The Department of Radiation Oncology provides multiple
academic training options for students, physicians, and researchers. Our
residency program provides the foundational training to physicians
entering the radiation oncology specialty. Med students from the UTMB
School of Medicine rotate through the department in order to learn about
the specialty and participate in research projects. Our medical
physicists have conducted international training on advanced
radiotherapy treatment techniques, including IMRT treatment planning.
Radiation therapists receive hands-on training and instruction from our
certified therapists in conjunction with Galveston College's approved
therapist program.
Residency Program
The residency training program at UTMB offers many unique training opportunities to prepare its graduates for a career in Radiation Oncology, either in academics or private practice. Residents gain exposure through rotations with various faculty in their areas of expertise. The resident has ample opportunity to exercise increasing independence in clinical decision making as they progress through the program culminating in a senior service that provides significant autonomy with adequate supervision. Technically, residents are exposed to a broad spectrum of modern radiotherapy techniques including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy.
The program, through a number of unique arrangements, allows contact with patients in a number of clinical settings including our large tertiary referral campus in Galveston in addition to community oriented hospitals within the Houston city limits. More recently, we have developed an arrangement for our residents to spend a sizable block of time rotating at M.D. Anderson to gain additional exposure to pediatric patients and techniques such as proton therapy.
Recognizing the balancing act required of a resident, providing high quality patient care while continuing academic endeavors, we provide our residents with protected educational time. Residents take part in didactics by both the physics and radiobiology staff associated with the program. Residents and clinical faculty prepare didactics for the group and participate in new patient conferences, journal club and morbidity and mortality conferences at regular intervals. We believe this protected time is necessary for the residents to master the complexity of the field.
Residents have opportunities to participate in multi-disciplinary tumor boards in all disease areas to learn the intricacies of the multi-disciplinary approach to cancer care that has become so critical in our field. There is an opportunity for residents to partake in clinical and translational research projects. Submission of research to national meetings such as those sponsored by The American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), The American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO), The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and others are highly encouraged and monies to attend such events are available to present such work.
Outside the clinic, residents find the area to be quite enjoyable. The cost of living in the Galveston Area is relatively affordable. The climate is mild through most of the year, while the summers are typical for southern Gulf States. The sandy beaches are not far from the campus and cruise ships depart regularly from Galveston Island. Galveston offers numerous opportunities for those who love the outdoors and watersports. Houston is only 45 minutes from downtown Galveston offering an array of local and international events expected of the fourth largest city in the U.S.