By Lin Lofley

Kameka Rideaux, a veteran of 14 years in radiation therapy services in Texas, recently became Program Director of Radiation Therapy for the UT Southwestern School of Health Professions.

Kameka Rideaux

Ms. Rideaux, Assistant Professor of Health Care Sciences at UT Southwestern Medical Center, will lead a program that began a few years ago with two students and currently has 14 working toward their post-baccalaureate certificates in radiation therapy. She came here from UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“We are delighted to have someone of Ms. Rideaux’s caliber join our school,” said Dr. Jon Williamson, Dean of the School of Health Professions and Professor of Health Care Sciences. “She brings a wealth of clinical knowledge, research experience, and teaching expertise, and she’s highly respected in her national organization. She also serves as a site reviewer for the Joint Review Commission on Education in Radiologic Technology.”

Ms. Rideaux completed two years of education toward a nursing degree at McNeese State University before discovering radiation therapy and embarking on a career in that clinical field.

“It’s true that I was in nursing first, but during rotations I was drawn to the technology of radiation therapy,” Ms. Rideaux said.

Marissa Johnson, Assistant Professor of Health Care Sciences and former Program Director of Radiation Therapy at UT Southwestern, alerted Ms. Rideaux to the opening and encouraged her to apply.

“We met through the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, and have known each other for a while,” said Ms. Rideaux, a native of Bunkie, Louisiana. “And having worked in the UT System as long as I have, I had some knowledge of the School of Health Professions.

“Our program has a strong foundation that was supported by the Medical Center and the leadership in the school, and we expect to continue to grow. One of our goals is to develop radiation therapy into a master’s degree program.”

###