy and radiochemistry to prepare and dispenses unit doses of radioactive pharmaceuticals used for patient diagnosis and therapy.
· Receives radiopharmaceutical prescription from physician and reviews prescription to determine suitability of radiopharmaceutical for intended use.
· Utilizes knowledge of radiopharmaceutical preparation and principles of drug biodistribution to verify that specified radioactive substances and reagents will give desired results in examination or treatment procedures.
· Calculates volume of radioactive pharmaceutical required to provide patient with desired level of radioactivity at prescribed time, according to established rates of radioisotope decay.
· Follows all radiopharmacy procedures, extemporaneously compounds radiopharmaceuticals and non-radioactive drugs not available from commercial sources to prepare various investigational radiopharmaceuticals.
· Provides complex radiolabeling services (including radiolabeling of peptides for diagnostic and therapeutic applications).
· Dispatches radiopharmaceutical materials to external purchasers in compliance with the requirements for lawful transport of radioactive materials by air or road.
· Assays prepared radiopharmaceuticals, using measuring and analysis instruments and equipment, such as ionization chamber, pulse-height analyzer, and radioisotope dose calibrator, to verify rate of drug disintegration and to ensure that patient receives required dose.
· Works collaboratively with the Director of the CRF, various researchers and staff radiochemists to produce and provide cGMP-grade novel PET tracers for clinical and research studies.
· Attends site initiation and/or investigator orientation meetings for clinical trials in which the CRF is involved.
2. Documentation and Recordkeeping
· Maintains compliance with the established regulations for radiopharmacy operation, including, but not limited to:
- Texas Department of Health Services Radiation Control Program
- US Pharmacopeia
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Texas Board of Pharmacy (BOP)
- Drug inventory, drug accountability, dispensing and inventory control.
- The prescription drug ordering process including prescription generation and traceability.
- Pharmacy dispensing and dispensed drug final verification checks.
- MD Anderson internal pharmacy guidelines
· Performs weekly and monthly Quality Assurance procedures.
· Assists with Out of Specification (OOS) event investigations and proposes subsequent plan of action.
· Works with the Director to document all radiopharmaceutical product complaints received by the CRF. Assists with any investigation(s) as directed by Director.
· Actively participates during inspections by the Texas BOP, FDA, or other regulatory agencies.
3. Radiopharmacy Safety
· Monitors assigned area for environmental deficiencies such as lighting/electrical needs or breech of exit/entrance. Notifies Director of occurrences.
· Ensures that radiopharmaceutical personnel wear appropriate personnel protective equipment (PPE) when working in hazardous controlled areas.
· Ensures that the radiopharmacy is clean, organized, and safe for personnel.
· Limits access only to those by qualified/required personnel.
· Works to ensure minimal radiation exposure and compliance with the "As Low as Reasonably Achievable" (ALARA) principle.
· Responsible for ensuring radiation detection equipment is worn by personnel working in the Radiopharmacy.
· Performs/documents daily dosimeter checks.
· Ensures/supervises radioactive/biohazard waste segregation and disposal and completion of related documentation.
· Ensures appropriate storage and handling of radiation detecting equipment.
· Actively participates during inspections by the Texas BOP, FDA, or other regulatory agencies.
4. Human Resource Oversight
· Leads by example in behavior and work ethic. Provides advice to achieve positive outcomes for patient and staff issues/concerns.
· Organizes, co-ordinates and/or appropriately delegates daily activities to the NMT to ensure appropriate resource allocation and to meet the needs of CABI Customers.
· Monitors area workflow to assure that all jobs are performed in a timely manner.
· Provides daily supervision for the NMT.
· Provides input to Director on the NMT annual performance evaluation.
· As needed, provides training to the NMT to integrate new procedures into daily practices.
5. Other Duties as Assigned
REQUIREMENTS
Education Required: Bachelor's Degree Pharmacy
Education Preferred: PharmD
Certification: Required: Must obtain license to practice pharmacy in the State of Texas by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy within 90 days of date of entry into job.
Preferred Certification: Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP)
Experience Required: Two Years of experience as a Nuclear Pharmacist
Preferred Experience: Five years of experience as a Nuclear Pharmacist to include one year of experience with cGMP regulations for the manufacturing of PET radiopharmaceuticals.
Onsite Presence: Is Required
It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html
Additional Information
- Requisition ID: 171973
- Employment Status: Per Diem
- Employee Status: Regular
- Work Week: Days
- Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 79,040
- Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 79,040
- Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 79,040
- FLSA: non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay
- Fund Type: Hard
- Work Location: Onsite
- Pivotal Position: Yes
- Referral Bonus Available?: No
- Relocation Assistance Available?: No
- Science Jobs: No
#LI-Onsite
