Core Competencies
The Radiation Oncology Residency program at UCLA is designed to graduate a well-balanced physician who possesses the ability and wherewithal to thrive in any practice environment. By imparting them with self-confidence and providing them with the steadfast foundation for lifelong learning, we aim to help our residents attain their full potential as healers, investigators, scientists, and leaders in medicine.
The Radiation Oncology faculty consists of 23 radiation oncologists, 14 medical physicists, and 9 radiation biologists. The Department houses three Truebeams, one Novalis Tx, a one Tomotherapy HD, and one Viewray MRI-guided radiotherapy system. An MRI simulator is slated for installation shortly. The Department is renowned for their cutting-edge clinical programs in genitourinary, head and neck, and brain cancers, among many others. The Department is active in clinical trial cooperatives including the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), Children's Oncology Group (COG), and Southwestern Oncology Group (SWOG). Numerous investigator-initiated clinical and translational protocols have been activated for the purpose of advancing the field of radiation oncology.
The Division of Brachytherapy, one of the nation's most active, offers the resident a unique opportunity to learn an array of advanced techniques. The Radiation Department contains a 2 room brachytherapy procedure center and treatment vault. The new technique of Image Guided insertion of implants is also taught.
The Radiosurgery program at UCLA is one of the most established in the country and offers specialized training in the treatment of tumors in the brain, prostate, liver, lung, and vertebral body. The program offers high precision treatment and allows residents the opportunity to work alongside neurosurgeons and medical physicists in a true multi-disciplinary setting.
The Department is an integral part of an interdepartmental graduate program ( UCLA Graduate Division of Biomedical Physics) training professional medical physicists, and thus is very active in the academic research and development in the state-of-art radiation therapy technology. Furthermore, the Department also houses a world-renowned cancer biology research division ( UCLA Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology), and can provide any interested resident superb training in bench-type cancer biology research. As part of the NCI-accredited UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Department provides the residents an excellent training atmosphere for multi-disciplinary cancer research and care.
- The overall length of the residency training in Radiation Oncology is 48 months. In accordance with the Program Requirements for Residency Education specified by the ACGME, at least 36 months will be spent by the resident in clinical radiation oncology at the UCLA Medical Center (Westwood campus) and its integrated program at the Veteran's Administration, West Los Angeles (VAWLA), and UCLA Santa Monica.
- Required rotations may be instituted as needed to provide residents with the required cases for their training, including pediatric oncology at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA). Similarly, arrangement may be made for residents to take electives at other academic institutes and affiliated programs.
- Scholarly activity is a requirement for all residents. Presentation of a submission-ready manuscript is required to obtain a certificate of completion, and may be clinical, health services, translational or basic laboratory research. All are encouraged to submit the result of their research for presentation at scientific conferences as well as for peer-reviewed publication.
- UCLA, Radiation Oncology is committed to teaching residents according to the following six core competencies as designated by the ACGME: patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and system-based practice.
- Patient care (PC)
Provide patient care through safe, efficient, appropriately utilized, quality-controlled radiation therapy and effectively communicate with the referring physician and/or other appropriate individuals in a timely manner. - Medical knowledge (MK)
Engage in continuous learning using up to date evidence and applying appropriate state of the art radiation therapy techniques to meet the needs of patients, referring physicians and the health care system. - Practice-based learning and improvement (PBLI)
Participation in the evaluation of one's personal practice utilizing scientific evidence, practice guidelines and standards as metrics, and self-assessment programs in order to optimize patient care through lifelong learning. - Interpersonal and communication skills (IC)
Communicate effectively with patients, colleagues, referring physicians and other members of the health care team concerning informed consent, safety issues, and the indications for and the benefits, risks, and side effects of radiation, as well as the integration with other treatment modalities and the proper work-up and follow-up of patients. Communicate effectively with all members of the health care team regarding specific patient management issues. - Professionalism (P)
Commit to high standards of professional conduct, demonstrating altruism, compassion, honesty and integrity. Follow principles of ethics and confidentiality and consider religious, ethnic, gender, educational and other differences in interacting with patients and other members of the health care team - System-based practice (SBP)
Understand how the components of the local and national healthcare system function interdependently and how changes to improve the system involve group and individual efforts. Optimize coordination of patient care both within one's own practice and within the healthcare system. Consult with other healthcare professionals, and educate healthcare consumers, regarding the most appropriate utilization of radiation oncology resources.