An Oncologist, or Medical Oncologist, is a medical professional who treats children and adults who have cancer. Duties you can expect to see listed in an Oncologist job description include developing and coordinating treatment plans informed by diagnostic test results, educating patients on the potential side effects of treatments and maintaining patient records.
A Oncologist should be able to fulfill various duties and responsibilities. The following are some duties and responsibilities a Oncologist should be able to execute:
- Conducting initial examinations and ordering blood work, imaging and other diagnostic tests
- Making diagnoses of the type and stage of cancer based on test findings
- Establishing treatment plans that may include radiation, chemotherapy, medications and surgical procedures
- Coordinating care with other physicians and medical professionals
- Explaining benefits, side effects and risks of treatments to patients
- Educating patients on how to cope with the effects of treatments and care for themselves at home
A competitive Oncologist will have certain skills and qualifications, including:
- Extensive knowledge of different cancers, treatments, medical ethics, palliative care, anatomy, biology, chemistry and physics
- Strong communication skills to interact professionally with patients and other medical providers
- Analytical skills to interpret the results of diagnostic testing and make accurate diagnoses
- Problem-solving and critical thinking skills to develop and revise effective treatment plans
- Active listening and interviewing skills to gather information from patients
- Time management and organizational skills to treat multiple patients at once
