Before you begin the Radiation Oncology Residency, you need to take one year of basic training. We offer a PGY-1 position in the Transitional Year Residency at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. This year is tailored for the radiation oncology resident.

During the four years of radiation oncology residency training, you are responsible for most patient care, including initial evaluations, management decisions, treatment delivery, and follow-up.

With each year of training, you're expected to have increasing responsibility and demonstrate increasing ability to work independently with a goal of competency in medical knowledge, patient care, systems-based practice, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and practice-based learning and improvement.

Rotation schedule

Clinical rotations are based on disease sites. You'll work closely with faculty physicians who specialize in those areas. One faculty member is designated to primarily oversee that educational goals are met during the rotation and coordinate scheduling to optimize your learning.

Senior Resident Associate rotation

A unique opportunity for senior residents is a six-month rotation during the PGY-5 year where residents function semi-independently as a Senior Resident Associate (SRA).

During this block, the SRA assumes more responsibility as the primary caregiver for patients during their radiation therapy. The SRA performs consultation and develops a treatment plan under the supervision of a faculty member appropriate for that patient’s disease site. Through the treatment process, the SRA is the leader in the patient's care team; they integrate therapists, dosimetrists, and support staff, as well as dieticians and other medical specialties such as medical oncology and surgical oncology. The SRA will encounter the full variety of cases typical for a radiation oncology practice during the six months in order to prepare for the transition from training to practice.

Didactic training

Clinical conferences, journal clubs, and one-on-one instruction are integral parts of the residency. In addition, the program offers didactic staff-led classes in radiobiology and radiation physics. A core curriculum course covering all aspects of oncology care is taught weekly by staff from many different areas within Mayo Clinic including radiation and medical oncology, neurology, statistics, pathology, radiology, and many different surgical specialties. 

Research training

The residency includes eight months of research, which can take the form of a clinical, radiobiology, or physics project. Alternatively, you can use this time to write a clinical protocol that will be used within Mayo Clinic or available through a cooperative study group.

Residents are strongly encouraged to participate in clinical research outside this six-month time commitment. All residents are expected to produce publishable work during their residency. 

The department has a dedicated bio-statistician as well as informatics and clinical research staff available to you as resources as you develop projects and evaluate data. Mentorship and guidance from faculty is tailored to each resident's goals and interests. The institution provides writing and publishing services to help with manuscript submission.

When your research is ready for presentation, you may use up to 10 days each academic year to present scholarly work (abstracts, posters, and oral presentations) at national specialty society meetings. 

Evaluation

Clinical competency is evaluated through staff-written rotation evaluations, oral exams, and 360-degree reviews. You will be evaluated on a quarterly basis. Research competency is evaluated through the production of a publishable work and productivity during your research rotation. 

Teaching opportunities

You will have the opportunity to participate in education and teaching activities for rotating medical students, physician and physics residents, staff, and faculty. Teaching formats include individual contact, lecture formats, and journal clubs. You may also have opportunities to mentor medical student research projects.

Career development

The environment and large patient volume at Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona will prepare you in all aspects of radiation oncology in an academic environment. Involvement in the applied research of the medical practice will further strengthen your academic skills. You will be expected to participate in national radiation oncology meetings.