Genitourinary and Gynecologic rotation – In this rotation, residents learn the principles of genitourinary oncology in a program that emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to oncologic medicine. They actively participate in patient evaluation, in the GU oncology multidisciplinary clinic and tumor boards, in treatment planning, and in related research protocols. Residents benefit from concentrated exposure to management techniques for prostate cancer, including 3-D conformal radiation therapy, prostate brachytherapy, postprostatectomy radiation therapy, and radiation therapy for metastatic disease.  The gynecologic part of the rotation emphasizes the evaluation and care of women with cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer. Emphasis is on the use of brachytherapy and on participation in trials through the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). Residents are expected to plan and execute brachytherapy procedures as well as complete the dosimetric evaluation of such patients. Residents attend a weekly gynecologic pathology conference. Residents also spend time on the gynecology radiation oncology service at Washington University in St. Louis.

Breast and Gastrointestinal rotation – Residents gain experience evaluating and treating all types of breast cancers. This includes therapy for Stage 0 to Stage IV breast cancers. The residents will learn about breast-preserving treatment for early-stage breast cancer. As part of this rotation, the resident will also learn the role of brachytherapy and IMRT in treating breast cancers. Residents join the breast conference held twice a month.  As part of the gastrointestinal rotation, residents will also attend a weekly pancreatic cancer conference.

Lung and Lymphoma rotation – Residents learn to participate in diagnosing and managing lung cancer. They are also involved in the multidisciplinary lung clinic and lung tumor conference, where radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiobiologists discuss each new case. The interdisciplinary group uses the most up-to-date treatments, based on the most recent findings, and tailored to the stage of each patient’s disease. The team has a special focus on enrolling eligible patients in national cooperative group protocols (RTOG, ECOG, etc.) and institutional protocols.  Residents closely follow patients receiving high-dose-rate endobronchial bracytherapy.  During their lymphoma rotation, residents receive broad exposure and experience in a variety of lympho- and myeloproliferative diseases. They participate in discussions of lymphoma and leukemia cases. The rotation emphasizes managing lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease radiotherapeutically, focusing on specific techniques of treatment and including considerations of long-term effects. Residents assist in delivering total body irradiation (TBI), including learning and applying physics principles employed in such treatments. Residents are part of a team delivering TBI as a component of Jefferson’s active bone marrow transplantation program. In this two-month rotation, residents also learn radiooncologic care of sarcomas and myelomas.

Neuro-Oncology rotation – This rotation introduces residents to the multidisciplinary management of patients with primary and secondary brain and spinal cord tumors, with particular emphasis on judiciously using ionizing radiation via conformal radiation, stereotactic radiation, and Gamma Knife treatment. The Jefferson group is the leading accruer to RTOG brain-tumor trials, and several members of the Jefferson Brain Tumor Group are principal investigators for these national trials. Senior residents also spend a 2 month long rotation at the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience concentrating on stereotactic treatment planning and delivery.

Medical Physics and Dosimetry rotation – This rotation introduces residents to the ongoing physics activities that support their clinical practice. The resident spends a major portion of the rotation in the treatment planning area, working with physicists and dosimetrists to gain a better understanding of the principles of treatment planning. The remaining time is spent with the physicists observing and participating in the physics quality assurance procedures for the linear accelerators as well as for brachytherapy.

Medical Oncology rotation – Residents spend this one month long rotation in the Department of Medical Oncology, learning both the practical and conceptual issues related to systemic anticancer therapy and its integration with local and regional therapies such as surgery and radiation therapy (can occur at Thomas Jefferson Hospital or outside facilities).

Head and Neck rotation – This rotation gives residents experience evaluating and treating tumors of the head and neck. It offers diverse learning experiences as a result of the many different tumor sites treated. Residents attend a weekly head and neck tumor conference and the Head and Neck Clinic.  They learn the complex approaches to head and neck malignances, including IMRT and brachytherapy. 

Pediatric Radiation Oncology – Each Jefferson resident spends six weeks on a rotation at the well-known St. Jude Children’s Research Institute in Memphis, TN. The experience gives the resident a multidisciplinary, clinical-research-based introduction to the population of children afflicted with brain tumors, other solid tumors, and hematologic malignancies.

Elective – During the third year of training, residents are allowed to spend one month at an outside institution in an area of their preference. Commonly, sites which are technically difficult (H&N) or specific techniques (i.e., prostate brachytherapy) are pursued. Also, areas of specific interest for specialization, such as lymphoma, etc. may be pursued.

Pathology – A two week long rotation in the Department of Pathology.

Medical Oncology – A one month long rotation in the Department of Medical Oncology.

Diagnostic Radiology – A one month long rotation in the Department of Radiology.

Research Rotation – Residents are given four months for a research rotation, usually in their third year of training.  Research can be performed in experimental radiation oncology, medical physics, or as clinical research.  Each research project is conducted under the leadership of a staff mentor and the proposal for the project must be approved ahead of time by the Departmental Steering Committee.  Residents may apply for an extended research time (up to 7.5 months total), based on the need to conduct an extended project.