Radiation Oncology/Residency/Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Program

History

With 24 residents and 57 faculty members at our Manhattan campus, we are one of the largest radiation oncology training programs in the country. Our residents come from diverse educational and personal backgrounds, bringing their unique strengths to our residency.

Throughout their four years of training, our residents work one-on-one with leaders in clinical radiation oncology, medical physics, translational research, and basic science. Residents become highly trained in modern radiotherapy techniques, including proton therapy, radiosurgery, image-guided radiotherapy, brachytherapy, and procedures such as intraoperative radiation therapy, total body irradiation, and total skin electron beam therapy.

As part of training in a comprehensive cancer center, residents also routinely learn from experts in surgical oncology, medical oncology, and translational medicine. A dedicated year of protected research time provides residents an opportunity to participate in scholarly clinical and/or laboratory research.

Our graduates leave this program well prepared to become leaders in radiation oncology.

Mission

We train future leaders in radiation oncology by providing a collaborative, multidisciplinary clinical and academic experience at one of the world’s premier cancer centers.

We seek to equip our graduates with the skills needed to diagnose and treat both common and rare oncological conditions; to become innovators in clinical, translational, and laboratory-based research; and to provide superior care to future patients.

Leadership

• Department Chair: Simon Powell, MD
• Program Director: Lior Braunstein, MD
• Associate Program Director: Daniel Gorovets, MD
• Associate Program Director, Medical Student Clerkship Director: Carla Hajj, MD

Training Locations

Primary Hospital

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Secondary Hospital

New York Proton Center

Curriculum

During the first, second, and fourth clinical years, residents are assigned to a series of approximately ten- to 11-week rotations during which they work one-on-one with an attending physician. The rotation schedule is planned by the residency program director and chief residents.

The department is organized based on organ site, and each rotation will concentrate on either an organ/disease site or a specific attending’s clinical area of interest. Although the majority of patients seen will be in the area of clinical interest, all attendings see general consultations for inpatients and palliative treatment. Accordingly, residents will also be trained to manage inpatient and radiation oncology emergencies, as well as principles of palliative care.

Residents routinely see patients in the outpatient clinic where patients come for initial consultation and return for follow-up care. Under the attending physician’s supervision, residents perform simulations of new treatments and assist with treatment planning and status checks for the patients assigned to them. Residents regularly participate in reviewing treatment plans and may participate in weekly chart rounds as well.

ACGME Subsites

• Breast: Simon Powell, Beryl McCormick, Lior Braunstein, Erin Gillespie, Paul Romesser, Samuel Bakhoum, and Amy Xu
• Central Nervous System: Kathryn Beal, Yoshiya (Josh) Yamada, Adam Schmitt, Daniel Higginson
• Gastrointestinal: Christopher Crane, Abraham Wu, John Cuaron, and Paul Romesser
• Genitourinary: Michael Zelefsky, Marisa Kollmeier, Sean McBride, Daniel Gorovets, and Jeremy Setton
• Gynecologic: Kaled Alektiar and Marisa Kollmeier
• Head and Neck: Nancy Lee, Nadeem Riaz, and Sean McBride
• Lung: Andreas Rimner, Abraham Wu, and Daniel Gomez
• Lymphoma/Leukemia: Joachim Yahalom, Suzanne Wolden, and Brandon Imber
• Pediatrics: Suzanne Wolden
• Skin: Christopher Barker
• Soft Tissue and Bone: Kaled Alektiar and Yoshiya (Josh) Yamada

Research Year

Research Year is 10 months protected during PGY4 year.

Resident research activity can begin early at Cleveland Clinic. Although there is a dedicated up to 10 months of research time in the PGY-4 year, many junior residents have oral or poster presentations at national meetings such as ASTRO, ASCO, RSNA, AUA, and SNO.

Cleveland Clinic allows residents to attend a meeting of their choice starting in the PGY-2 year. All residents in their PGY-3, 4, and 5 year typically attend ASTRO.

Additional funding is available within the department for residents who present research at other national meetings.

Renowned cancer researcher, Timothy Chan, MD, PhD, has joined Cleveland Clinic as the Director of the new Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, where he plans to unite researchers in multiple disciplines to advance personalized cancer care and develop novel immune system-based treatments. Residents have the opportunity to work with and learn from Dr. Chan.

Call Schedule

Call is typically taken in 1-week blocks of home-call

Vacation

• Vacation: 15 days (3 weeks) per year + variable number of meeting days and institutional holidays.
• Call Schedule: Home call, one week at a time.
• Book fund: An individual book fund is available for all residents to purchase texts.
• Office space: Each resident has personal desk space with a laptop and dual monitors.
• Cleveland Clinic iPhone: Each resident will receive a Cleveland Clinic iPhone from start to end of your residency.

Contact Information

Residency Coordinator:

Email:

Phone:

Fax:

External Links

https://www.mskcc.org/departments/radiation-oncology/residency/education