Radiation Oncology Medical Student Elective

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