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Teaching Conferences and Rounds

Intra-departmental and Inter-departmental Classes, Tumor Boards and Conferences

Several important teaching courses, seminars, tumor boards and conferences occur on a weekly basis. Some are intra-departmental whereas others are inter-departmental to complement the interdisciplinary nature of our program.

* New Patient Conferences * Chart Rounds/Dosimetry Conferences *
* Quality Assurance Conferences * Journal Clubs *
* Pathology Conferences * Tumor Boards * Medical Statistics *
* Cancer Center Grand Rounds * Clinical Oncology Lecture Series *
* Radiation Physics Course (bi-annual) *
* Radiation Biology Course (bi-annual) *
* Fellows Oncology Teaching Conferences *

Radiation Oncology Education Calendar
Class & Conference Schedule

 

Teaching Exercises and Conferences

New Patient Conference (weekly, ongoing)
Residents are responsible for presentation of new patients to other residents and faculty. To prepare for this conference, residents should review relevant publications and consult with faculty for guidance. After presenting the case, residents will be asked questions in order to test their understanding of the topic. Attendance by faculty and other residents is expected and is closely monitored.

DRO Chart Rounds/Dosimetry Conference (weekly, ongoing)
Each resident presents a brief clinical summation for patients who have initiated therapy during the previous week. The resident is expected to know the relevant clinical information for each patient presented and be able to explain and defend the existing therapeutic plans. Faculty and other residents participate by asking questions about the treatment plans. Discussion of alternative plans, or of important clinical issues suggested by the plans, is common during these conferences. These conferences are attended by all faculty and residents, and participation by physics/dosimetry staff and therapists is encouraged.

Quality Assurance Conference (monthly; ongoing)
Each resident reviews all patients who completed therapy on their service during the previous month, directing attention to whether patients completed the prescribed therapy and whether any complications or significant side-effects have occurred. Discussion centers on clinical events and the appropriateness of therapies and interventions. This conference also serves as vehicle for presentation of patients seen by residents in follow-up clinics who have experienced a long-term side effect or complication of therapy. All faculty and residents are required to attend.

Cancer Center Grand Rounds (weekly; ongoing)
The Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology sponsors visiting lecturers who present clinical or scientific topics of interest to medical and radiation oncologists and residents. Prominent U.S. and international scientists are frequently invited to give these lectures. Attendance by residents is mandatory; department faculty members also attend.

Radiation Oncology Grand Rounds (occasional, ongoing)
Topics are presented in a didactic format to all interested members of the department by visiting professors, departmental faculty, and various URMC scientists or clinicians. The lecture is followed by a question and answer period. Residents also play an active role in Grand Rounds at least once during of their tenure either by presenting their own research projects or by providing a critical reviews of relevant topics.

Clinical Oncology Lecture Series (weekly, ongoing, 2-year cycle)
In a 1-11⁄2 hour lecture/seminar format, the attending physician presents and discusses each malignancy so that all categories of tumor sites are presented over a 2-year cycle. Resident participation is determined by the attending physician and may include presentation of subtopics or actual case presentation relevant to the cancer site under discussion. The seminar also provides an opportunity to review the literature pertinent to radiation oncology.

Center for Bioterrorism Assessment & Risk Management Following Irradiation Radiation-Cancer Biology (CBARMFI) Course (weekly; biennially)
The CBARMFI conference includes discussion of the effects of radiation in mammalian cell systems ranging from cell culture to whole animals. Particular emphasis is placed on the application of radiobiological principles to radiotherapy practice in the clinical treatment of cancer. Quizzes given periodically during the lecture series and at the end of the course are used to assess the residents' learning and to elicit feedback from course participants.

CBARMFI Training and Education Workshop Series (semi-monthly)
The main purpose of this workshop series is to critically review the field of radiation biology at all levels. Because biological changes induced by radiation exposure are a complex subject often fraught with misconceptions and pitfalls, these workshops aim to build awareness and understanding of the issues among scientists who have no previous experience with radiation as well as those who are embarking on studies related to the field of radiation biology. This integrated approach is intended to stimulate the interest of scientists from all disciplines in joining the efforts to develop countermeasures against radiation. The workshop series also serves as a vehicle to foster collaboration between radiation biologists/oncologists and other scientists engaged in common research subjects.

Radiation Physics Course (weekly; biennially)
The Radiation Physics Course incorporates all required ACGME and ABR topics. It includes lectures presented by the division's faculty and staff along with radiation dosimetrists. Laboratory demonstrations play a part in this course.

Practical Dosimetry Lecture Series (12 lectures, biennially)
This lecture series is offered biennially, alternating with the Radiation Physics Course. It addresses practical applications in simulation dosimetry and treatment planning and delivery of radiation, including isodose distribution, specialty calculations (e.g., linear quadratic, gap calculations), total body and cranial spinal irradiation, and IMRT.

Biostatistics: Introduction to Biostatistics Course/Clinical Biostatistics Course (weekly; biennially)
The introductory course presents broad concepts of biostatistics that are useful for the health sciences. The course covers the main aspects of biostatistics and introduces very basic notions of probability. It alternates with a course focused on the clinical application of biostatistical concepts.

Journal Club (monthly; ongoing)
The Journal Club stresses critical analysis of scientific reports, in terms of methodology, accuracy of results, data-supported conclusions, and clinical relevance Attendance by residents is mandatory. During the 11⁄2- to 2- hour sessions, each resident presents selected articles from a topic of interest or recent issues of selected journals.

Pain Management Seminar Series (four-part series; biennially)
Sponsored by Purdue Pharmaceuticals, this series includes a formal lecture and discussion of the physiology, assessment, and treatment of pain, including pain in special populations, persistent non-malignant pain, and cancer pain/end-of-life care.

Medical Oncology Fellowship Conference (weekly; ongoing)
Conducted by the Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, this conference involves the presentation of oncology topics by disease site by Medical Oncology fellows and radiation oncology residents. It is attended by fellows and faculty of the Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, as well as the residents in Radiation Oncology (for whom attendance is closely monitored). Radiation Oncology faculty also attend.

Oncology Fellows Teaching Conference (weekly; ongoing)
Conducted by the Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, this conference involves presentations by Oncology Fellows and Radiation Oncology Residents (on a rotating basis).  It is attended by fellows and faculty of the Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, as well as residents in Radiation Oncology.  Radiation Oncology faculty also attend.

Palliative Care Conference (weekly; ongoing)
Radiation Oncology residents participate in these weekly conferences when topics are relevant to Radiation Oncology.

Pathology Conference (weekly; ongoing)
Radiation Oncology residents participate in the weekly pathology review conference held in conjunction with Medical Oncology. The format is instructive and interactive, and resident attendance is mandatory.

Stress Management & Fatigue Awareness Seminars (quarterly; ongoing)
Recognizing the importance of balancing a sound didactic and clinical education with patient safety and the well-being of our residents, residents and faculty annually receive instruction on recognizing of the signs and symptoms of fatigue.  In addition, residents attend quarterly seminars which teach them how to identify and deal with burnout and stress.

Tumor Boards
Conferences are held for specific oncology disciplines to present patients and discuss treatment. Occasionally, more in-depth presentation and discussion of a particular malignancy or a relevant topic occurs. Radiation Oncology residents are sometimes asked to present a patient or topic at these conferences. Residents are required to attend when rotating on the relevant service and, at other times, as their time and schedules permit. Tumor boards include:

    * Brain Tumor Pre-Clinic Conference (Weekly, ongoing)
    * Breast Multidisciplinary Conference (Weekly, ongoing)
    * Breast Tumor Board (Weekly, ongoing)
    * GI Pre-Clinic Conference (Bi-weekly, ongoing)
    * GU Pre-Clinic Conference (Bi-weekly, ongoing)
    * Gynecologic Oncology Conference (Weekly, ongoing/mandatory for all residents)
    * Head & Neck Conference (Bi-weekly, ongoing)
    * Hepatobiliary Tumor Board (Bi-weekly, ongoing)
    * Lymphoma Tumor Board (Bi-weekly, ongoing)
    * Neuro-Oncology Conference (Monthly, ongoing)
    * Pediatric Brain Tumor Pre-Clinic Conference (Bi-weekly, ongoing)
    * Pediatric Oncology Multidisciplinary Conference (Bi-weekly, ongoing/mandatory for all residents)
    * Thoracic Pre-Clinic Conference (Weekly, ongoing)
    * Thoracic Tumor Board (Bi-weekly, ongoing)

Ad Hoc Conferences (occasional)
Conferences are given on an ad hoc basis when visiting scientists or medical experts visit the institution or department. Since these conferences often have significant educational merit, residents are excused from regular clinical activities and are encouraged and expected to attend. Ad Hoc Conferences recently held include:

  • “Developing Conscious Equanimity in the Face of Serious Suffering” – Megan Cole
  • “Wit Program – Perspectives on End-Of-Life Care – Parts 1-3”
  • “Virtual Renal Cell Tumor Board”
  • “Multiple Myeloma” – J. J. Ifthikharuddin, MD
  • “Breast Cancer 2006” – Alice O’Connell, MD
  • “Current State of Proton Radiation Therapy” – James Cox, MD
  • “Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung cancer and New radiotherapy Modalities: - James Cox, MD
  • “Service and Operational Excellence…What’s in it for me and What’s in it for my Patients?” – Jay Kaplan, MD, FACEP
  • “Potential and Rationale for Reduction of Field Size” – Herman Suit, MD
  • “Head and Neck Imaging” – Imaging Sciences Grand Rounds
  • “Biology Drives the future Treatment of Lymphomas” – Richard Fisher, MD
  • “Keratinocyte Growth Factor (Palifermin) and Prevention of Mucositis/Esophagitis” – Yuhchyau Chen, MD
  • “Management Approaches for Childhood Brain Tumors” – Ian Pollack, MD

Clinical Service Rounds (weekly; ongoing)
The team members involved in each of the clinical services meet to discuss the progress of the patients under treatment. These "work rounds" involve the attending physician, resident, nurse, dosimetrist, and secretary, and occasionally a social worker and/or therapist. This session is led by the resident, depending on his/her level of experience, and is overseen by the attending physician.
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National Meetings and Conferences

Residents have many opportunities to attend regional and national conferences.  Funds are usually available for any resident who performs research and has an abstract accepted for presentation at a scientific meeting. In addition, final year residents (PGY-5) may be approved to attend the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO). Our residents have been very successful in conducting research that has led to abstracts, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications.
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Resident Teaching Opportunities

Residents learn teaching skills by assisting in the instruction of medical students, interns and visiting residents rotating through the department. Many of the weekly conferences are structured to involve residents in teaching other residents and faculty. Some teaching opportunities are didactic, requiring the preparation of a handout and active teaching by a single resident. Others are more socratic and interactive and involve several residents. Residents also present the findings of their research projects at departmental Grand Rounds.
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Mandatory Attendance Required at:

Resident/New Patient Presentations Mon @ 8:00 am – see schedule
IMRT & Chart Rounds Tues @ 8.00 am
Clinical Oncology Lecture Series Tues @ 4:30 pm (alt Tues, Sept-Jun)
Onco-Anatomy + Onco-Imaging Tues @ 4:30 pm (alt yrs)
  Summer Seminar Series
LENT Summer Seminar Series Tues @ 4.30 pm (alt yrs)
Radiation Physics Lecture Series Wed @ 8:00 am (alt yrs, Sept-Jun)
Radiation Biology Lecture Series Wed @ 8:00 am (alt yrs, Sept-Jun)
CBARMFI Biology Workshop & Wet Lab Series 1st & 2nd Wed @ 4.30 pm (intervening period)
Med Onc Fellowship Conferences Thurs @ 8:00 am (topic dependent)
Palliative Care Conferences 2nd/3rd/4th Wed @ 12 noon (topic dependent)
(Clinical Ethics/Schwartz/Palliative Care)
Radiation Oncology Grand Rounds occasionally – Wed @ 4:30 pm
QA Meetings  1 Wed/mth @ 4:30 pm
Clinical/Ethical/EBM Journal Clubs 1 Wed/mth @ 4:30 pm
Medical Statistics Lecture Series Thurs @ 8:00 am (biannually, alt yrs)
Radiology Grand Rounds Thurs @ 4:00 pm (topic dependent)
City-wide Conferences Fri @ 8:00 am (topic dependent; mandatory attendance when DRO presenting)
Cancer Center Grand Rounds Fri @ 12 noon (not July or august) (topic dependent)
GYN-ONC Tumor Board 4th Fri @ 12 noon
Pediatric Oncology Multidisciplinary Conference Fri @ 4:00 pm, twice a month
White Service Presentations (ad hoc basis)
Blue Service Seminars (ad hoc basis)

 

Service-Dependent Multi-Disciplinary Conferences:

Red Breast Tumor Board Mon @ 7.30 am
White Thoracic Pre-Clinic Conference Mon @ 12:00 pm
Blue Pediatric Brain Tumor Pre-Clinic Conf 2nd & 4th Tues @ 12 noon
Blue Lymphoma tumor board Tues @ 12:30 pm
Yellow GI Pre-Clinic Conference Tues 1st and 3rd @ 5:00PM
Purple/Orange Brain Tumor Pre-Clinic Conf Wed @ 8:00 am
Green GU Pre-Clinic Conference Wed @ 9:00 am
Red Breast Conference Wed @ 11:30 am
Green GU Tumor Board 1st & 3rd Wed @ 12.30 pm
Purple/Orange Neuroscience/Neuro-oncology Conf 3rd Thurs @ 7:30 am
White Head & Neck Tumor Board 2nd & 4th Thursday @ 4:00PM
White Thoracic Tumor Board 1st & 3rd Thursday @ 4:00PM
Yellow Hepato-Biliary Tumor Board 1st & 3rd Fri @ 8:00 am
All Service Team Meetings