Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is Oregon's only academic health center and is nationally respected distinguished as a research university dedicated solely to advancing health sciences.
OHSU is a community of healers dedicated to saving lives, ensuring the well-being of all entrusted to our care. We aim to recruit, retain, and develop diverse resident physicians. We believe that in order to deliver great health care, we must train culturally-competent physicians from diverse backgrounds - including members of racial and ethnic groups that are historically underrepresented in medicine, individuals raised in rural environments, and people who have overcome significant social and financial disadvantages.
The Department of Radiation Medicine has a long history of academic training geared toward clinicians and medical professionals. In January 1967, the Department of Radiation Therapy was established at the University of Oregon Medical School. It has the distinction of being the first independent radiation oncology department at a medical school in the United States.
The Radiation Oncology Residency Program began as X-ray Therapy program in the Multnomah County Hospital at the University of Oregon Medical School in the 1930’s within the Department of Radiology. The program became Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited in October 1970.
The mission of the Radiation Oncology Residency Program is to cultivate outstanding radiation oncologists equipped with the knowledge and skills to build productive and fulfilling careers as clinicians, educators, researchers and advocates.
Training is provided by a combination of supervised clinical experiences, seminars, lectures and research assignments designed to expand the trainee’s clinical skills and to provide a broad scientific basis for growth. The trainee’s rotation to various segments of the program follow a pattern of progressively increasing responsibility throughout training.
The program is an advanced, four-year program. A transitional or internship year of training is required.
The program currently has six radiation oncology residents and recruits for two new residents annually, with a break every three years.
OHSU is committed to recruitment practices that are equitable, demonstrate our commitment to responsible stewardship of resources, and reduce negative impacts on the global environment. Thus, OHSU residency and fellowship programs will utilize virtual interview practices for the upcoming recruitment season. We believe this approach will attract a diverse pool of applicants, decrease applicant financial barriers, and minimize applicant’s time away from educational and clinical activities while reducing the carbon footprint of recruitment.
Curriculum
First year (PGY-2)
To start training, the resident participates in the day-to-day clinical care of cancer patients. During the first year, emphasis will be placed on learning anatomy, pathology, staging and epidemiology as they relate to cancer care. Residents must master physical exam and proper documentation in the official record’s history and physical.
Second year (PGY-3)
The second year remains clinical with patient experience. The resident is expected to view clinical problems from the perspective gained from prior experience and is given increasing responsibilities related to patient care, decision making and treatment planning. At the end of the second year, the resident will submit a proposal for research to be completed prior toc completing the residency.
Third year (PGY4)
The third year of residency is filled with unique opportunities. For those interested in academic medicine, residents are encouraged to participate and lead a research team based on mentorship, experience and exposure. In addition to a broad range of research opportunities, residents may use the third year working towards additional degrees, certificates or experiences. Residents are giving the opportunity to being a chief resident during the third year of training.
Fourth year (PGY-5)
The fourth year resident is preparing for graduation and independent practice. The resident should be able to manage patients independently with minimal radiation oncology staff input. The resident should be familiar with established literature-supported radiation oncology techniques Clinically, time should also be spent to refine special procedure techniques such as brachytherapy and radiosurgery.
Research & Elective
The Radiation Oncology Residency Program has a broad and flexible research focus that includes health services and outcomes-based research, clinical and translational research, as well as basic science research opportunities within OHSU community. Our goal is to provide an opportunity to garner a meaningful research experience during the critical years of residency training.
During the PGY-4 and/or PGY-5 year of training, residents are provided up to 12 months of elective time to complete a non-clinical elective, a research project or pursue an additional degree.
Residents interested in pursuing the Holman Pathway are encouraged to do so during this elective time.
Didactics
Weekly conferences
- Didactic lectures ( Mondays and Wednesdays)
- Contour Rounds (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
- Tumor Board (dependent on clinical rotation)
- Multidisciplinary didactic sessions (dependent on availability)
Other conferences
- Resident Roundtable (quarterly)
- Two-Week Physics Intensive (annually)
- One-Week Radiation Biology Intensive (annually)
- Clinical Informatics (annually)
- GME Quality Improvement Bootcamp
- Financial Principals (annually)
- Patient Safety (bi-annually)
- Morbidity and Mortality (quarterly)
- Disease Site Journal Club
- Wellness lecture (annually)
The Department of Radiation Medicine serves patients at the OHSU’s main campus, Marquam Hill, and five satellite centers. The department serves the entire campus including Doernbecher Pediatric Hospital, the VA Portland Health Care System and the Center for Health and Healing.
Marquam Hill is the primary site for residents and residents may request to visit satellite sites if unique training opportunities are available.
SALARY & BENEFITS
OHSU is committed to providing comprehensive, affordable and customizable benefits for its employees. Total rewards package includes benefits that meet the essential health needs of employees and their families, help secure a strong financial future and enhance wellbeing.
Resident biweekly salary is dependent upon the level of postgraduate training the resident/fellow has completed within the United States. Incoming radiation oncology physics residents are paid at a PGY-2 level.
OHSU residents are provided various plans from which to choose for medical, dental, vision, prescription and life insurances, with optional coverage including disability, AD&D and family coverage. OHSU pays for most of the costs of the monthly premium for employees and part of the costs of the monthly premium for spouses and children.
Residents will have default benefits on their first day physically working at OHSU. The default benefit plan covers the individual resident only. Benefits include a substantial annual paid time off package which includes:
- Vacation Leave
- Sick Leave
- Parental Leave
- Family Medical Leave
- Educational Leave
Treating patients in the Department of Radiation Medicine is truly a team sport. In addition to a radiation oncologist, a highly trained medical team works with every patient to provide the best and safest care possible. Each team is responsible for a specific role in the treatment process. The team in our department is made up of:
- 25 Radiation Therapists
- 9 Radiation Oncologists
- 9 Medical Physicists
- 10 Dosimetrists
- 11 Radiation Oncology Nurses
- 7 Radiation Oncology Residents
- 2 Medical Assistants
- 2 Medical Physics Resident
To complement the medical team, the Department of Radiation Medicine also provides patients with in-house access to oncology social workers, a clinical dietitian and a naturopathic doctor.
Portland and Oregon and the PNW
One of the perks of living in Portland is exploring Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Oregon and the Pacific Northwest is lush landscape known for its outdoor adventures, green forests, breathtaking views, dramatic coastline and snow-capped mountains. And don’t forget some of the best coffee, craft beer and wine in the country! Here in Oregon we are surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and Cascade Mountains and on a clear day you can see Mount Adams, Mount Hood, and Mount St. Helens from the balcony of Kohler Pavilion. Our climate ranges from the high desert like the Alvord Desert to literal glaciers.
Portland's unexpected attractions range from coffee shops and bookstores to gourmet restaurants and breweries. Downtown Portland is a bustling metropolitan, full of historic building, intimate coffee shops, hip bars, an impressive foodie scene, and all the things that “Keep Portland Weird”. When you need to get out of town, hiking and camping in Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood, or the Columbia River Gorge are a two hour drive. If beaches are your thing, the coastal range is three hours away. And if you need to dry out from the rain, the desert is less than a four hour drive. And Portland is home to Powell’s City of Books, the largest used and new bookstore in the world.
