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Teaching Conferences and Rounds

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

Several important teaching courses, lecture series, 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

New Patient Conference (weekly, ongoing)
Residents are responsible, on a rotating basis, for presentation of new patients, including imaging studies, to the other residents and faculty.  Preparation for this conference includes a background review and presentation of relevant published data.  Guidance for the preparation for this conference is given by the responsible faculty.  The presenting resident may prepare a handout. The presenting resident, as well as other residents frequently participate, by answering questions stimulated by the material presented, in order to ‘test’ their understanding of the topic being discussed.  Attendance by faculty and other residents is expected and is closely monitored.  The other residents are active participants in discussion.

DRO Chart Rounds/Dosimetry Conference (weekly, ongoing)
Each resident presents a brief clinical summation, the relevant radiologic study, treatment plans and simulation and portal films for all patients initiating therapy on his or her service during the previous week.  This conference is attended by all faculty and residents, and the participation of physics/dosimetry staff and therapists is encouraged.  The resident is expected to know the clinical information of the specific patients presented, and to explain and defend his/her therapeutic plans.  Faculty and other residents participate by asking questions regarding the plans presented.  Discussion of alternative plans, or of important clinical issues suggested by them often ensues.  This meeting is also an important opportunity to discuss QA issues.

Quality Assurance Conference (QA/M&M/PBLI/SBP 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 may have occurred.  Faculty provide supervision with this review of patients.  The residents prepare a short summary of the clinical events and action taken.  Discussion occurs regarding the events and appropriateness of the therapy given and the intervention.  All faculty and residents are required to attend.  This conference also serves as vehicle for presentation of patients seen by the resident in follow-up clinics who have experienced a long-term side effect or complication of therapy.  This component will be formalized in the future.  The conference is monitored at the departmental and hospital levels to assure compliance with the appropriate regulatory guidelines.

Cancer Center Grand Rounds (weekly; ongoing)
On a rotating basis, each division/department within the Cancer Center sponsors lecturers who present clinical or scientific topics of interest to medical and radiation oncologists.  International and prominent scientists may be invited to give these lectures.  Radiation Oncology resident attendance is mandatory when the topics to be presented are relevant to Radiation Oncology.

Radiation Oncology Grand Rounds (occasional, ongoing)
Topics of interest are presented in a didactic format to all interested members of the department by various scientists or clinicians from within the medical center, visiting professors, and by departmental faculty.  The lecture is followed by a question and answer period.   Each resident is expected to present a critical review of a topic or their own research project at least once during his or her residency.

Clinical Oncology Lecture Series (weekly, ongoing, 2-year cycle)
In a 1-1½ 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 by each resident and/or actual case presentations relevant to the cancer being discussed.  The seminar focuses on epidemiology, natural history, staging, evaluation, and treatment, but also is an opportunity to review the literature pertinent to radiation oncology.  Faculty review clinically-important anatomy, and diagnostic and therapeutic pathology and imaging studies for specific anatomic regions and diseases.  Faculty also present and discuss normal tissue toxicities of radiation and chemotherapy, and late effects/pathophysiology of radiation.  Format is didactic and informal.  Familiarity and understanding of the scientific and clinical literature is stressed.  All residents attend this conference.

Center for Bioterrorism Assessment & Risk Management Following Irradiation Radiation-Cancer Biology (CBARMFI) Course (weekly; bi-annually)
The CBARMFI Radiation-Cancer Biology Course for Residents 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.  The course is given by the Radiobiology faculty of the Department of Radiation Oncology (Course Director: Peter C Keng PhD). All the radiobiology faculty and appropriate MD faculty contribute to this course.  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 the course participants.

CBARMFI Training and Education Workshop Series (bi-monthly)
The main purpose of this workshop series is to critically review the field of radiation biology at all levels.  For example, the observations that can be made at both the whole body (patient/terrorist victim) and tissue levels are related to what is happening at the molecular and cellular levels.  Indeed, because the biological changes induced by radiation exposure are a complex subject, often fraught with misconceptions and pitfalls, this series of workshops aims to help scientists who have no previous experience with radiation or are embarking on studies related to the field of radiation biology.  It is hoped that such an integrated approach stimulates the interest of scientists from all disciplines to join the efforts in developing countermeasures against radiation.  The workshop series also serves as a vehicle to foster collaboration between radiation biologists/oncologists and other scientists who share the same common research subjects.  Investigators in alternative research fields actively pursue many of the same aims as in radiation biology, and may not fully appreciate the significance of their studies with respect to radiation outcomes (and vice versa).  By providing our academic community with basic radiation biology information, we believe that this leads them to become more interested in radiation biology-oriented research projects since radiation can act as an important tool as well as a model in many scientific disciplines.

Radiation Physics Course (weekly; bi-annually)
The Radiation Physics Course for residents incorporates all required ACGME and ABR topics, and is administered biannually.  It includes didactic lectures presented by the faculty and staff of the Division of Radiation Physics, including six radiation physicists at the PhD or MS level and radiation dosimetrists.  The chief of the Division (Michael C Schell PhD) is responsible for coordinating the course.  The Radiation Safety Office at Strong Memorial Hospital also participates in the course.  Laboratory demonstrations play a part in this course, eg, demonstration of new modalities or collection of dose delivery information.

Practical Dosimetry Lecture Series (12 lectures, bi-annually)
This lecture series for residents is administered biannually, on alternate years to the Radiation Physics Course.  It addresses practical applications in simulation dosimetry and treatment planning and delivery of radiation, including isodose distribution, specialty calculations (eg, linear quadratic, gap calculations), total body and cranial spinal irradiation, and IMRT.

Clinical Biostatistics Course (weekly; bi-annually)
This course presents broad concepts of clinical biostatistics, including descriptive statistics (univariate and bivariate analysis; tables and graphs), basic notions of probability, discrete and continuous random variables, and important distributions (binomial, gaussian).  It focuses on important aspects of statistical inference, such as estimation, confidence interval and test of hypotheses, and describes a few parametric and nonparametric methods. It introduces important statistical models (analysis of variance, linear model, survival analysis and logistic regression) and some aspects of observational and experimental studies (randomized clinical trials; case-control study, case-cohort studies).  It also teaches the clinical application of biostatistical concepts.

Journal Club (monthly; ongoing)
The Journal Club meets on a monthly basis with supervision by faculty and the program director.  Resident attendance is required and critical analysis of scientific reports, in terms of methodology, accuracy of results and data-supported conclusions, as well as clinical relevance is stressed.  Each session is 1½-2 hours in length and each resident presents selected articles from a topic of interest or recent issues of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, or the New England Journal of Medicine.  Residents are also encouraged to utilize the Internet Radiation Oncology Journal Club, which also provides a basis for journal club.  Alternating with journal clubs at which current articles are presented, we hold journal clubs focusing on hallmark articles for a particular disease site, on ethics topics, or palliative care.

Pain Management Seminar Series (four-part series; bi-annually)
This seminar series is sponsored by Purdue Pharmaceuticals and comprises 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 and end-of-life care.

Medical Oncology Fellowship Conference (weekly; ongoing)
This is conducted by the Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology and involves the presentation of oncology by disease site by the 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.  Radiation Oncology faculty also sometimes attend.

Oncology Fellows Teaching Conference (weekly; ongoing)
This is conducted by the Division of Hematology/Oncology and involves oncology 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 the residents in Radiation Oncology.  Radiation Oncology faculty also sometimes attend.

Palliative Care Conference (weekly; ongoing)
Radiation Oncology residents participate in the weekly Palliative Care Conferences, when the topics to be presented 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.  Format is instructive and interactive, and resident attendance is mandatory.  Representative faculty are frequently in attendance.

Stress Management & Fatigue Awareness Seminars (semi-annually; ongoing)
We recognize the importance of balancing a sound didactic and clinical education with concerns for patient safety and resident well-being.  Residents and faculty are educated on an annual basis on recognition of the signs and symptoms of fatigue.  In addition, residents attend semi-annual seminars, which teach them to identify characteristics of burnout and stressors, and to help them with stress management techniques and strategies.

Tumor Boards
 Integrated interdisciplinary oncology conferences, with the participation of the appropriate faculty, residents or fellows from the departments involved are held on-site at Strong Memorial Hospital.  These conferences sometimes involve physicians from affiliated local or regional hospitals.  Radiation Oncology residents are required to attend these conferences when they are rotating on the relevant service, and as interested as their time and schedule permits.  Diagnostic radiologists and pathologists also often participate.  The general format is patient presentation and discussion of treatment management.  Occasionally more in depth presentation and discussion of a particular malignancy or of a relevant topic occurs. Radiation Oncology residents are sometimes asked to present a patient or topic at these conferences.  The conferences held 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:

  • “Development of Methods for Surveillance, Detection, Diagnosis, Treatment and Assessing Treatment Response for Breast Metastases” – Walter O’Dell, PhD
  • “Personalized Medicine in Breast Cancer: Oncotype Dx®” – Douglas Kingma MD
  • “Long-term Effects After Treatment for Testicular Cancer” – Sophie Fosså MD
  • “The Impact of Technology on Brain Tumor Treatment” – Philip H. Gutin, MD
  • “Problems from Brain Metastasis Radiosurgery: Identifying and Treating Radiation Injury Reactions” – John C. Flickinger MD FACR
  • “Carbon Ion Radiotherapy” – Hitoshi Ishikawa PhD
  • “SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy) Conference: Innovations and Directions for Clinical Application”, University of Rochester
  • CURED Conference, University of Rochester
  • “How Hyperbaric Oxygen is used for Treatment of Delayed Radiation Injuries” – Terry Clark & Kitima Boonvisudhi MD
  • “Human Malignant Brain Tumors: Past, Present and Future Perspectives” – James Rutka MD PhD
  • “Spine Radiosurgery: A New Treatment Paradigm for Spine Tumor Therapy” – Peter Gerszten MD
  • “Management Approaches for Childhood Brain Tumors” – Ian Pollack MD
  • “Keratinocyte Growth Factor (Palifermin) and Prevention of Mucositis/Esophagitis” – Yuhchyau Chen MD PhD
  • “Advances in the Management of NSCLC and Combined Modality Therapy” – Chandra Belani MD
  • “Biology Drives the Future Treatment of Lymphomas” – Richard Fisher MD
  • “Potential and Rationale for Reduction of Field Size” – Herman Suit MD
  • “Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer and new radiotherapy modalities” and “Current State of Proton Radiation Therapy” – James Cox MD
  • “Center for Biophysical Assessment and Risk Management Following Irradiation” – Yuhchyau Chen MD PhD
  • “”Breast Cancer” – Alice O’Connell MD
  • “Multiple Myeloma” – J J Ifthikharuddin MD
  • “Service Excellence . . . What’s in it for Physicians?” – Jay Kaplan MD FACEP
  • “Management of Brain Metastasis: Promising Developments for the Future” – Samuel Chao MD
  • “The Role of Tarceva (Erlotinib) in the Treatment of Locally Advanced or Metastatic NSCLC after Chemotherapy Failure” – Kishan Pandya MD
  • “Introduction to Molecular Imaging” – Sunil D. Pandit, PhD
  • “The Tinea Capitis Saga” – Siegal Sadetzki, MD, MPH
  • “Mesenchymal Neoplasms of the GI Tract” – Angela D Levy MD
  • “Lung Cancer” – Michael Milano, MD
  • “Reirradiation of Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Analysis of Clinical Outcome and Esophageal Toxicity” – Igor Poltinnikov MD
  • “Wit Program – Perspectives on End-Of-Life Care – Parts 1-4”
  • “Developing Conscious Equanimity in the Face of Serious Suffering” – Megan Cole

Clinical Service Rounds (weekly; ongoing)
The team members involved in each of the clinical services meet on a weekly basis in order to discuss the progress of the patients under treatment.  These ‘work rounds’ involve the attending, 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.  Each resident prepares a weekly list of patients under treatment including dose and treatment fields.
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National Meetings and Conferences

Residents attend national conferences whenever possible.  Residents who perform research and have an abstract accepted for presentation at a scientific meeting are usually approved to attend that meeting.  Final year residents are also 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 published reports.
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Resident Teaching Opportunities

Residents learn teaching skills by assisting in the instruction of medical students who rotate through the Department.  Many of the weekly conferences are structured in such a way as to involve residents in the teaching of other residents and faculty.  Some require the preparation of a handout and active teaching by a single resident, whereas others are more interactive in terms of participation by several residents.   Residents also research a topic in depth and prepare 1-2 one-hour Grand Rounds presentations during the course of the residency.
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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