The radiation oncology residency program is AGCME approved for five (5) residents and is a four (4) year curriculum (PGY2 through PGY5), at Hahnemann University Hospital, with the primary site Abington Memorial Hospital. Outside electives have included radiation oncology at the University of Pittsburgh, pediatric oncology at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and medical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Radiation Oncology Academic Program
Conferences and teaching rounds attended by residents, radiation oncologists and other staff provide for and encourage progressive resident participation. The clinical and basic sciences are taught through regularly scheduled lectures, case presentations, conferences, and discussion relevant to the practice of radiation oncology. A curriculum in medical physics includes didactic lectures and laboratory demonstration of radiation safety procedures, calibration of radiation therapy machines, computer treatment planning, and the safe handling of sealed and unsealed radionuclides. Radiation biology lectures include didactic lectures on all aspects of radiation effects on normal and neoplastic tissues. Organized lectures or conferences familiarize the resident with medical statistic, and oncologic pathology, with special emphasis on neoplasia and radiation effects.
Residents learn in a continuous flow through intradepartmental clinical oncology conferences: new patient conferences, weekly chart review, problem case conferences, morbidity and mortality, physics, dosimetry, radiation biology and journal review.
Residency teaching is one-to-one, ongoing throughout each day, through simulation, dosimetry, treatment planning, pathology and imaging review. Resident and attending physicians have discussions with family members, medical oncologists, surgeons, social workers and others in a integrated patient care environment. This teaching method continues through the four (4) year program with the resident increasingly acquiring knowledge, proficiency, confidence, and professionalism.
Residents are required to do an investigative project under faculty supervision with results suitable for publication or presentation.
Requirements
-
A first year (PGY 1) of postgraduate clinical training must be spent in medicine, surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, family practice, pediatrics or a transition year program. The PGY 1 year must include at least nine months of direct patient care in medical and/or surgical specialties other than radiation oncology. Arrangements for the transition year must be made by the program applicant.
-
Resident must have passed USMLE Step 2.
Residents are required each year to take the American College of Radiology In-Training exam in order to gauge progress, strengths and weaknesses. Mock oral exams take place after each rotation with an attending, one-on-one, as well as in the spring for more senior residents.
Radiation Oncology Residency Competencies
Radiation oncology residents are evaluated in several competencies by year.
Upon completion of the program the resident must submit an experience log with combined numbers from the 4-year training program of patients irradiated, procedures performed and observed, and modalities. Twice per year, the program director meets with each resident individually to assess progress and evaluates the log to ensure there are no deficiencies in numbers of tumor sites or procedures treated.
Conferences
There are interdepartmental clinical oncology conferences, including new radiation patient conferences/weekly chart review, problem case conferences, morbidity and mortality, physics, dosimetry, radiation biology and journal review. There is a visiting professor series which occurs 2-3 times per year.
Residents attend and gain experience from bi-monthly gyn-pathology conferences conducted throughout the four (4) year program.
Accomplished by attendance at multidisciplinary and departmental conferences, the resident receives didactic instruction in the potential value and limitations of other oncologic disciplines, such as medical oncology, surgical oncology, gynecologic oncology, hematologic oncology, pediatric oncology and the various surgical subspecialties that play a role in the management of the patient. Sample of conferences:
-
Wednesday afternoons are reserved for resident educational time. Physics and radiation biology occur at this time along with the chief resident conference.
-
Once per month on Fridays, residents have session time with the chairman. This session may include time in Drexel University College of Medicine's simulation center at Queen Lane Campus, or anatomy/radiology review, which may include cadaver dissection.
-
Visiting professor conferences are held on Wednesdays 2-3 times a year
-
Weekly radiation chart review
-
Morbidity and mortality conference held two times per year
-
Radiation biology held weekly on Wednesday
-
Physics held weekly on Wednesday
-
Chief residents conference - textbook chapter review
-
Abington teleconferences
-
Journal club
-
Lymphoma conference
-
Tumor board, every Friday at 8:00
-
Breast conference every Monday at 8:00
-
Head and neck - monthly
-
Urology conference every other week
Research Rotation
Residents are required to engage in an investigative project under faculty supervision in clinical research, or the retrospective analysis of data from treated patients, and results should be suitable for publication or presentation at scientific meetings.
In the research rotation, residents are required to submit a research proposal to Dr. Luther Brady, director of resident research and Dr. Komarnicky. Every year residents are given the opportunity to present their research during the residency poster competition of Drexel University College of Medicine's Discovery Day. Residents have presented their collaborative research in multiple venues from poster to oral, from regional to national. Examples of presentations include:
-
Drexel Discovery Day
-
International Colorectal Consortium at Lankenau Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa
-
ASTRO
-
RSNA
-
Cyberknife Meetings
Prior to the research rotation, project approval is required by Dr. Brady and Dr. Komarnicky. A research rotation consists of an eight to twelve week block.
Evaluations
An evaluation is given by a faculty clinician after the resident completes a rotation. The evaluation provides assessment of ability, attitudes, interpersonal relationships, patient relations and initiative. It is also an assessment of clinical competence, decision making, clinical management skills, knowledge of radiobiology, physics, dosimetry and radiation therapy. There is provision for the resident for appropriate and timely feedback of the content of the evaluations.
Resident evaluation after each rotation should reflect independent thought, initiative, quality judgment, patient management and patient relations, teaching ability, performance and professionalism.
Residents are advanced to positions of higher responsibility on the basis of evidence of their satisfactory faculty appraisal; on performance on the in-service training examination; demonstrated competence in management decisions and derivation of treatment programs, in follow-up assessment, and in radiation oncology techniques.
Residents are also able to evaluate the program as well as the faculty anonymously fto provide feedback to the chair. This feedback is important for keeping the program fresh and to improve any weak areas. A yearly retreat of all faculty and residents happens in June to address our strengths and weaknesses.We are always questioning how we can be or do better.
Back to Top