Radiation Oncology Residency

Applicants matching to Cleveland Clinic's Radiation Oncology Residency Program are required to complete their first year of residency at Cleveland Clinic. A unique transitional year has been created by the department to expose new residents to a dynamic mix of surgical and medical rotations, with an emphasis on the management of patients with cancer. As an intern, you will meet and work closely with many of the same surgeons and oncologists that you will continue to work with throughout the remainder of your specialty training.

Orientation at Cleveland Clinic for all incoming residents and interns begins in the last week of June, and full clinical duties begin July 1st.

PGY 2

During the PGY-2 year, new resident are immersed in introductory physics and radio-biology course work in addition to exposure to the fundamentals of radiation oncology. Areas covered include work-up, treatment planning process, delivery of radiation and follow up of patients receiving radiotherapy.

PGY 3

During the PGY-3 year, the residents are expected to improve their understanding of all aspects of radiation oncology, especially the treatment planning process, and also to develop a research interest for the following year.

PGY 4

During the PGY-4 year, residents are expected to perform clinical or basic science research for six to twelve months under the supervision of an appropriate Cleveland Clinic faculty member. The remaining time will be spent as electives in medical oncology, pathology and radiation oncology. To supplement their pediatric oncology experience, residents will also rotate for one month at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee during their 4th year.

PGY 5

During the PGY-5 year, the level of responsibility is increased. The year is structured to consolidate clinical skills and the knowledge base acquired during the previous three years. Opportunity exists for a one-month elective in one of the several community hospital affiliates for those interested in this experience.

Resident teaching conferences are held daily between 8:00-9:00 am and are staffed by radiation oncology attending physicians and medical physicists. Residents are exempt from clinical duties during these times.

Morning Conference

Case presentation and discussion of a specific disease site, twice per week. Residents and staff discuss anatomy, work-up, imaging, treatment options, and field design. Residents are expected to study and a handout is distributed at the conclusion of the meeting.

Technical Conference

A conference to discuss the set-up, planning, or technique of radiation delivery.

Journal Club / QA Conference

Monthly meetings, usually in the evening, to discuss recent articles and cases of radiation morbidity.

Tumor Board

Regularly scheduled multidisciplinary conferences, attended by medical oncology, surgery, and radiation oncology in the areas of lung, breast, CNS, head & neck, gynecology, gastroenterology, and lymphoma.

Visiting Professor Program:

At least four times per year, leaders in radiation oncology are invited to spend a day at Cleveland Clinic. Usually, the invited professor will give a lecture and then spend the morning discussing specific cases or issues in radiation oncology with residents.

Resident research activity begins early at Cleveland Clinic. Although there is a dedicated 6-9 months of research time in the PGY-4 year, many junior residents have oral or poster presentations at national meetings such as ASTRO, ASCO, RSNA, AUA, and SNO.

Cleveland Clinic allows residents to attend a meeting of their choice after the PGY-2 year. Thus, all residents in their PGY-3,4, or 5 year typically attend ASTRO.

Additional funding is available within the department for residents who present research at other national meetings.

Highlights

• Summary of Benefits

• Vacation: 15 days (3 weeks) per year + variable number of meeting days
• Call Schedule: Home call, one week at a time.
• Book fund: An individual book fund is available for all residents to purchase texts.
• Office space: Each resident has personal desk space with a computer which has access to patient information and the internet. The residents' room is on the 2nd floor (windows!).
• Pagers: Cleveland Clinic has a text paging system.

Applications are accepted between September 1 - October 15

There are three positions available per year. Cleveland Clinic and the Radiation Oncology Program participate in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) for the application process and the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) for the matching of residents to programs.

The internship year is incorporated into the residency program at CCF. Therefore, applicants who match at Cleveland Clinic for residency will also match at CCF for their internship.

Interviews

Applications will be reviewed upon completion and selected candidates will be invited for interviews. Candidates selected for interviews will be notified in November and interviews will typically occur on Mondays in January. The interview schedule begins with an informal evening with the residents at a local restaurant. This is an opportunity for the applicants to get to know the residents and ask questions.

Each candidate is provided with an individualized timetable for their interview day (typically Monday). For all candidates, this includes morning conference, beginning at 8:00 am, after which applicants interview with various members of the department. Each candidate will meet with 6-9 faculty members on interview day, including the Chairman, the Program Director, and the Chief Medical Physicist. Interviewees are also given an opportunity to spend some time in the clinic. Prior to completing their final interviews, applicants have another chance to get to know the residents during the informal interview day lunch. The day typically concludes around 2:00 pm, although schedules may vary.

Note

Cleveland Clinic subsidizes a proportion of accommodation fees.

Elective Medical Student Rotations

Fourth year medical students interested in an elective rotation in the Department of Radiation Oncology should contact Carolyn Sanford regarding availability at sanforc@ccf.org or by phone at 216-445-4379.

Further information about medical student elective rotations at Cleveland Clinic, including requirements, eligibility and the application form can be viewed at the Cleveland Clinic Medical Student Elective Website.

Students who perform electives at Cleveland Clinic are often expected to function as independent residents. Responsibilities include evaluation of patients, dictation, and presentation of a morning conference. Both research and clinical electives are available.

• Cleveland Clinic Medical Student Elective Website

PGY5

PGY4

PGY3

PGY2

PGY1

Papers in Peer-Reviewed Journals

1. Guo S, Reddy CA, Chao ST, Suh JH, Barnett GH, Vogelbaum MA, Videtic GM. "Impact of non-small cell lung cancer histology on survival predicted from the graded prognostic assessment for patients with brain metastases." Lung Cancer. 2012 August;
2. Hunter GK, Balagamwala E, Koyfman S, Bledsoe T, Reddy C, Chao S, Angelov L, Videtic G. "The Efficacy of External Beam Radiotherapy and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) for Painful Spinal Metastases from Renal Cell Carcinoma." Accepted to Practical Radiation Oncology, January 2012.
3. Hunter GK, Reddy, Angermeier, Ulchaker, Klein, Chehade, Altman, Ciezki. "Long-term (potential ten year follow up) toxicity after treatment for prostate cancer with either external beam radiation therapy, interstitial brachytherapy, or radical prostatectomy." Accepted to Prostate Cancer, January 2012.
4. Marwaha G, Wilkinson A, Bena J, Macklis R, Singh A. Dosimetric Benefit of a New Ophthalmic Radiation Plaque. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. 2012.
5. Sheplan LM, Videtic G, Macklis R. Tumors of the Heart and Great Vessels; Book Chapter for Perez and Brady's Principles and Practice of Radiation Oncology. In: Edward C. Halperin, MD; David E. Wazer, MD; Carlos A. Perez, MD; Luther W. Brady, MD. Perez and Brady's Principles and Practice of Radiation Oncology, 6th ed. PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
6. Stockham AL, Suh JH, Chao ST, Barnett GH.: "Management of recurrent brain metastasis after radiosurgery." Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Taussig Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.

1. Cherian S, Djemil T, Abdel-Wahab M, Greskovich J, Stephans KL: Stereotactic Radiation (SBRT) for Primary Liver Malignancies. Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.
2. Guo S, Reddy CA, Stephans KL, Videtic GMM: Outcomes of Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy in Poor Risk Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients and Validation of RTOG 0213. Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.
3. Guo S, Elson P, Reddy CA, Chao ST, Suh JH. Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes from Repeat Whole Brain Irradiation. Presented at ACRO Annual Meeting; Fort Myers, FL. 02/23/2012.
4. Hearn JWD, Videtic GMM, Djemil T, Stephans KL: Salvage Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) for Local Failure after Upfront Lung SBRT: If at First You Don't Succeed... Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.
5. Kumar AMS, El-Gazzaa G, Aucejo F, Abdel-Wahab M: Outcomes of Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients: A Cleveland Clinic Experience. Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.
6. Kumar AMS, Bledsoe T, Noble A, Shang Q, Saxton JP, Rodriguez CP, Adelstein DJ, Koyfman SA, Xia P, Greskovich JF: A Dosimetric Analysis of 3D vs. IMRT Planning and its Impact on Acute Grade 3 Dysphagia and Xerostomia in Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients Treated with Chemoradiotherapy. Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.
7. Kumar AMS, Mehta A, Kiran R, Kalady M, Lavery I, Abdel-Wahab M: Peri-Operative Complications in Patients with Inflammatory bowel Disease who Received Chemoradiation for Colorectal Malignancy. Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.
8. Shukla ME, Mir MC, Stephenson Aj, Reddy CA, Stephans KL, Klein EA, Tendulkar RD: Pre-radiotherapy PSA is Predictive of Biochemical Progression Free Survival following Post-Prostatectomy Salvage Radiotherapy. Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.
9. A.L. Stockham, C. Reddy, J. Ciezki, K. Stephans, R. Tendulkar. High-Risk Prostate Cancer Treated with I-125 Brachytherapy without Supplemental External Beam Radiotherapy. Presented at 2012 Genitourinary Symposium, San Francisco, February, 2012
10. A.L. Stockham, Reddy CA, Murphy ES, Vogelbaum MA, Barnett GH, Ahluwalia M, Suh JH, Chao S: Results of a Questionnaire for Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Radiation Necrosis. Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.
11. Hunter GK, Stephans RC, Ciezki J, Stephenson A, Klein E, Mahadevan A, Kupelian P, Tendulkar RD: Competing Risk Analysis for Cause of Death in Men with High Risk Prostate Cancer. Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.
12. Yu N, Hunter G, Abdel-Wahab M, Lotey R, Horvat M, Xia P: Interfractional Rectal Motion During External Beam Radiation Therapy for Patients with Rectal Cancer. Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.
13. Marwaha G, Reddy C, Stephans K, Videtic G: Lung Lesions Treated with SBRT: Does Size Matter? Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.
14. Videtic G, Reddy C, Marwaha G, Woody N, Djemil T, Stephans K: Mature Experience in Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Early State Medically Inoperable Lung Cancer at Cleveland Clinic. Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting
15. Sheplan Olsen LJ, Godley A, Chao A, Vassil A, Xia P: Comparison of Reproducibility of Manual and Automated Prostate Contouring Using Kilovoltage Cone-Beam Computed Tomography and Diagnostic Quality Computed Tomography. Submitted to ASTRO 2012 annual meeting.

The faculty in the Department of Radiation Oncology include 12 ABR-certified radiation oncologists, 10 radiation physicists, and a radiation biologist. Most are actively involved in the clinical care of oncology patients, teaching and / or research. In addition to mentoring residents, faculty members are also involved in education and training programs for medical students, graduate students, radiation therapists, medical dosimetrists, and practicing physicians. They have ongoing research programs, participate in national clinical protocol development, and make regular contributions to scientific conferences at the national and international levels.

You may obtain additional information about the Radiation Oncology Residency Program by contacting:

Carolyn Sanford

Department of Radiation Oncology
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Avenue T-28
Cleveland, OH 44195
Phone: 216.445.4379
Email: sanforc@ccf.org