The American Society for Radiation Oncology's 2015 Core Physics Curriculum for Radiation Oncology Residents
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan (United States)
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (United States)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan (United States)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California – Davis, Sacramento, California (United States)
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (United States)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, Michigan (United States)
- Karmanos Cancer Center, Detroit, Michigan (United States)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (United States)
- VA Ann Arbor Healthcare and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (United States)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (United States)
- 21st Century Oncology, Fort Myers, Florida (United States)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California – San Diego, La Jolla, California (United States)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (United States)
Purpose: The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Physics Core Curriculum Subcommittee (PCCSC) has updated the recommended physics curriculum for radiation oncology resident education to improve consistency in teaching, intensity, and subject matter. Methods and Materials: The ASTRO PCCSC is composed of physicists and physicians involved in radiation oncology residency education. The PCCSC updated existing sections within the curriculum, created new sections, and attempted to provide additional clinical context to the curricular material through creation of practical clinical experiences. Finally, we reviewed the American Board of Radiology (ABR) blueprint of examination topics for correlation with this curriculum. Results: The new curriculum represents 56 hours of resident physics didactic education, including a 4-hour initial orientation. The committee recommends completion of this curriculum at least twice to assure both timely presentation of material and re-emphasis after clinical experience. In addition, practical clinical physics and treatment planning modules were created as a supplement to the didactic training. Major changes to the curriculum include addition of Fundamental Physics, Stereotactic Radiosurgery/Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, and Safety and Incidents sections, and elimination of the Radiopharmaceutical Physics and Dosimetry and Hyperthermia sections. Simulation and Treatment Verification and optional Research and Development in Radiation Oncology sections were also added. A feedback loop was established with the ABR to help assure that the physics component of the ABR radiation oncology initial certification examination remains consistent with this curriculum. Conclusions: The ASTRO physics core curriculum for radiation oncology residents has been updated in an effort to identify the most important physics topics for preparing residents for careers in radiation oncology, to reflect changes in technology and practice since the publication of previous recommended curricula, and to provide practical training modules in clinical radiation oncology physics and treatment planning. The PCCSC is committed to keeping the curriculum current and consistent with the ABR examination blueprint.
- OSTI ID:
- 22648749
- Journal Information:
- International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Vol. 95, Issue 4; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2016 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0360-3016
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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