Curriculum:
The program consists of rotations where the resident is expected to spend the majority of the time in ‘hands-on’ clinical activities and responsibilities. The program includes courses which consist of applied and practical courses delivered within the Radiation Oncology Clinic as well as lecture-based and web-based didactic courses.
Clinical Rotations:
The resident will complete 8 three-month rotations. For each rotation, the resident will be under the supervision of a physics faculty chief mentor and additional physics faculty mentors as needed.
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Training Period |
Rotation Description |
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Year 1, Quarter 1 Rotation 1
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Rotation Title: Introduction to Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology Main Objectives:
Monthly Oral Exam Topic:
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Year 1, Quarter 2 Rotation 2
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Rotation Title: Treatment Planning I (2D, 3D, Electron, TBI) Main Objectives:
Monthly Oral Exam Topic:
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Year 1, Quarter 3 Rotation 3
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Rotation Title: Treatment Planning II (IMRT, VMAT, SBRT, SRS) Main Objectives:
Monthly Oral Exam Topic :
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Year 1, Quarter 4 Rotation 4
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Rotation Title: Quality Assurance, Calibration, and Commissioning Main Objectives:
Monthly Oral Exam Topic :
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Year 2, Quarter 1 Rotation 5
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Rotation Title: Brachytherapy and Radiation Safety/Protection Main Objectives:
Monthly Oral Exam Topic:
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Year 2, Quarter 2 Rotation 6
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Rotation Title: Medical Imaging & Informatics in Radiation Oncology Main Objectives:
Monthly Oral Exam Topic :
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Year 2, Quarter 3 Rotation 7
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Rotation Title: Proton, Radiobiology, and Special Topics Main Objectives:
Monthly Oral Exam Topic :
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Year 2, Quarter 4 Rotation 8
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Rotation Title: Clinical physics support Main Objectives:
Monthly Oral Exam Topic:
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Clinical Responsiblities:
| Activity | Minimum Requirements |
| CT Simulation | Observe three weeks of CT Sim procedures |
| Linac Treatment Delivery | Observe three weeks of treatments on the linacs |
| Patient Specific QA | Routine work throughout residency (analyze portal dosimetry, delivery is done by therapists) |
| In-vivo dosimetry | Routine work throughout residency |
| CT Routine QA | Serve as primary physicist for one CT simulator in the 1st year |
| Linac Monthly QA | Serve as primary physicist for one Linac machine in the 2nd year |
| Linac Annual QA | Participate in at least 5 annual QAs, finish at least 2 annual QA reports. Independently perform 4 TG51 calibrations. |
| Treatment Planning | Finish at least 30 (3D) + 30 (non-3D) clinical-quality plans and document |
| TBI Cases | Senior in charge of planning for TBI until the junior starts Rotation 3 |
| HDR Spot check | Routine work throughout residency |
| HDR Treatment | Participate in every case during Rotation 4 |
| HDR Source Exchange QA | Independently perform 3 HDR source exchange QAs |
| Chart Check Cases | 30 2nd check + 30 final physics check + 60 weekly chart check |
Research:
Residents are encouraged to initiate their own clinical research projects or work on research projects under the supervision of staff physicists. The research project requirement is optional and shall not compromise the residents’ clinical training. Projects can be initiated any time during the residency, as long as the clinical training objectives are met and the training requirements are fulfilled. Many past residents have published manuscripts and successfully presented their research at local and national conferences.
Conferences, Meetings, and Journal Club:
Residents are required to attend the educational conferences, lectures, and meetings that regularly take place within the UNMC campus. A list of such conferences or meetings is shown below with the minimum attendance requirement specified. Attendance at all conferences, lectures, and meetings must be documented by the residents. The residents shall submit a summary of cases reviewed in chart rounds to the program director at the end of the 1st year.
Didactic Training:
Residents are required to audit MITS 424T/624T Clinical Oncology I and MITS 425T/625T Clinical Oncology II taught by the physician faculty in the department.
Residents are recommended to audit MITS 414T/614T Sectional Anatomy and Pathology I and MITS 415T/615T Sectional Anatomy and Pathology II.
If residents demonstrate a deficiency, they are also required to audit MITS 408T/608T Radiation Therapy Physics.
MITS 424T/624T, MITS 425T/625T: Clinical Oncology I and II
These lecture-based courses present the general principles, aims, and detailed techniques of proper application of ionizing radiation to the human body. Epidemiology, etiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of malignancies are addressed. Recognition of the invasive and metastatic patterns for various tumors, staging and grading procedures and their roles in determining prognosis is stressed. Appropriate chemotherapy agents for each site, their interactions with radiotherapy and side effects are discussed. Standard and emerging applications of radiation therapy will be emphasized.
MITS 414T/614T, MITS 415T/615T: Sectional Anatomy and Pathology I and II
These web-based courses are designed as an independent study and will include introductory concepts of cell biology & pathology, as well as concepts regarding neoplasia, fluid and hemodynamic disorders.
Additional instruction on sectional anatomy and pathology of the chest, abdomen, hematopoietic& lymphoid systems, GI tract, liver & biliary systems, and pancreas are also included. Sectional Anatomy & Pathology II is a continuation of Sectional Anatomy & Pathology I and will include instruction on sectional anatomy and pathology of the pelvis, urinary tract, male & female productive systems, spine, bones & joints and CNS.
Residents will also participate in educational conferences and meetings within the Department of Radiation Oncology as well as specialty oncology conferences. Conferences within the department include new patient and mortality and morbidity conference, chart rounds, physics meetings, journal club. Specialty oncology conferences include head & neck, pediatric, gynecological, neuro-oncology, breast, and GI oncology.