Re: An HP Position is Open in Texas [LicenseReviewer,MedicalandAcademic Licensing Program]

[William V Lipton <liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM>]

This comes full circle to my original questions about the alleged "human capital" crisis in hp.  This discussion has been worthwhile, to me at least.  I think the questions come down to 2:



1.  Is there a human capital crisis in hp?  To an outsider, there will be a human capital crisis when power plants shut down, medical diagnosis or therapy is cancelled, research is held up, etc., due to a lack of hp's.  So far this has not happened, to the best of my knowledge.  Missed or less than adequate inspections, regulatory violations with nominal fines, low wages, and

unfilled positions don't really count!



2.  If there is federal money to avert this "crisis," how should it be spent?  It seems that financing fellowships to encourage intelligent and motivated students to study hp when salary prospects are below those of comparble fields is like pushing with a rope.  If you think you can sell "job satisfaction" as a sufficient inducement, go for it, but I'm not holding my breath.



Having said that, I'll put in my $0.02 on where we should spend the money.



To me, it seems that the root cause of our lack of recognition is our lack of recognized credentials.  We seem to be one of the few professions which does not have a required credential to be accepted as a member.  CHP is a good credential, but that is not its purpose.  We need something, e.g., academic curriculum, license, certificate, etc. that represents a minimum requirement

before someone can be hired to fulfill the duties of a health physicist.  This would prevent employers from hiring unqualified persons to fulfill these duties (The regulators seem to let them get away with this.), and make us essential to their operation.  This would improve salaries for those who are qualified, and, incidentally, increase academic enrollments much more

effectively than fellowships.



The opinions expressed are strictly mine.

It's not about dose, it's about trust.

Curies forever.



Bill Lipton

liptonw@dteenergy.com





Jim Hardeman wrote:



> John, Dean, et al.

>

> This isn't "the future", it's "the present". When we're able to hire, we offer entry level salaries that MOST recent college grads would laugh at ... and based on our last attempt at hiring "experienced" staff, experience apparently only counts while employed with our agency ... private industry experience or experience with other state government agencies counts for little.

>

> Bottom line is that those of us in state (and presumably federal as well) government are in it for more than just "the compensation". I would point out, though, that I'd put my retirement plan up against just about anybody's ... but then again, I'm on our "old plan". New hires have a retirement plan more similar to those found in private industry.

>

> My $0.02 worth ...

>

> Jim Hardeman, Manager

> Environmental Radiation Program

> Environmental Protection Division

> Georgia Department of Natural Resources

> 4244 International Parkway, Suite 114

> Atlanta, GA 30354

> (404) 362-2675

> Fax: (404) 362-2653

> E-mail: Jim_Hardeman@dnr.state.ga.us

>

> >>> "High Plains Drifter" <magna1@jps.net> 11/6/2003 22:08:44 >>>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: "John Jacobus"

>

> "But what is the future going to be like if compensation at the state level does not compare with those of the regulated."

>

> John, this is the future!  When did the compensation at the state level ever exceed those that they regulate?

>

> Dean Chaney





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