Amy Howard is one of fewer than 300 radiation therapists in the nation qualified to work with Cyberknife technology. Generally used to treat cancer, the robotic radiosurgery technology targets tumors with high-dose radiation beams, reducing the number of radiation treatments from an average of 35 to 40 to between one and five.

"Extensive training is required to become qualified to work with the Cyberknife technology," said Howard, BSRT(R)(T), who works for WellStar Health System.

WellStar went live with Cyberknife radiosurgery in October 2006, but installation and training began six months earlier.

"To be certified as a CK therapist, it is required to attend classroom sessions, educational programs at Accuray — the company that developed the technology — clinical on-site training at other institutions using Cyberknife and hands-on orientation at WellStar. The credentialing is very stringent," Howard said.

Howard works closely with a team of four other CK therapists, who work hand-in-hand with radio-surgeons, neurosurgeons, a physicist and a navigator/coordinator who has treated about 300 patients since WellStar began offering the technology.

A 2004 graduate of the Medical College of Georgia's School of Medicine, Howard welcomed the opportunity to work with Cyberknife.

"I'm so amazed at how far technology has come since I graduated," she said. "To be able to work with such advanced technology is challenging and rewarding."

Cyberknife therapists deliver treatment that has been planned by the physicians and physicists. The team uses CT, MRI and/or PET scans along with other tools to map out the treatment.

"As the therapist, I create necessary immobilization devices, such as masks to hold the patient's head in place, set up the room and work directly with the patient as the dosage is being delivered," Howard said. "We always work with at least two CK therapists in the room — one to observe the patient and the other to monitor the dosage, which is delivered with submillimeter accuracy.

"We have to maintain the integrity of the target, so there are always two therapists on the machine at the same time. It's a constant imaging process."

With five certified CK therapists, WellStar has one of the largest teams in the nation. Many hospitals have only two or three CK therapists.

"We are one of the busiest sites in the country," Howard said.

The average salary for radiation therapists depends on the size of the facility, the level of experience and the number of cases handled. It can range from $55,000 to $85,000.

"Right now, most of the facilities that use Cyberknife already have their staffs trained and in place, but as the technology becomes more prevalent, more jobs will open up," Howard said. "This is an exciting time in the treatment of cancer. We're just on the cusp of what the future holds."