Radiation Oncology

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Department
Radiology
Course Number
RAD 386
Course Title Radiation Oncology
Course Director
James Rao, MD
Length (Weeks)

2, 4
When Offered

All year
Prerequisites

None
Availability Notes
Contact Name
Dr. Rao
Contact Phone
Contact Fax
Contact Email
yrao@mfa.gwu.edu
Other Contacts

Miriam Felps (mfelps@mfa.gwu.edu)
Location

GW MFA
Limit
1 student per 2 or 4 week time slot
Report

Report to the GW MFA Building on 22nd and I Street, DC level
Evaluation

As per Uniform Clinical Evaluation (UCE): Outstanding/Excellent/Very Good/Marginal/Unacceptable. One UCE will be used (compiled by the primary attending on behalf of the team) and all relevant portions will be completed. Earning “Very Good” or higher on the global rating is required for passing the elective. In addition, an oral presentation on a relevant topic of interest will be required to pass the course. This oral presentation will be assessed via a presentation rubric (checklist). The UCE counts for 100% of the grade, but the course requires an oral presentation and failure to do the presentation results in non-passing of the course.
Description

Purpose and Rationale for the Course: The goal of this clinical rotation is for medical students to learn the fundamentals of radiation oncology. Students can use this rotation as an opportunity to explore the specialty as a possible career choice. Students interested in gaining a deeper understanding of oncology care but not planning to pursue radiation oncology will find this course useful to understand radiation oncology as a specialty and therefore better be able to coordinate and deliver optimal multi-disciplinary care and counsel.

Course Description: During the rotation, students work with attending physicians who specialize in treatment of a variety of disease sites. Students actively participate in the work-up, evaluation, and development of radiation treatment recommendations for patients seen in consultation for both curative and palliative intent. Students will learn basics of obtaining informed consent for radiation and participate in end-of-life or goals of care discussions. Students will participate in patient simulations, treatment planning and dosimetry, and radiation treatments. Students are also encouraged to participate in weekly departmental chart rounds, morning reports, procedures (brachytherapy or radiosurgery), and multi-disciplinary tumor boards.

Course Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Describe the appropriate indications and use of radiation therapy in the curative setting for the common cancer types.
  2. Recognize the central role that radiation therapy plays in the multi-disciplinary management of cancer and the basic biological principles that underlie its use.
  3. Recognize the basic biological principles that underlie the use of radiation therapy in the management of cancer.
  4. Illustrate how basic anatomy and knowledge of cancer spread influences the delivery of radiation therapy.
  5. Describe the basics of simulation, treatment planning and treatment delivery.
  6. Recognize the early and late sequelae of radiation therapy.
Additional Notes