Radiation Oncology Residency

Introduction

The residency program in Radiation Oncology at the Ohio State University provides advanced clinical training and specialization in the diagnosis and treatment of oncologic diseases of small and large animals (with a focus on those cancers managed with radiation therapy) under the supervision of a board-certified specialist. The faculty member is nationally and internationally recognized a leader in his respective field. The residency is a 3-year combined residency and graduate studies program leading to a Certificate of Residency and Master of Science degree. The radiation facilities include a Siemens Mevatron linear accelerator with 6MV photon and 5-12MeV electron capability accessible to both small and large animal patients as well as I-131 and SR90 therapy. In house state-of-the-art three-dimensional treatment planning computer software is available to generate advanced treatment plans.

Objectives

Develop clinical proficiency in the specialty of Radiation Oncology.
The program will prepare the resident for board certification by the American College of Veterinary Radiology and is intended to qualify the trainee in the therapeutic use of ionizing radiation; a thorough understanding of radiation biology and physics; basic aspects of medical and surgical oncology; imaging techniques that are a critical part of state-of-the-art radiation oncology for assessing the stage of the disease; planning treatment; and determining response to treatment. Specific objectives of the Radiation Oncology Training Program can be found on the ACVR Web Site; http://www.acvr.org/
Obtain a Master of Science degree

Faculty and staff

Faculty

Eric M. Green, DVM, DACVR (Radiology & Radiation Oncology)

Staff

Nicole Pastorek, RVT
Amanda Warchol, RVT

Prerequisites and application (see Residency Program Handbook, CVM Graduate Program Handbook and Graduate School Handbook)

Applicants must meet admission requirements to The Ohio State University Graduate School without conditions -see Residency Program Handbook, CVM Graduate Program Handbook and Graduate School Handbook.
Applicants must be graduates of an AVMA-Accredited or faculty-approved College or School of Veterinary Medicine with academic standing in the top 50% of the class
Applicants must have completed a one-year rotating internship or acceptable equivalent clinical experience
Residents who are foreign nationals (non-US citizens) must be in possession of the appropriate visas and work authorization as outlined in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences Residency Program Handbook. In addition, foreign nationals must also meet the requirements of the university Graduate school for the Test of English as a Foreign Languages (TOEFL) or Michigan Test of English Proficiency (MTELP) – see Graduate Program Handbook.

Employment and benefits (see Residency Program Handbook)

Salary
Health insurance
Book/travel allowance
Personal + Professional days leave (from policy)
External consultation and employment
Licensure or lilmited licensure in Ohio

Orientation

During the first 2 days at the commencement of the residency program, all incoming residents participate in a comprehensive orientation program (see the Residency Program Handbook) to introduce them to the department, college and university, complete necessary documentation, and to facilitate integration into our program and activities.
Specific orientation to the Radiation Oncology service will occur during the first week. The resident will be introduced to the faculty, technicians and residents on the Diagnostic Imaging and Medical Oncology services.
- Dr. Green will serve as the Clinical advisor to the resident.
- Dr. Green will serve as the initial Academic advisor to the resident. A different Academic advisor may be selected once the specific research area is chosen,
- Once the specific area of research is selected, an Advisory committee will be formed to provide advice in the development of a specific research project, during the project and to completion of the study. Typically, the Advisory committee serves as the Examination committee for the thesis defense. These committees must consist of at least 3 graduate faculty members.
- Mentoring will be provided by Dr. Green and members of the Medical Oncology faculty (when appropriate).
- The Radiation Oncology service typically receives appointments and treats patients Monday through Friday 8am-2pm and is available for in-house consultation business days until 5pm. It is expected that the resident will gradually assume primary responsibility for all cases and offer the initial consultation.
- A typical day will involve the resident evaluating any inpatients currently staying in the hospital prior to their treatments, seeing all new appointments with the faculty member, assisting the technicians with any treatment questions and setting up new patient treatments.
- The resident will be responsible for completing all medical records for the patients and drafting all discharge instructions. The medical records and discharges will be reviewed by the faculty member before the patient is discharged.
- The resident will be expected to be available by phone for emergency calls from current radiation oncology patients.
- The resident will spend the first August of the residency program rotating through the Anesthesia service to become familiar with the anesthetic requirements for patients undergoing radiation therapy.
- As required by ACVR, the resident will spend 3 separate months on the Medical Oncology rotation assuming primary case responsibility. The goal of this time is to become familiar with the clinical presentation, biologic behavior, staging and chemotherapeutic treatment of common tumors.
- As required by ACVR, the resident will spend 2 months on the Diagnostic Imaging service becoming familiar with the imaging of cancer patients. The resident is expected to perform the duties of a radiology resident during this time and should become familiar with ultrasound and cross sectional imaging modalities.
- The resident will be provided flexibility for time off clinics as required for research opportunities as part of the MS degree. This time shall not exceed 6 months over the 3 years (including allotted personal and professional leave).
- The resident is expected to participate in the clinical teaching of senior veterinary students rotating through the Radiation Oncology elective.
- Once the resident is comfortable, they will be expected to provide an hour rounds reviewing basic radiation therapy principles with the Medical Oncology students once each rotation.
- It is also expected that the resident will assist the faculty member in the training of interns and Medical Oncology residents that rotate through the Radiation Oncology service.
- The resident will be provided the opportunity to obtain information in radiation biology, cancer biology, radiation physics, diagnostic radiology and other specialized imaging modalities and the indications for use and interpretive skills thereof (listed in the schedule in the appendix). Additional coursework necessary to satisfy the MS requirements is offered through VCS and can be tailored to suit the resident's needs.
- The program enjoys a relationship with the Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital at the OSU Medical Center. Medical physics support and some MS coursework are available through the Radiation Oncology service at the James Cancer Hospital.
- The resident will be provided the opportunity to attend the ACVR and the VCS Annual Scientific meetings yearly. It is expected that the results of the MS degree research will be presented at one of these meetings prior to the conclusion of the program.
- Numerous specialty seminars, conferences, and journal clubs are available to residents. A required weekly clinicopathologic conference with the Medical Oncology and Pathology services provides an opportunity for the resident to enrich their clinical problem-solving skills.
- The resident will be provided the opportunity to attend the Radiation Physics review session given by Dr. Wendell Lutz, offered in Tucson, Arizona once during the program.
- The residency requires concurrent enrollment in the Master of Science program, and all residents are expected to maintain their coursework without compromising clinical responsibilities. Senior faculty and other residents on the rotation will maintain flexibility in scheduling so as to accommodate the required coursework.
- Significant research and a thesis are required of residents in the 3-year combined program leading to the MS degree. Opportunities also are available to collaborate on extramurally-funded research projects with faculty in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, or in other departments on campus.
- The faculty member will help identify potential research projects early in the residency.
- The faculty member will help identify a research mentor and sources of funding early in the residency.
- The faculty member will help elect a research advisor within the first 3 months of residency and begin developing a research grant proposal to obtain funding for the resident's research project.
- Enroll in College graduate courses each quarter to accumulate sufficient credit hours to fulfill MS requirements. Enroll in "Research Methods" course as soon as possible.
- The resident will demonstrate an understanding of research design by successfully completing a research project as part of their MS requirements. Residents are expected to prepare and submit their MS thesis research at a national meeting.
- Due to the stringent clinical requirements of the ACVR, the resident is only expected to write and defend the MS thesis in their final semester and prepare and submit the results of the MS thesis for publication prior to the conclusion of the program.
- Formal resident performance evaluations are completed by December 1st and June 1st each year. Details of the nature and structure of these evaluations can be found in the Residency Program Handbook.
- The resident shall be evaluated by the program director, the medical oncology faculty and another faculty member with which the resident has significant interaction.
- According to the ACVR requirements for training programs the resident will be involved in:
  - Formulation of treatment plans, calculation of dose, and administration of treatment for patients with solid tumors. This should include experience in generating treatment plans (both by hand calculation and treatment-planning computer) for external beam irradiation with orthovoltage and megavoltage photons as well as treatment plans for patients treated with brachytherapy. External beam planning experience must include treatment with multiple beams, arranged in configurations other than parallel opposed, and modified by wedges and beam-shaping blocks. A minimum number of patients treated during the training program is unnecessary since the overall quality of the training program must focus on the intensity of training rather than sheer numbers of patients treated.
- The resident is expected to follow all departmental, college, and university rules related to employment by The Ohio State University. The resident is expected to fulfill within 3 years from the beginning of the program all residency training requirements of the department and the ACVR.
- The resident can expect that the department, college and faculty will provide the educational experience, support, and training for the resident to successfully apply for diplomate status in the ACVR.
- During the first 6 months of the residency, the resident is expected to review the common tumors treated with radiation therapy and gain an understanding of the standard staging and treatment options.
- The resident is expected to begin and maintain steady board preparation by reviewing and answering the objectives available on the ACVR website.

Advisors and mentoring

Dr. Green will serve as the Clinical advisor to the resident.
Dr. Green will serve as the initial Academic advisor to the resident. A different Academic advisor may be selected once the specific research area is chosen,
Once the specific area of research is selected, an Advisory committee will be formed to provide advice in the development of a specific research project, during the project and to completion of the study. Typically, the Advisory committee serves as the Examination committee for the thesis defense. These committees must consist of at least 3 graduate faculty members.
Mentoring will be provided by Dr. Green and members of the Medical Oncology faculty (when appropriate).

Clinical Service responsibilities

The Radiation Oncology service typically receives appointments and treats patients Monday through Friday 8am-2pm and is available for in-house consultation business days until 5pm. It is expected that the resident will gradually assume primary responsibility for all cases and offer the initial consultation.
A typical day will involve the resident evaluating any inpatients currently staying in the hospital prior to their treatments, seeing all new appointments with the faculty member, assisting the technicians with any treatment questions and setting up new patient treatments.
The resident will be responsible for completing all medical records for the patients and drafting all discharge instructions. The medical records and discharges will be reviewed by the faculty member before the patient is discharged.
The resident will be expected to be available by phone for emergency calls from current radiation oncology patients.
The resident will spend the first August of the residency program rotating through the Anesthesia service to become familiar with the anesthetic requirements for patients undergoing radiation therapy.
As required by ACVR, the resident will spend 3 separate months on the Medical Oncology rotation assuming primary case responsibility. The goal of this time is to become familiar with the clinical presentation, biologic behavior, staging and chemotherapeutic treatment of common tumors.
As required by ACVR, the resident will spend 2 months on the Diagnostic Imaging service becoming familiar with the imaging of cancer patients. The resident is expected to perform the duties of a radiology resident during this time and should become familiar with ultrasound and cross sectional imaging modalities.
The resident will be provided flexibility for time off clinics as required for research opportunities as part of the MS degree. This time shall not exceed 6 months over the 3 years (including allotted personal and professional leave).

Teaching responsibilities

The resident is expected to participate in the clinical teaching of senior veterinary students rotating through the Radiation Oncology elective.
Once the resident is comfortable, they will be expected to provide an hour rounds reviewing basic radiation therapy principles with the Medical Oncology students once each rotation.
It is also expected that the resident will assist the faculty member in the training of interns and Medical Oncology residents that rotate through the Radiation Oncology service.

Educational opportunities

The resident will be provided the opportunity to obtain information in radiation biology, cancer biology, radiation physics, diagnostic radiology and other specialized imaging modalities and the indications for use and interpretive skills thereof (listed in the schedule in the appendix). Additional coursework necessary to satisfy the MS requirements is offered through VCS and can be tailored to suit the resident’s needs.
The program enjoys a relationship with the Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital at the OSU Medical Center. Medical physics support and some MS coursework are available through the Radiation Oncology service at the James Cancer Hospital.
The resident will be provided the opportunity to attend the ACVR and the VCS Annual Scientific meetings yearly. It is expected that the results of the MS degree research will be presented at one of these meetings prior to the conclusion of the program.
Numerous specialty seminars, conferences, and journal clubs are available to residents. A required weekly clinicopathologic conference with the Medical Oncology and Pathology services provides an opportunity for the resident to enrich their clinical problem-solving skills.
The resident will be provided the opportunity to attend the Radiation Physics review session given by Dr. Wendell Lutz, offered in Tucson, Arizona once during the program.

Graduate program (see Residency Program Handbook, CVM Graduate Program Handbook and OSU Graduate School Handbook)

The residency requires concurrent enrollment in the Master of Science program, and all residents are expected to maintain their coursework without compromising clinical responsibilities. Senior faculty and other residents on the rotation will maintain flexibility in scheduling so as to accommodate the required coursework.
Significant research and a thesis are required of residents in the 3-year combined program leading to the MS degree. Opportunities also are available to collaborate on extramurally-funded research projects with faculty in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, or in other departments on campus.
The faculty member will help identify potential research projects early in the residency.
The faculty member will help identify a research mentor and sources of funding early in the residency.
The faculty member will help elect a research advisor within the first 3 months of residency and begin developing a research grant proposal to obtain funding for the resident’s research project.
Enroll in College graduate courses each quarter to accumulate sufficient credit hours to fulfill MS requirements. Enroll in “Research Methods” course as soon as possible.

Research and scholarly activity

The resident will demonstrate an understanding of research design by successfully completing a research project as part of their MS requirements. Residents are expected to prepare and submit their MS thesis research at a national meeting.
Due to the stringent clinical requirements of the ACVR, the resident is only expected to write and defend the MS thesis in their final semester and prepare and submit the results of the MS thesis for publication prior to the conclusion of the program.

Evaluations (see Residency Program Handbook)

Formal resident performance evaluations are completed by December 1st and June 1st each year. Details of the nature and structure of these evaluations can be found in the Residency Program Handbook.
The resident shall be evaluated by the program director, the medical oncology faculty and another faculty member with which the resident has significant interaction.

Specialty college requirements

According to the ACVR requirements for training programs the resident will be involved in:
- Formulation of treatment plans, calculation of dose, and administration of treatment for patients with solid tumors. This should include experience in generating treatment plans (both by hand calculation and treatment-planning computer) for external beam irradiation with orthovoltage and megavoltage photons as well as treatment plans for patients treated with brachytherapy. External beam planning experience must include treatment with multiple beams, arranged in configurations other than parallel opposed, and modified by wedges and beam-shaping blocks. A minimum number of patients treated during the training program is unnecessary since the overall quality of the training program must focus on the intensity of training rather than sheer numbers of patients treated.

Expectations

The resident is expected to follow all departmental, college, and university rules related to employment by The Ohio State University. The resident is expected to fulfill within 3 years from the beginning of the program all residency training requirements of the department and the ACVR.
The resident can expect that the department, college and faculty will provide the educational experience, support, and training for the resident to successfully apply for diplomate status in the ACVR.
During the first 6 months of the residency, the resident is expected to review the common tumors treated with radiation therapy and gain an understanding of the standard staging and treatment options.
The resident is expected to begin and maintain steady board preparation by reviewing and answering the objectives available on the ACVR website.

Appendices

A typical schedule of clinical assignments and coursework is provided below.

Year One
	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	March	April	May	June
Clinic Duty	Rad Onc	Anesthesia	Med Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Radiology	Med Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc
Coursework	3-4 credits toward Master's			Physics of Therapeutic Radiology*			Radiation Biology*			3-4 credits toward Master's
				Fundamentals of Oncology			Radiobiologic Basis of Radiation Therapy*

Year Two
	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	March	April	May	June
Clinic Duty	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc
Coursework	3-4 credits toward Master's			3-4 credits toward Master's			3-4 credits toward Master's			3-4 credits toward Master's

Year Three
	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	March	April	May	June
Clinic Duty	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Rad Onc	Radiology	Med Onc	Rad Onc
Coursework	3-4 credits toward Master's			Physics of Therapeutic Radiology*			Radiation Biology*			3-4 credits toward Master's
							Radiobiologic Basis of Radiation Therapy*

* These courses are mandatory in the first year but may be audited in the third year in preparation for boards.

OSU Navigation Bar

College of Veterinary Medicine