Structured radiation oncology training with milestone evaluation at Tufts Medical Center
Residents receive comprehensive hands-on training in all aspects of radiation oncology. From the start, residents actively participate in patient care—performing consultations, developing treatment plans, overseeing simulations and delivering various radiation therapies. They work closely with faculty to gain experience in both common and complex cases, including external beam radiation, brachytherapy, stereotactic treatments and supportive care during therapy. This immersive clinical environment is complemented by a strong foundation in the scientific principles behind radiation oncology, including physics and radiobiology integrated throughout the program.
Residents also have one protected educational day each week, held on Fridays at Tufts Medical Center. This academic day follows a well-developed curriculum beginning with two hours of clinical didactics and a resident-led journal club. This is followed by two hours of medical physics instruction and one hour of radiobiology education, both taught by faculty. The educational sessions are enriched by participation from Tufts School of Veterinary Radiation Oncology residents and Tufts University School of Medicine Oral Medicine residents, offering a unique multidisciplinary perspective on cancer biology and management.
As residents progress, they take on increasing responsibility under faculty supervision, ensuring a balance between independence and expert guidance. Weekly tumor boards and multidisciplinary conferences further enhance their clinical knowledge and decision-making skills. Residents also engage in research projects and quality improvement initiatives and contribute to the education of medical and health professions students.
To ensure consistent and structured evaluation of resident progress, Tufts Medical Center follows the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) guidelines using defined milestones. Each resident is assessed by faculty on every rotation, with performance reviewed regularly by the Program Director. These milestones cover key competency areas essential to radiation oncology practice:
- Patient care: Consultation, simulation, contouring and target delineation, treatment planning and plan evaluation, treatment delivery including localization and film review, supportive care during treatment, follow-up care, brachytherapy and stereotactic treatments.
- Medical knowledge: Applied sciences such as physics, cancer biology, radiation biology, clinical trial design, oncoanatomy and evidence-based foundations of radiation oncology.
- Systems-based practice: Patient safety and quality improvement, system navigation for patient-centered care and understanding the physician’s role within the healthcare system.
- Practice-based learning and improvement: Evidence-based and informed practice, reflective learning and commitment to personal and professional growth.
- Professionalism: Professional behavior and ethical principles, accountability and conscientiousness, self-awareness and help-seeking behaviors.
- Interpersonal and communication skills: Communication that is patient- and family-centered, collaboration within interprofessional teams and effective communication across healthcare systems.
This structured milestone framework supports resident development, identifies learning needs and ensures readiness for independent practice as compassionate and skilled radiation oncologists.
