Texas Oncology offers a two-year Radiation Oncology Clinical Medical Physics Residency Program. The program is designed for candidates with masters or doctoral degrees in medical physics who are interested in careers as clinical medical physicists in radiation oncology. The program achieved Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP) accreditation in 2014.
This program concentrates on the medical use of physics in the treatment of cancer patients.
There are rotations in 12 clinical physics topics:
- Basic External Beam Treatment Planning and MU Calculations
- Imaging and Simulators in Radiation Therapy
- Linear Accelerator QA & Dosimetric Systems
- External Beam Treatment Simulation, Planning, and Treatment Guidance
- Linear Accelerator Acceptance Test Protocol, Survey, and Commissioning
- Brachytherapy
- Special Procedures
- External Beam Treatment Planning System and Radiation Oncology Information System Commissioning
- Proton Therapy
- Radiation Safety and Shielding Design
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy
- Medical Physics professional issues
The residents are involved in every aspect of day-to-day clinical duties, as well as acceptance and commissioning of new equipment, special procedures, and facility design. Residents participate in chart rounds, tumor conferences, physics meetings, journal clubs, and assigned readings. The residents are examined orally for each rotation, as well as a final comprehensive oral exam required for program completion. A detailed program description can be obtained here. Information on program statistics and residents can be found here.
Residency Environment
Texas Oncology is a network of more than 420 physicians and oncology specialists with more than 175 locations, including 55 radiation oncology clinics. Texas Oncology practices house multiple programs in IMRT, IGRT, SRS, SBRT, HDR and LDR brachytherapy, radiopharmaceuticals, the Texas Center for Proton Therapy, and state of the art imaging equipment. The residency takes full advantage of the system-wide equipment and clinical resources to provide residents a broad training experience.
The residents work under the supervision of American Board of Radiology (ABR) board certified medical physics faculty. They also work closely with radiation oncologists, dosimetrists, nurses, and other radiation oncology personnel.
Texas Oncology offers a comprehensive benefits package for residents, including medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability insurance.
Application
Only those applicants with a M.S., Ph.D. or certificate from a CAMPEP accredited medical physics graduate program will be considered for entrance to the residency program. North American graduate programs in medical physics can be found here.
Applications are accepted from early October through December 15 each year. Applications will be submitted through the AAPM common application website. The Texas Oncology residency program participates in the Medical Physics Residency Match system.
Additional application materials may be requested, including residency/visa status (copies of I-90 green card or visa if applicable) and a copy of the applicant’s driver’s license.