During the two years of this program, the physics resident attends lectures and presents specially assigned topics for seminars in the department of Human Oncology. The resident also attends conferences, and participates directly in the clinic through a series of dosimetry/treatment planning and brachytherapy rotations in which the physics resident is assigned specific clinical rotations to perform clinical tasks under physics supervision. During the rotation, the resident works closely with staff physicists, dosimetrists, and physicians in treatment planning, patient dose calculations, design and fabrication of patient treatment aids such as cerrobend blocks, compensating filters, and bolus, brachytherapy procedures, and other clinically related tasks performed in the clinic. In addition, the resident works directly with the staff physicist performing treatment machine calibrations, dose measurements, and quality assurance procedures. During this first year, the resident should develop basic radiation oncology physics skills and also should develop an overall understanding of the radiation oncology physicist's and dosimetrist's role in the clinic. During the second year the resident continues to work on the routine procedures taught in the first year to develop confidence and gaining more experience. A major emphasis on the second year is on special procedures like Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy, Total Body Irradiation, Total Skin Irradiation, and Prostate Seed Implant.
During the two-year period, the physics resident will receive didactic instruction in the following areas:
Basic Radiological Physics External Beam Radiation Oncology Physics Brachytherapy Physics Radiation Safety Cancer Biology Diagnostic Radiological Physics Elementary Anatomy & Physiology Clinical Radiation Oncology Anatomy and Physiology Physics residents are also required to participate in all department conferences in which the physics staff is expected to attend. These include (1) Patient Management Conference, (2) Planning Conference, (3) Clinical Oncology Conference, (4) Morbidity Conference, and (5) Current Case Review Conference.
Admissions
All trainees entering the Radiation Oncology Physics Residency program are required to have acquired a strong foundation in basic physics as documented by a master's or doctoral degree in medical physics, or a doctoral degree in physics, engineering, mathematics, or other science with physics training equivalent to a minor in physics. The ideal candidate would have completed their master’s or doctoral degree not more than two years prior to the application deadline. Based on our experience thus far with physicists entering our residency program with didactic training in medical physics, as evidenced by graduation from an accredited medical physics graduate education program, and those entering without didactic training in medical physics, we still find it worth while to require all our physics residents to follow the training program described in detail above.
Recruitment Efforts
The opening of the residency position is advertised on the AAPM website and/or the AAPM placement bulletin. Upon receipt of the candidate's completed application, (resume, and/or transcripts, letters of recommendation) the applicant's packet is forwarded to members of the Physics Residency Committee who then rank the candidates. The scores are summed up and the top candidates are contacted by phone to initiate the interview process. All candidates contacted by phone are encouraged to visit the facility. Members of the Physics Residency Committee then interview those that visit. In addition, references are contacted by phone to supplement the recommendation letters. The Physics Residency Committee then meets and reviews the interview results and any other pertinent information regarding the applicants and then ranks the candidates. Position(s) are first offered to the top candidate. An offer letter is sent to the candidates. If the selected candidate declines the offer, or does not respond in a timely fashion, the position is offered to the next seeded candidate. A letter is sent to all unsuccessful candidates thanking them for their interest in our Residency Program and encouraging them to continue to seek admittance to this field of training.
The interview process is performed in accordance with the equal opportunity standards of both the University of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.
Application Deadline
We are currently accepting applications for a possible position beginning July, 2008. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2008.
Number of Residents
Currently for fiscal reason, the Physics Residency Program is designed to handle two residents per year. We currently have one resident in the program.
Evaluation of Resident Progress
Residents are monitored through the program by an assigned faculty for each clinical rotation. At the end of each rotation the resident and the attending faculty evaluates each other. Periodic meetings (at least once every quarter) between the physics resident and the Program Director, and/or the assigned attending physics faculty are held to discuss problems related to resident training. Mentoring is also done in these meetings. Near the end of each year of their training the resident is given an oral examination modeled after the ABMP certification exam. It is coordinated by the Program Director and involves all the Physics faculty in the Residency committee. If the resident does not pass the exam, the resident is placed on probation for 60 days. During that period, the resident is assigned to the area(s) of demonstrated weakness. At the end of the probation period, an oral exam is again conducted. If the resident does not pass this second oral exam, the resident is terminated from the Residency Program.
By the end of the first year, the Physics Resident is expected to function as a Junior-Physicist, with the ability to perform quality assurance tests, monitor unit and dose calculations, 2D and 3D treatment planning, radiation safety procedures, and brachytherapy physics procedures and planning. By the completion of the two year term, the physic resident is expected to be able to perform all radiation oncology physics functions, including full calibrations of treatment machines, checks of dosimetry work (treatment plans, etc.), radiation safety procedures, clinical consultations, and patient-related dosimetry.
In the event that a resident does not make acceptable progress, the director meets with the resident and discusses his/her deficiencies. Supplemental materials and guidance are provided to the resident to make up for the deficiencies. Very often the resident is encouraged to attend courses to make up for their deficits. If in-spite of all these the resident shows lack of motivation or inability to follow up the candidates performance is reviewed by the committee. The committee might recommend the resident be under probation for a certain period of time or might expel the resident from the program.
New Resident Orientation
New physics residents are provided a one-day orientation lecture series followed by a two-week orientation rotation in the clinic and dosimetry areas at the beginning of their training. The one-day orientation involves the residents being introduced to the radiation oncology personnel, familiarity with the department, a brief introduction to radiation safety. In addition, the Program Director meets with each new resident at that time to ensure the incoming resident clearly understands the program's requirements, resident administrative procedures, and any other expectations. They are also made aware of staff and program resources, including treatment machines, treatment planning facilities, laboratories and libraries. The two-week orientation provides the residents with familiarity of the treatment planning systems and the simulation procedures with the dosimetry personnel.