The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the nation will need 7,000more radiation therapists by 2010 than it had in 2000. Thanks to Varian Medical Systems Inc. and the ASRT Education and Research Foundation, 83 of them will be able to attend school with the help of a $5,000 scholarship. ASRT today announced that Varian Medical Systems will expand the Varian Radiation Therapy Student Scholarship Program, administered by ASRT's Education and Research Foundation. Varian will fund 83 scholarships for students entering educational programs in radiation therapy and provide additional monetary support to the Foundation over the next five years, for a total contribution of $440,000. This represents a more than 40-fold increase in funding for this program, which in the past sponsored two scholarships each year. "With this program, we’re creating an opportunity for many more people to enter an important profession that makes a major difference in the lives of thousands of cancer patients," said Richard M. Levy, chairman and CEO of Varian Medical Systems. "ASRT is an excellent organization and, with their help, we can extend assistance to a broad range of radiation therapy students in 85 accredited programs across the nation." Varian will fund 11 scholarships of $5,000 each in the 2004-2005 academic year, 15 scholarships of $5,000 each in the 2005-2006 academic year, and 19 scholarships of $5,000 each in the 2006-2007 through 2008-2009 academic years. "The ASRT Foundation is thrilled with the support Varian Medical Systems has shown to the radiation therapy community through expansion of this scholarship program," said Maureen Simmons-Mills, Foundation development director. "Varian is taking a positive, proactive approach to addressing the shortage of radiation therapists." Varian Medical Systems has a long history of support for the ASRT Education and Research Foundation. From 1984 to 2000, Varian sponsored the Varian Award for Achievement in Radiation Therapy, awarded annually to a leading radiation therapy professional in honor of Eileen McCullough, B.H.S., R.T.®(T), FASRT, a pioneering radiation therapy educator. The award was converted to a scholarship program in 2001. Varian Medical Systems is a world leader in the design and manufacture of integrated systems of equipment and software for treating cancer with radiation therapy. The company produces linear accelerators and treatment simulation and verification products, as well as information management and treatment planning software. The ASRT Education and Research Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. The Foundation awards thousands of dollars worth of scholarships and grants annually to further the development of the radiologic sciences. Applications for the Varian Radiation Therapy Scholarship are available on the Foundation section of the ASRT Web site at www.asrt.org.