Trainee experience

Curriculum in the Radiation Oncology Fellowship consists of online and in person didactic, dedicated research time, and mentored clinical rotations in the Radiation Oncology outpatient clinics in Rochester as well as regional sites. 

Fellows will rotate on our inpatient radiation oncology hospital service as well as specialties integral to cancer care, including palliative care and medical oncology. 

There is ample elective/selective time for fellows to tailor their education to meet specific radiation oncology interests. 

During this program, learning experiences allow you to: 

• Enhance your knowledge and acquire practical skills in the assessment, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning, delivery, and follow-up care of patients receiving radiation therapy for both malignant and benign conditions.
• Advance competency in radiation oncology principles, including patient selection, simulation, treatment planning, management of acute and late radiation-related toxicities, and survivorship care.
• Strengthen critical thinking skills in the comprehensive, multidisciplinary management of patients throughout the continuum of radiation oncology care.
• Develop self-directed learning skills to remain current with emerging evidence, radiation technologies, clinical practice guidelines, and advances in oncologic care.
• Demonstrate cultural humility, professionalism, and respect for diversity while providing compassionate, patient-centered care across diverse populations.
• Promote the advancement of radiation oncology through excellence in clinical practice, quality improvement, education, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Clinical training and rotations

The curriculum includes the following clinical experience:

Didactic coursework 

All fellows are required to complete a research/QI project and are given four hours every other week to work on this. Fellows are paired with an APP Mentor. Brightspace is where most educational content is housed.

Required coursework

Schedule and hours 

For the fellowship, the learning schedule is weekday hours with approximately 40 hours weekly. This does not include additional time spent on didactic responsibilities. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 p.m.

The program provides you with four hours every other week as dedicated research time to achieve the best learning opportunities in clinical research to improve patient care outcomes. 

Department and faculty 

The Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant Radiation Oncology Fellowship is coordinated and taught by the clinical, scientific, and technical staff of Mayo Clinic. Faculty members are chosen for their commitment to teaching, as well as their clinical practice and research experience. Fellows will work closely with APPs and M.D.s in subspecialty clinics and during hospital rotations. You have direct access to these individuals throughout the training program. 

Visiting professors and lecturers 

A hallmark of higher education excellence is the breadth and depth of information and experience provided to you by faculty and visiting experts. Many prominent professors visit Mayo Clinic each year to lecture in their areas of medical and scientific expertise. 

As a student at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, you are encouraged to learn from these valuable resources by attending all relevant conferences, lectures, and seminars prepared for students, interns, residents, fellows, and consulting staff. 

Evaluation 

Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences uses these evaluative tools: 

• Written examination
• Demonstration of skills
• Self-assessment exercises
• Faculty reviews 

Mayo Clinic's system of evaluation provides students and faculty with a comprehensive look at individual performance. This allows faculty and administrative staff to direct students who are experiencing academic difficulty to the appropriate support resources, including tutoring programs and counseling opportunities. 

Career opportunities and advancement

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants in radiation oncology can pursue a variety of opportunities for professional growth and specialization. With experience, they may develop expertise in specific cancer types, participate in clinical research and quality improvement initiatives, contribute to the education and mentorship of students and other healthcare professionals, or pursue leadership roles within oncology and cancer care. The field also offers opportunities for continued learning and professional development as radiation technology and cancer treatments evolve.