About the Medical Physics Residency Program

Structure

The clinical practice of the Stanford University School of Medicine (SU SoM) Department of Radiation Oncology is centered in the Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC), a National Cancer Institute designated cancer center.

The Stanford Radiation Oncology Physics Residency is structured as a two-year therapeutic program of progressive, supervised clinical training in all areas of radiation oncology physics, with the purpose of enabling a resident to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to practice radiation oncology physics independently and gain board certification. An optional elective third year of research may be scheduled after the two fully-clinical training years for a clinically related project by agreement with and under supervision of a member of the radiation oncology physics faculty. The additional year is intended to provide clinically trained residents time to advance a translational research project, with consequent opportunities for accomplishments to support a career goal of being a clinician-scientist.

Training Curriculum

The mainstay of the curriculum is the instruction of residents by means of their performing clinical physics tasks under direct individual supervision of experienced mentors. Residents are afforded increased independence in performing these tasks, in so far as it has been demonstrated that they possess the capability of performing said procedures with reduced direct oversight. Mentors remain responsible for task completion, and in continuing with a defined task, residents gain opportunities to learn more nuanced aspects of the subject. The training program consists of a sequence of 1-3 month clinical rotations, each organized around a particular topic, plus one continuing program of twice-monthly meetings that broadly range across specific topics in medical physics, such as AAPM Task Group reports. Each rotation is mentored by one or two physicists. To complete a rotation, the mentors must verify that residents have achieved defined knowledge goals and competencies.   

Rotation Schedule


  • The following competencies constitute core development goals for each clinical rotation (please refer to rotation descriptions):
  • to understand the sophisticated technologies used in the practice of medical physics and radiation oncology;
  • to understand the protocols and practices essential to the deployment of these technologies for patient care in particular to detect, diagnose and treat various illnesses and injuries;
  • to acquire the skills necessary for operating, testing and validating the technologies used in the practice of medical physics and radiation oncology;
  • to systematically analyze practice using quality improvement (QI) methods, and implement changes with the goal of practice safety improvement;
  • to communicate effectively with physicians, other health professionals, and health related agencies and work effectively as a member of a health care team;
  • to build a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and an adherence to ethical principles
  •  
  • Rotation 1: Orientation; Simulation, Planning, and Treatment; Ethics; Accelerator Theory and Operation; Radiation Safety
  • Rotation 2: Linac Safety; Equipment QA; Patient-Specific QA; Shielding Calculations; Calibration Protocols
  • Rotation 3: 3D Treatment Planning; Basic Dosimetry
  • Rotation 4: IMRT and VMAT Planning; Chart Checking
  • Rotation 5: Clinical Translational Project
  • Rotation 6: CyberKnife Radiosurgery; Linac-based SBRT
  • Rotation 7: Special Procedures; TBI and TSEI; Protons (@UCSD); IORT, Reflexion & MR-Linac
  • Rotation 8: Brachytherapy
  • Rotation 9: Electronic Imaging; Motion Management¥
  • Rotation 10: Community Practice
  • Rotation 11: Full Participation; exchange at UCSF
  • Optional 3rd year: Research Year
  • The clinical practice of the Stanford University School of Medicine (SUMC) Department of Radiation Oncology is centered in the Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC), a National Cancer Institute designated cancer center. Please see Facilities and Equipment page for more information on site rotation.

Last updated 12/21/23.