Curriculum
Make this page concrete: rotations, durations, responsibilities, and competencies. “Top” programs are explicit about how residents progress and how they’re evaluated.
Rotations
Two years, structured into focused blocks
Orientation & safety fundamentals · 4 weeks
Radiation safety, clinical workflows, documentation standards, and baseline QA competencies.
External beam planning I · 8 weeks
Contouring workflows, plan evaluation, dose constraints, and plan QA fundamentals.
External beam planning II · 8 weeks
Complex planning (IMRT/VMAT), optimization strategies, and multidisciplinary case review.
Image guidance & localization · 6 weeks
CBCT workflows, immobilization, setup uncertainty, and imaging QA.
SRS/SBRT · 6 weeks
End-to-end testing, small-field dosimetry considerations, and high-precision QA.
Brachytherapy (HDR/LDR as applicable) · 6 weeks
Source calibration checks, workflow support, planning, and procedure-day physics.
Machine QA & acceptance · 8 weeks
Commissioning concepts, routine QA, tolerance/action levels, and troubleshooting.
Special procedures · 6 weeks
TBI/TSET (if available), gated treatments, motion management, and unusual clinical setups.
Clinical informatics · 6 weeks
Data integrity, scripting/automation basics, chart checks, and quality improvement.
Clinical development rotation · 12 weeks
Project-based rotation: implement or improve a clinical workflow, protocol, or technology with measurable outcomes.
Didactics
Didactic + clinical integration
Weekly rhythm (example)
- Clinical service with supervised responsibility
- 1–2 hours/week structured didactics (physics + clinical)
- Case conference / chart rounds participation
- Independent reading + competency checkoffs
Competency model
Consider publishing a “skills ladder”: what you can do independently by Month 3, Month 6, Year 1 end, and graduation. Applicants love clarity.
Projects
Clinical development rotation
What makes this feel top-tier
- Residents implement something real (protocol, automation, QA tool).
- Success metrics: time saved, error reduction, adoption rate, QA outcomes.
- Documentation and dissemination: internal standard work + publishable abstract/paper.
Transparency
What else to add (recommended)
Clinical scope
- Treatment sites and annual case mix (verified numbers).
- Machine inventory and planning systems (kept updated).
- On-call responsibilities (if any) and weekend expectations.
Resident experience
- Protected learning time and wellness policy.
- Stipend, benefits, parking, moving support.
- Conference support (AAPM, ASTRO) and education funds.