Radiation Therapy Residency Program

The Residency Training Program in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Stanford University is located on the campus of Stanford University in the Medical Center, 35 miles south of San Francisco. It includes the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Stanford University Hospital. Affiliated institutions participating in the radiation oncology training program are the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital andthe Children's Hospital at Stanford.

The Radiation Oncology Training Program is a four-year program beginning at the PGY II level. We do not offer a PGY I position, but encourage applicants to complete a straight medical or good flexible internship. All applicants must be eligible for medical licensure in the State of California. Graduates from foreign medical schools should contact the Board of Medical Quality Assurance, Division of Licensure, 1432 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95825 to ensure that eligibility requirements have been met.

A minimum of 36 months in the residency training program is spent in clinical Radiation Oncology Clinic, evaluating both new patients and follow-up patients. New patients are referred from other clinical services in our hospital, the Palo Alto VA Hospital, the Children's Hospital, and other institutions. Our average annual number of new patients is approximately 2000 and includes a broad mix of patients with all types of neoplasms. Our residents participate in the initial evaluation, staging, treatment planning, simulation, and therapy of their patients. They receive comprehensive training in orthovoltage and megavoltage external beam therapy (including whole body irradiation), electron therapy (including total skin treatment), brachytherapy (including experience with 192Ir, 125I, and137Cs, low dose rate, and high dose rate therapy), frame-based and frameless stereotactic radiotherapy, intraoperative irradiation, and radiolabeled monoclonal antibody therapy. The patient population includes a significant number of children. Ancillary rotations include a medical oncology rotation (in-patient or out-patient clinics), physics/dosimetry, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

Our interaction with other clinical departments at Stanford is substantial. We participate in many combined conferences and tumor boards. We also have a didactic series of lectures in radiation physics and radiation biology. Our residents are expected to present at least one seminar annually on some aspect of cancer research or management.

Opportunities for electives including laboratory research in Radiation Biology or Radiation Physics Divisions, as well as clinical research are available. The Department has a Kaplan Research Fellowship for applicants interested in a specific research experience. In addition, the Department supports the ABR Holman Research Pathway to certification.