Radiation Oncology Residency at MD Anderson
Radiation Oncology Medical Student Elective
Note: Due to COVID-19 pandemic, we are not able to guarantee in-person elective rotations at this time. Please contact us to express interest in the elective, and we can provide you with the most recent information regarding elective opportunities in our department.
MD Anderson Cancer Center offers clinical rotations in Radiation Oncology to medical students enrolled at accredited US medical schools. We encourage students interested in pursuing radiation oncology as a career to inquire. The rotation offers the opportunity to interact with faculty and trainees within the Division of Radiation Oncology at one of the largest comprehensive cancer centers in the world.
Please note the following important points:
- Only students enrolled in an accredited U.S. medical school are eligible. Students enrolled at an international medical school are not eligible.
- Students must apply in order to be considered for the rotation. Students should apply for the elective in their third year, no later than March 15. Accepted students will complete a formal application process through both the MD Anderson and UT Houston systems
- The clinical experience at MD Anderson usually takes place in the final year of medical school.
- Please inquire about your rotation dates before making plans by contacting the program coordinator, Ms. Letericia Smith.
Students will rotate at the main MD Anderson campus.
How to Apply
Your application package must include the following:
- A completed application form
- Current curriculum vitae
- Student transcript: an unofficial, student-issued transcript is acceptable for application
- Written personal statement
Email the completed application package to:
Letericia Smith
Program Coordinator
lsmith@mdanderson.org
Completed applications must be received no later than March 15. Applicant selection and notification is done by the end of March. If accepted, a minimum of 60 days is required to process the required documentation.
University-based Hospital Elective
The majority of students who intend to pursue radiation oncology as a career will choose track 1. This rotation offers the most exposure to both the faculty and residents in radiation oncology at MD Anderson. The elective consists of four core weeks and is offered through our affiliate medical school, The University of Texas-Houston Medical School.
The four-week rotation is divided into two, two-week periods during which the student will rotate on two clinical radiation oncology services at the main MD Anderson campus. Accepted students will be asked to submit their preferences for the following services within Radiation Oncology: Breast, Gastrointestinal, Central Nervous System, Genitourinary, Gynecology, Head and Neck, Lymphoma, Melanoma and Sarcoma or Thoracic.
The major objectives of this rotation are to acquaint the student with the basic concepts and practice of radiotherapy. The primary emphasis is on issues that will be useful to any physician who may provide services to cancer patients. The curriculum includes:
- Basic principles of radiation physics, radiobiology, and radiation safety
- Clinical evaluation and staging of the patient with cancer
- The role of radiotherapy in the management of patients with cancer
- The importance of a multidisciplinary approach to cancer management
- The process by which treatment plans are generated from an understanding of tumor volume, normal tissue considerations and natural history of the disease
- Implementation and verification of radiotherapy treatment plans
Goals & Objectives
The goals of the medical student elective are to assure that our students are competent in patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice. The goals for each of these competencies are outlined for each clinical service rotation.
Student Responsibilities
- New patient consults
- Under treatment clinics
- Follow-up clinics
- Follow at least one new patient each week through simulation to start of treatment
- Attend daily planning clinic conference
- Attend pertinent multidisciplinary conferences throughout the rotation
- Give a brief presentation on a relevant radiation oncology topic, including a paper presentation
- Medical students are expected to work 40 to 50 hours a week and be available during standard working hours
Contact Information
For questions or more information, please contact:
Director of Medical Student Electives
Jillian Gunther, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Radiation Oncology
Email: Jgunther@mdanderson.org
Program Administrator
Denise De La Cruz, M.Ed., Program Administrator
Phone: 713-792-2534
Email: ddlcruz@mdanderson.org
Program Assistant
Letericia Smith, Program Coordinator
Phone: 713-563-2315
Email: lsmith@mdanderson.org
Fax number: 713-563-8645