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Vision and Mission

The University of Kansas, Department of Radiation Oncology Residency Training Program is designed to educate and train physicians to be skillful in the practice of Radiation Oncology, to be caring and compassionate in the treatment of patients and to obtain broad experience not only in oncological clinical radiation therapy, but also in radiation physics, radiation biology and research. The Radiation Oncology Residency program is designed to graduate a well-balanced physician who possesses the ability and wherewithal to thrive in any practice environment.

Program Resources

  • Faculty
  • Medical Residency Brochure

The Department currently is approved for a total of 6 ACGME permanent resident positions. Following a year of internship training, the overall length of the residency training in Radiation Oncology is 48 months. In accordance with the Program Requirements for Residency Education specified by the ACGME, at least 36 months will be spent by the resident in clinical radiation oncology providing patient care on 1-on-1 rotations with designated, site-specific faculty physicians.

Our clinical practice provides a broad spectrum of clinical experiences and progressive radiotherapy modalities including: 3-D Conformal Therapy, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Intracavitary and Interstitial Brachytherapy, MammoSite, and Radio-immunotherapy as well as Unsealed Radioactive Source Therapy.

Scholarly activity is a requirement for all residents. Presentation of a submission-ready manuscript is required to obtain a certificate of completion, and may be clinical, health services, translational or basic laboratory research. All are encouraged to submit the result of their research for presentation at scientific conferences as well as for peer-reviewed publication. Much of the research conducted pertains directly to patient care with the goal of improving outcomes and finding ways to advance cancer care. The Department is a member of NRG Oncology Group with an annual accrual of 40 to 60 patients into the NRG clinical trials. A significant portion of the didactic curriculum is devoted to educating trainees on clinical research methods.

To provide a well-rounded educational experience for clinical training in Radiation Oncology, with comprehensive understanding of multi-disciplinary oncology principles, radiation physics and biology.  KU Radiation Oncology is committed to teaching residents according to the following six core competencies as designated by the ACGME: patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and system-based practice.

  1. Patient Care (PC)
    Provide patient care through safe, efficient, appropriately utilized, quality-controlled radiation therapy and effectively communicate with the referring physician and/or other appropriate individuals in a timely manner.
  2. Medical Knowledge (MK)
    Engage in continuous learning using up-to-date evidence and applying appropriate state-of-the-art radiation therapy techniques to meet the needs of patients, referring physicians and the health care system.
  3. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement (PBLI)
    Participation in the evaluation of one's personal practice utilizing scientific evidence, practice guidelines and standards as metrics, and self-assessment programs in order to optimize patient care through lifelong learning.
  4. Interpersonal and Communication Skills (IC)
    Communicate effectively with patients, colleagues, referring physicians and other members of the health care team concerning informed consent, safety issues, and the indications for and the benefits, risks, and side effects of radiation, as well as the integration with other treatment modalities and the proper work-up and follow-up of patients. Communicate effectively with all members of the health care team regarding specific patient management issues.
  5. Professionalism (P)
    Commit to high standards of professional conduct, demonstrating altruism, compassion, honesty and integrity. Follow principles of ethics and confidentiality and consider religious, ethnic, gender, educational and other differences in interacting with patients and other members of the health care team.
  6. System-Based Practice (SBP)
    Understand how the components of the local and national healthcare system function interdependently and how changes to improve the system involve group and individual efforts. Optimize coordination of patient care both within one's own practice and within the healthcare system. Consult with other healthcare professionals and educate healthcare consumers regarding the most appropriate utilization of radiation oncology resources.

The KU residency training program is structured to create a collaborative and engaging environment for trainees.

Residency training at KU is designed based on two-month rotations. Rotations consist of one on one training with faculty members. During clinical rotations, residents are responsible for seeing new patient consultations, follow-up visits, and on-treatment visits and are also responsible for contouring cases and evaluating radiation plans. Residents do not provide cross-coverage for attendings outside of their designated rotation. Currently, all rotations are situated at the main Rainbow Boulevard site and all case log requirements can be completed without the need for external rotations. Call is taken in one-week blocks along with a designated attending physician and is shared equally amongst all residents. Elective rotation opportunities are provided in PGY-5 year to provide additional training experiences in accordance with each resident's career goals; examples include community practice or rural radiation oncology rotations, additional research time, or away rotations offering training in specialized procedures or techniques available at outside institutions. During all rotations, resident time is protected to ensure participation in conferences, didactic activities, chart rounds and tumor boards.

During the PGY4 year, residents are guaranteed a minimum of 6 months for a continuous research block as long as they are in good standing. Residents are encouraged to work on research throughout their residency so they are able to make the most of their research block. For very motivated residents with a well-thought-out research plan, additional elective research time may be allotted. View the current resident schedule (PDF). Individuals interested in obtaining a master's degree in public health or a master of science in clinical research are encouraged to speak to the program director early during training.

School of Medicine

Radiation Oncology
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, KS 66160
913-588-5000